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Date: January 3, 2010
Re: Second Saturday Science Series begins January 9

It’s a FAMILY AFFAIR at Raven Hill Discovery Center this second Saturday in 2010—January 9th from noon to 4 pm. Thanks to a grant awarded by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, the Center will offer free admission and special science activities on the second Saturday of each month in 2010, starting this Saturday, January 9th. Bring the whole family “team” OR make it a special event for parent and child. There will be fun problem-solving demos & activities to fit various ages, abilities and interests every month. Family groups can strengthen creative & critical thinking skills by trying a different science challenge each month, plus enjoy the museum, animals and outdoor exhibits. The focus in January will be Towering Towers. Small fry can use building blocks while older children can try other challenges, such as domino towers, Jenga towers, paper towers and playing card towers. Raven Hill Discovery Center is the only place in northern Lower Michigan where children and adults can link science, history & the arts with hands-on activities and explorations both indoors and outdoors. Connections emerge through classes, exhibits and facilities that provide opportunities for all ages to learn, create, grow and play. Raven Hill Discovery Center is located between East Jordan & Boyne City, just off C-48 at Pearsall Road. For more information or questions or for winter road conditions, please call 231.536.3369.

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Date: December 18, 2009
Re: Winter Solstice 2009

Raven Hill Discovery Center has hosted a winter solstice celebration at its outdoor Ancient World Exhibit site for about seven years, but will move the event indoors this year to allow more people to participate, said CEO Cheri Leach. Instead of celebrating near a native-stone scale replica of the bluestones of Stonehenge, participants will be able to view a model of Stonehenge, make a sundial to take home, learn how water clocks work, and mark down important dates from a perpetual calendar. A bonfire, hot chocolate, s'mores and luminaria also are planned. General admission is $8 and includes access to regular indoor and outdoor displays and exhibits.
Leach said the solstice celebration is an opportunity to connect science, history and art -- the East Jordan center's mission -- and to teach about cycles and seasons. The solstice was especially important in ancient times, when communities needed reassurance that there would be another season. "The 21st is the longest night and the shortest day of the year; after that the days get longer," she said. "So winter solstice is the celebration of the new harvest season."

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Date: November 22, 2008
Re: Holiday Hours for 2008

Plan on treating yourself and your family to an afternoon of fun and exploration at Raven Hill Discovery Center this holiday season. Located between East Jordan & Boyne City, just off C-48 at Pearsall Road, the Center helps visitors build connections between science, history and the arts in an interactive learning environment. In addition to the hands-on museum and exotic animals, visitors can dress for the weather and visit the tree house, the one-room schoolhouse, explore the Time Tunnel, see the geologic history of the earth on the Exploring Beyond Jurassic Park outdoor exhibit, and snowshoe or cross country ski around the Taxi Trail and to the Ancient World outdoor exhibits. Raven Hill Discovery Center will be open from noon to 4 p.m. for family visits during both Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Hours include, Friday, November 28th through Sunday, November 30th, as well as Saturday, December 20th through Monday, January 5th, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Visitors can always explore the museum and animals. Special activities include pioneer crafts in November and a variety of activities in December, including Shibori, an ancient folding and dyeing technique that yields beautiful scarves, Hot Glass Beads, working with a torch to create your own glass beads, marbled paper, leather pouches, aluminum repose, plus several other Arts & Crafts sessions. There will be a do-it-yourself gift-wrapping station available. Anyone interested in making holiday gifts can call and schedule a time for their choice of classes. Raven Hill will also celebrate the Winter Solstice on Sunday, December 21, 2008 with a trip out to Stonehenge in Raven Hill’s very own Ancient World. The trek will begin at 5 p.m. Participants can snowshoe or cross country ski an illuminated trail and are asked to bring a goody to roast on the fire and a piece of firewood to keep the fire burning. The entire family will have great fun. Be sure to plan on playing in the museum and seeing the animals afterward while you warm up. Snowshoes will be available to borrow for those who do not own any. Please call to reserve snowshoes and register to participate in the Winter Solstice event. The Center’s annual Holiday Open House is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 28th, so help us celebrate our 18th holiday season. Finally, a New Year’s Eve Overnight from 6 p.m. on December 31, 2008 to 9 a.m. on January 1, 2009 will entertain the kids and keep them safe, while you celebrate with them or on your own. Registration is limited, so book your spaces soon by calling Cheri at 231-536-3369. Cost is $100 per person for the overnight and includes meals, snacks & activities.

