GRETCHEN JEANE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & SPECIAL PROJECTS
Educational Fun Awaits at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Mystery History Box. This interactive, educational box for kids is designed by our staff and is full of crafts, games and a special surprise to help make learning about the West more fun! Each box includes a coloring book, three crafts, a bandanna to color, a lariat and a canvas to create your own Western masterpiece! The coloring book features prominent women from Western history and puzzles and games that relate to each woman. Boxes may be purchased for $25 at The Museum Store or online at store.
What programs are available for kids and families at the National Cowboy Museum? At the time of this interview we aren’t currently offering guided tours, however there are plenty of opportunities for self- directed free-choice exploration. Ask about the family guides and scavenger hunts when you arrive. These encourage kids and parents to look a little closer at objects and artwork. During traditional school break weeks we offer drop-in activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by for a make-and-take art/craft project. No reservations are required but activities are only available while supplies last so don’t miss out! On the first Saturday of the month, we offer Kids Take Over the Cowboy from 10 a.m. to noon. Families have the chance to explore the museum and participate in activities related to Western culture. It may be a celebration of women in the West, trying your hand at traditional Native games or learning more about a special exhibition through craft activities and story time. Bedtime Buckaroos is a virtual bedtime story released on Monday evenings on our social media platforms. Story time plays a vital role in introducing children to the magic of books. Each week we feature a new engaging Western story read by local authors, community leaders, traditional storytellers and museum staff. One of our newest initiatives is our
What else can kids and families enjoy at the museum? One of our newest exhibits designed especially with kids in mind is Liichokoshkomo’, which is more than 100,000 square feet dedicated to learning and family fun. Liichokoshkomo’ (pronounced Lee-cho-kosh-ko-MO) is a Chickasaw phrase for “Let’s play,” and the spirit of that statement serves as an invitation for families to experience hands- on learning. Families can explore Native dwellings such as a Pawnee earth lodge or Chickasaw Council House, learn to rope a steer in the rodeo arena, tap out a message with the telegraph or determine how often the geyser rockets out of the waterfall pool. Parents can take a break while they watch the kiddos play at the Friess Family Playground. The completely enclosed play space allows kids to run and climb, all within a parent’s line of site.
nationalcowboymuseum.org. How have you adapted your programs to keep kids and families safe during the pandemic?
We’ve been able to move some of our bigger programs such as the Cherokee Cultural Celebration and Rodeo Opry History Concert to virtual experiences available during a select time period. We also added make-at-home craft and art projects to our website (nationalcowboymuseum.org/projects-at- home). Most of these use items you already have around the house. There is a lot of space to spread out at the museum and on our grounds. Activities are socially distanced so family groupings can stay together to complete a project. Surfaces and supplies are cleaned before the next family uses them. Hand sanitizer is found throughout and we require face masks.
1700 NE 63rd St, OKC 405-478-2250 nationalcowboymuseum.org
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