How would you like to have a great time, eat to your heart's content, dance the night away, and help the children in St. Tammany Parish? If you answered yes to those questions, then you need to circle Sunday, April 26th, 2009 in your calendar. That is when the Junior League of Greater Covington’s (JLGC) will be having its second annual fundraising gala to benefit the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany. It is from 6-10 pm at the Mandeville Castine Center. The event themed “A Celebration of Pure Wonder” will feature a live and silent auction, a “diamond dig” and entertainment by Four Unplugged. Edibles will be served from more than 40 participating restaurants including Acme Oyster House, Annadelle’s Plantation, Keith Young’s Steak House, Nuvolari’s, Sal & Judy’s and many more. Tickets for “A Celebration of Pure Wonder” are $100 per person or $1200 for a reserved table of eight. And it's a tax deduction.
Upon completion, the 22,000 square foot Children’s Museum of St. Tammany will provide a learning environment that will serve the needs and interests of local and regional children, families and schools by providing exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity and imagination, in addition to building a desire for life-long learning.
JLGC Children’s Museum Chairperson Lisa Barnett. “This year’s celebration and fundraising efforts are well on their way to being even bigger and better based on the huge outpouring of support from the community and corporate leadership. The interest from the community is continuing to grow. It looks like we will have well over 1,500 patrons in attendance which will exceed last year's number. There is always room for more. I guarantee that everyone will be comfortable and have a great time while helping to raise funds for St. Tammany Parish’s premiere Children's Museum.” A capital campaign is currently underway as the museum seeks approximately $10 million in support for completion.
Parish President Kevin Davis feels that "the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany will be a huge asset to our community.” The facility, located on a wooded site adjacent to Parish Government buildings and Interstate 12, will be a place that not only promotes a knowledge and understanding of our relationship to the natural environment, but also how we are all connected to each other and the world. Davis goes on to say that, “We are thrilled to be partners in this wonderful project for the children of the area and look forward to welcoming families to the new state of the art museum in the near future.”
The mission of the Children's Museum of St. Tammany is to create a learning environment that serves the needs and interests of children, families and schools by providing exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, imagination and to nurture a desire for life-long learning.
The concept of the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany is to create a dramatic, hands-on learning environment that serves the developmental needs and cognitive interests of children, families, and schools. Exhibits and educational programs will be designed to challenge children to make new and surprising discoveries, explore the wonders or our local environment and our planet, stimulate creativity and expression, as they encourage everyone’s desire for life-long learning. Interaction with nature and the environment are a big component of Louisiana living. An essential component of a child’s development is a firm educational foundation he can take and apply as he becomes an adult in our rapidly changing society. In the same way that a good foundation allows one to adapt to change, the museum will house exhibits that showcase the beautiful culture and heritage we appreciate as Louisianan’s and will also have components that change and evolve as a reflection of contemporary society and new scientific breakthroughs. Our goal is to provide a place of exciting learning where the past, present, and future are equally respected and displayed in an atmosphere that stimulates children.
The four core principles of The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany Parish are Discover, Explore, Create, and Learn. From the moment children and adults approach the museum they will be presented with numerous opportunities to discover exhibits and their surroundings and to explore as an individual or collaboratively in groups. Each area will have resources, games, paints, blocks, costumes, and various other hands-on activities that promote creativity, expression, and participation in a social environment with other children. The goal of this museum is for visitors to learn about themselves, their environment, and the world. The dynamic and diverse nature of the exhibits in the museum will work harmoniously to create a sense of wonder, belonging, and self-confidence that the children will carry with them as they grow into adulthood.
The museum entrance will be a bold, stand-out feature of the building with transparent walls that give visitors a glimpse of the many surprises inside.
Potential exhibits could be one that will showcase the great State of Louisiana. Another exhibit being discussed will revolve around art and science. It will introduce children to artists, designers, scientists, explorers, educators, and all the things that have been discovered or created throughout history. One of the most exciting exhibits that is being considered will be focused around the universe, our galaxy, Earth, and the geophysical forces known as the laws of nature. There are plans to have an exhibition area that will be serve as a place for lectures and instructional classes which will be used to support and reinforce the lessons children learn through discovery, exploration, and creative activities.
For more information about the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany or their gala fundraiser "A Celebration of Pure Wonder" on April 26th, please contact Lisa Barnett at 985.502.4321 or lzbarnett@yahoo.com. or visit www.jlgc.net.