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Date: January 17, 2008
Re: Tree House Project

Raven Hill Discovery Center is extending an invitation to submit drawings to be used in the design of a Tree House that will be built this spring as a part of a grant from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Tree House Project will create an arboreal space that incorporates the science of sound, light, motion, simple machines and nature, as well as the art of glass, clay, metal, wood, fiber and stone. The Raven Hill Discovery Center Tree House will be built on a platform that is suspended by cables between four trees about 8 feet above the ground. The tree house will be approximately 15’ x 15’, but not necessarily square or rectangular.

Art classes or individuals can participate at three levels:

1. Teachers, students of any age and the community are invited to draw (and label or describe) their own fantasy tree house. Submitted drawings will become the property of Raven Hill Discovery Center and be reviewed for the feasibility of the designs. As many ideas and elements as possible will be incorporated into a final tree house design to be created by Andre’ Poineau of East Jordan. In 1995, Poineau Woodworkers designed and constructed the Tree House in the 4-H Children’s Garden at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan.
2. The Tree House walls will be constructed of panels approximately 4’ x 6’ in size. Art teachers and their students may submit a design for a wall panel. Upon acceptance of a class design, a panel will be delivered to the school, where students will embellish their panel by painting, staining, wood burning, carving, insetting, etc.
3. High school juniors and seniors will be invited to work with Poineau Woodworkers at Raven Hill Discovery Center to assemble the tree house on May 21, 2008 (rain date: May 22).

Please call Cheri at 231.536.3369 to sign up for one or more levels of participation, for more information or if you have any questions.

Dates:

February 14, 2008 Tree House drawings due
March 14, 2008 Tree House panel designs are due
April 14, 2008 Panels delivered to schools for embellishment
May 14, 2008 Finished panels returned to Raven Hill Discovery Center
May 21, 2008 Assembly of Tree House at Raven Hill Discovery Center
May 22, 2009 Assembly of Tree House (raindate)

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Date: December 2, 2007
Re: 2007 Winter Holiday Events

Raven Hill Discovery Center has scheduled FUN for this holiday season. If you are looking for a creative way to make holiday gifts for loved ones this year, look no further. Raven Hill Discovery Center is hosting an Art Across the Ages “Make & Take” Weekend on December 8, 2007 from noon to 4 pm. Bring the whole family for an exciting day of gift making. Stations will include Shibori, an ancient dyeing and folding technique that yields beautiful scarves, Hot Glass Beads, working with a torch to create your own glass beads for those 10 or older, copper planishing, using a hammer stone & fire to make a pendant, needle felting, plus several other Arts & Crafts stations. General admission is $7 per person. To participate in the “Make & Take” stations, there is an additional $5 charge. Participants can make multiples of any art or craft project for the cost of individual materials. For example, those who choose to create larger silk Shibori scarves will pay $6 per scarf. There will also be a do-it-yourself gift-wrapping station available. As always, visitors may decide to spend all their time exploring the museum & animal rooms. Then celebrate the Winter Solstice on Friday, December 21, 2007 with a trip out to Stonehenge in Raven Hill’s very own Ancient World. The trek will begin at 5 p.m. Participants can snowshoe or cross-country ski an illuminated trail and are asked to bring goodies to share. The entire family will have great fun. Be sure to plan time to play in the museum and see the animals afterward while you warm up. The Center’s 17th annual Holiday Open House is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 28th, so stop by on your way home from work to help us celebrate the holiday season. And a New Year’s Eve Overnight from 6 p.m. on December 31, 2007 to 9 a.m. on January 1, 2008 will entertain the kids and keep them safe, while you celebrate with them or on your own. Registration is limited, so book a spot for your children soon by calling Cheri at 231-536-3369. Cost is $100 per child and kids must be between 4 and 12 years of age. Alternatively, just treat yourself and your family to an afternoon of fun and exploration at Raven Hill Discovery Center this holiday season. Located between East Jordan & Boyne City, just off C-48 at Pearsall Road, the Center helps visitors build connections between science, history and the arts in an interactive learning environment. In addition to the hands-on museum and exotic animals, visitors can dress for the weather and spend time in the one-room schoolhouse, explore the Time Tunnel, see the geologic history of the earth on the Exploring Beyond Jurassic Park outdoor exhibit, and snowshoe or cross country ski around the Taxi Trail and to the Ancient World outdoor exhibit. Raven Hill will be open every day from noon to 4 p.m. from Saturday, December 22nd through Wednesday, January 2, 2008, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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Date: June 15, 2007
Re: 2007 Summer Programs and Events

Summer classes are already in full swing at Raven Hill Discovery Center. Classes are available for children and adults. They take place every week day, both morning and afternoon or other times by appointment. Classes feature lots of new experiences for children from four to fourteen and for adventurous adults. Favorites include art classes like Shibori, batik, marbled fabrics, hot glass beads, stained glass, copper smithing, jewelry, printing and graphics, papermaking, felting, pysanky, welding, and raku pottery, as well as African spirit masks, playing school, frog catching and survival. Kids and adults gain new skills as they experience all areas of science, history and the arts. Everyone can also take full advantage of Raven Ridge Nature Preserve with its boardwalk, trails and overlook platform. Other outdoor activities include spending time exploring Michigan’s geologic history in Raven Hill’s Beyond Jurassic Park exhibit or learning about Michigan’s trees while hiking the Taxi (Taxonomic) Trail. Sign up for summer classes to fit your schedule by calling Raven Hill Discovery Center. Choose the day, time and class that fits the best. Cost for classes is $16 per hour for adults and $8 per hour for children. Participants can bring a sack lunch and for attend both morning and afternoon classes. Professional Development classes for teachers are also scheduled throughout the summer. Graduate credit for classes is available through Central Michigan University. In addition, the Center is open daily to the general public: 10 to 4 weekdays, 12 to 4 Saturdays and 2 to 4 Sundays. Admission price is $7, which includes the museum, animals and newly expanded outdoor exhibits like the Ancient World, Jurassic Park, Schoolhouse and Taxi Trail. For more information on any of the programs or to register, please call 231-536-3369 or toll free 877-833-4254. Special events include celebrating the Summer Solstice on Thursday, June 21, 2007 with a trip to Stonehenge in Raven Hill Discovery Center’s Ancient World. June 21st marks the beginning of the summer or growing season and the day is celebrated by many cultures around the world. As in ancient times, Raven Hill’s Summer Solstice will be celebrated traditionally with food, games, and a large bonfire, which was believed to give a boost to the sun's energy so that it would remain potent throughout the rest of the growing season and guarantee a plentiful harvest. The festival will mark the longest day of the year. Anyone wishing to attend should call 231.536.3369 to register. Families are welcome and everyone should bring finger foods to share, a piece of firewood to keep the bonfire burning and a flashlight to find their way back to their car after the bonfire! The festivities will begin at 7 p.m. and participants can drive to the Ancient World or park at Raven Hill Discovery Center and walk to the Ancient World over the Wetlands Boardwalk. AND, the Center’s 5th annual fundraiser, Summer Magic 2007: A Nite at the Museum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, July 20th. Interested adults are invited to spend an exciting evening at Raven Hill Discovery Center to celebrate sixteen years of science, history and art connections. Please join us and enjoy fun, food, and friends in support of Raven Hill. A $20 per person ticket purchase and the proceeds from a silent auction will benefit Raven Hill Discovery Center programs and facilities for the coming year. Please call 231.536.3369 by July 18th to reserve tickets or for additional information.

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Date: March 4, 2007
Re: 2007 Vernal Equinox

Raven Hill will celebrate the Vernal (Spring) Equinox on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 with a bonfire at Stonehenge in Raven Hill’s Ancient World Exhibit. The event will start at 7 p.m. Participants can walk, snowshoe or cross-country ski depending on the weather and are encouraged bring food to roast and share. If the skies are clear, a telescope will be set up to observe the moon, planets and stars. As befits Ancient Cultures, several traditions will honor the ending of the dark and the beginning of the light. A turtle rock will be dedicated and placed facing east for the spring season. Cornmeal will be sprinkled to bless the raised crop beds for the new growing period. Food will be placed in the bonfire to honor the spirits. Finally a tree will be planted to symbolize the renewal of nature, the balance between day and night and the coming of spring. The entire family will have great fun. Be sure to plan on playing in the museum and seeing the animals afterward. Please call Cheri at 231.536.3369 to register, for more information and to confirm the event in case of inclement weather. There is no charge, but donations of fruits and vegetables for the tortoises or birdseed for the wild birds or cash to help with operating expenses will be gladly accepted.

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Date: January 15, 2007
Re: AAA: Art Across the Ages Fiber Workshops Offered

The winter sessions of Raven Hill Discovery Center’s AAA: Art Across the Ages series explores the history of fiber, as participants make and decorate fiber objects from various time periods. The Fiber I sessions start at 4 pm on Friday, January 19th and run Friday through Sunday for two weekends. The Fiber II sessions start at 4 pm on Friday, February 16th and run Friday through Sunday for two weekends. The AAA: Art Across the Ages Fiber Workshops will explore the history of making and decorating fibers from the Neolithic Age through Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Pioneer and Modern times. Participants will explore the various time periods by creating representative hands-on fiber projects, as well as connecting the science to the art and history of the times. The workshops will help participants build a wealth of connections between the science, history and art of fiber. From neolithic rope making and mat weaving to paper making to weaving on and off loom to basketry to modern synthetic fibers and from staining and natural dyes to indigo dyeing to Shibori to batik & French Serti painting designs on fibers, these two fiber workshops will present new links to fiber art for everyone involved. The AAA: Art Across the Ages series of workshops invites anyone interested in fibers to register for either of the workshops to be held at Raven Hill Discovery Center this January and February. Participants can be high school students, college students and interested adults, as well as teachers of any grade level. Everyone will create their own fiber works of art in the various traditions. In collaboration with Central Michigan University’s Off Campus Programs, the Center is able to offer three hours of graduate or undergraduate credit for each of the two fiber workshops. Those taking a workshop for college credit pay tuition directly to CMU. Those auditing the workshops pay a per day tuition of $50 to Raven Hill. Each workshop is limited to ten participants. Call Raven Hill Discovery Center at 231.536.3369 for more information or to register for an hour, a day or the entire workshop.

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Date: November 15, 2006
Re: Holiday Hours Announced for 2006

Raven Hill Discovery Center will be open from noon to 4 p.m. for family visits during both Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Hours include, Friday, November 24th through Sunday, November 26th, as well as Saturday, December 16th through Wednesday, January 3rd, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Visitors can always explore the museum and animals. Special activities include pioneer crafts in November and a variety of activities in December, including the 2nd annual Make and Take Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, December 2nd, including Shibori, an ancient dyeing and folding technique that yields beautiful scarves, Hot Glass Beads, working with a torch to create your own glass beads, marbled paper, leather pouches, aluminum repose, plus several other Arts & Crafts stations. There will be a do-it-yourself gift-wrapping station available. Raven Hill will also celebrate the Winter Solstice on Thursday, December 21, 2006 with a trip out to Stonehenge in Raven Hill’s very own Ancient World. The trek will begin at 5 p.m. Participants can snowshoe or cross country ski an illuminated trail and are asked to bring a goody to roast on the fire and a piece of firewood to keep the fire burning. The entire family will have great fun. Be sure to plan on hot chocolate and playing in the museum and seeing the animals afterward. Snowshoes will be available to borrow for those who do not own any. The Center’s annual Holiday Open House is scheduled from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 28th, so come early and play or stop by on your way home from work to help us celebrate our 16th holiday season. Finally, a New Year’s Eve Overnight from 6 p.m. on December 31, 2006 to 9 a.m. on January 1, 2007 will entertain the kids and keep them safe, while you celebrate with them or on your own. Registration is limited, so book the Center soon by calling Cheri at 231-536-3369. Plan on treating yourself and your family to an afternoon of fun and exploration at Raven Hill Discovery Center this holiday season. Located between East Jordan & Boyne City, just off C-48 at Pearsall Road, the Center helps visitors build connections between science, history and the arts in an interactive learning environment. In addition to the hands-on museum and exotic animals, visitors can dress for the weather and visit the one-room schoolhouse, explore the Time Tunnel, see the geologic history of the earth on the Exploring Beyond Jurassic Park outdoor exhibit, and snowshoe or cross country ski around the Taxi Trail and to the Ancient World outdoor exhibit.

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Date: November 4, 2006
Re: Jurassic Park Revisited

The Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has awarded $10,500 to Raven Hill Discovery Center for JURASSIC PARK REVISITED. The 2007 grant award will give Raven Hill the chance to expand the Center’s established outdoor exhibit, “Exploring Beyond Jurassic Park: The Geologic History of the Earth”, while simultaneously providing career experiences for high school participants and expanding visitor understanding of the Earth’s past. JURASSIC PARK REVISITED will emphasize earth’s history that is still dynamically changing, constantly growing and developing, as man learns and applies new techniques and technologies to make more discoveries. The grant will add more sculptures of extinct species to the outdoor exhibit and provide middle & high school students the chance to experience bronze casting as they cast leaves and other objects for “textural signs” along the pathway. Visitors will be able to feel and see real fossils, bronze leaves of ancient plants, as well as skeletons, skulls and teeth up close along the trail. The grant needs to be matched 2:1, so let us know if you are interested in helping out with a donation. Call Cheri at 231.536.3369 for more information.

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Date: October 4, 2006
Re: AAA--Art Across the Ages CLAY Workshop

Raven Hill Discovery Center is offering a series of fall and winter workshops entitled AAA: Art Across the Ages. The first session explores the history of clay and pottery. It starts at 4 pm on Friday, October 20th and runs for two weekends. The AAA: Art Across the Ages Clay Workshop will explore the history of pottery from the Neolithic Age through Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Modern times. Participants will explore the various time periods with representative hands-on clay projects, as well as connecting the science to the art and history of the times. The workshop will help participants build a wealth of connections between the science, history and art of clay. From the very first pottery that was probably a basket lined with clay accidentally getting burned to the modern polymer, Sculpy clay, this workshop will present new links to learning for everyone involved. The AAA: Art Across the Ages series of workshops invites anyone interested in clay, metal, glass and fiber to register for any and all of the workshops to be held at Raven Hill Discovery Center this fall and winter. Participants can be high school students, college students and interested adults, as well as teachers of any grade level. Everyone will create their own works of art in the various traditions. In collaboration with Central Michigan University’s Off Campus Programs, the Center is able to offer three hours of graduate or undergraduate credit for each of five workshops: clay, metal, glass and two fiber sessions. Those taking a workshop for college credit pay tuition directly to CMU. Those auditing the workshops pay a per day tuition of $50 to Raven Hill. Each workshop is limited to ten participants. Call Raven Hill Discovery Center at 231.536.3369 for more information or to register for a day or the entire workshop.

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Date: September 6, 2006
Re: AT&T—Ancient Techniques & Technologies Fall Open House

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create something like the Ancients did? Come to the fall open house on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at Raven Hill Discovery Center’s Ancient World Outdoor Exhibit and see for yourself. Participants in the Center’s Ancient Techniques & Technologies grant workshops will be there from noon to 4:00 to share their experiences of indigo dyeing, hot glass beads, primitive pottery, copper planishing and flint knapping arrowheads. See the newly set obelisk and the ancient factory work site with its Roman clay-straw and Nigerian top-loading kilns, ancient glass making and beading furnaces, and copper smelter. Talk with the artists, who “worked” in ancient times this past summer and live those times through their eyes. Raven Hill Discovery Center was awarded the Ancient Techniques & Technologies (AT&T) grant for 2006 by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The grant has helped students and teachers explore techniques used by ancient cultures to create works that have become important historically and as art. In April, approximately 120 northern Michigan middle and high school students and their teachers participated in invitationals and explored ancient techniques in glass, clay, metal, fiber, wood & stone while creating small artworks. This summer, workshops allowed participants a chance to actually create and use ancient tools, techniques, and technologies. Workshops included wood, fiber, glass, clay, metal and stone art. Both spring and summer workshops brought artists-in-residence to Raven Hill Discovery Center where they worked with teachers and students interested in art, science and history. Summer participants created the ancient factory site and used ancient techniques to create artworks that will be permanently displayed in Raven Hill Discovery Center’s ever-evolving Ancient World Exhibit. All participants created their own smaller works of art in the various art mediums. This year’s open house occurs in the Ancient World Exhibit. In addition to the artwork, there will be art and craft demonstrations, hands-on opportunities, and refreshments. The Wetlands Boardwalk connects Raven Hill to the Ancient World and to Raven Ridge Nature Preserve, so visitors can walk the Boardwalk to the Ancient World or they can drive past Raven Hill and park at the beginning of the Ancient World Exhibit. Staff and volunteers will be available to lead tours or visitors can explore on their own. The hands-on museum & animal room will be open only from 2 to 4 pm. Visitors can sign up for memberships and classes, including ancient art techniques like Shibori or hot glass beads or copper planishing.

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Date: September 1, 2006
Re: CMU Letterpress Printing and Bookbinding Intensive

Central Michigan University Off-Campus Programs is partnering with Raven Hill Discovery Center to offer credit options for the new 2006-07 Connections Series Workshops, where participants will have hands-on experiences in connecting various art media with science and history. September will begin the series of twelve workshops with a printing and bookbinding intensive, where participants will learn the entire process of making a book. The workshop is worth two credit hours. Chad Postotnik of Deep Wood Press in Mancelona is the artist-in-residence for this first workshop, which is scheduled for the last two weekends in September. Each participant will come equipped with their own original haiku and a desire to learn this 500+ year old means of printing and even more ancient form of binding. The class will be making a finished book in a edition of 22, each student will go home with a book, one donated to the Raven Hill library, one for the Deep Wood archives and 10 will be available for purchase with the proceeds going to a local scholarship or charity to be determined. The workshop begins with an overview of the Japanese stab binding, which will be used to familiarize the students with the letterpress terminology, tools and the type case from which they will be setting the words for their haiku. Students then are introduced to the concepts of rudimentary book design and will come to a consensus regarding various issues of “style”. Work begins in earnest as words are set and impressed onto paper as printing commences. Pages are collated, binding begins, title selected and applied and everyone involved can congratulate each other on becoming a published author and possessing another exquisite title for their home library. All of the Connections Workshops are designed to bring science, history and art teachers together to build links that connect curriculum for students of all ages. The workshops are appropriate for art, science and history teachers, as well as high school and college students interested in art, science and history. Coming workshops include the science, history and art of glass, clay, metal, fiber, wood and stone. Raven Hill is working with Central Michigan University’s Off Campus Programs to make three hours of graduate or undergraduate credit available for each of the additional eleven workshops. Those taking a workshop for college credit will pay tuition directly to CMU. Each workshop is limited to ten participants. Call Cheri at 231.536.3369 for more information or to register for a workshop, either for CMU credits or as an audit.

Date: June 9, 2006
Re: AT&T—Ancient Techniques & Technologies FIBER Workshop

Fiber in the ancient tradition will be the subject of a workshop at Raven Hill Discovery Center during the week of June 19, 2006. The six-day Ancient Techniques & Technologies (AT&T) Fiber Workshop will cover a wide range of fiber arts, including spinning yarn with a drop spindle, book binding, indigo and natural dyes. The intensive will give participants a chance to actually experience ancient materials, methods, tools, techniques, and technologies with fibers and with a few modern conveniences thrown in for good measure!
Bethany Schaltz will share her expertise in spinning yarn on a drop spindle with participants on Monday, June 19th. Chad Postotnik of Deep Wood Press will work with participants on Tuesday, June 20th to give them experience in the ancient art of bookbinding. Participants will explore at least four different book structures in this introduction to bookbinding, create them, and then take them home as finished works and samples to make more. Wednesday, the 21st through Friday, the 23rd of June, Joann Condino of Three Pines Studio will facilitate indigo dye processes. Indigo is among the oldest dye plants known to Eurasian civilizations and will allow participants to work in a range of pure, colorfast blues. Locally found natural dyes on Saturday with Cheri Leach will round out the week’s workshop.

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Date: May 23, 2006
Re: Memorial Day Weekend and Summer Hours

Treat yourself and your family to an afternoon or a day of fun and exploration at Raven Hill Discovery Center this weekend and this summer. Located between East Jordan & Boyne City, just off C-48 at Pearsall Road, the Center helps visitors build connections between science, history and the arts in an interactive learning environment. Visitors can spend time in the one-room schoolhouse, walk the labyrinth, explore the Time Tunnel, see the geologic history of the earth on the Exploring Beyond Jurassic Park outdoor exhibit, and wander through the Center’s new outdoor exhibit, The Ancient World. In addition to the hands-on museum, the exotic animals and the outdoor exhibits, visitors can register for science, history and art classes. Classes are available for children 4 to 14 and for adults. Raven Hill will be open every day over Memorial Day weekend from noon to 4 p.m. from Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29, 2006. On Tuesday, May 30th, summer hours will go into effect and the Center will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Summer hours last through Friday, September 1st. Raven Hill is also always open by appointment.

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Date: April 20, 2006
Re: At&T Grant

Raven Hill Discovery Center has been awarded a sixth grant by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Ancient Techniques & Technologies (AT&T) will help teachers, students and visitors explore techniques used by ancient cultures to create works that have become important historically and as art. As the first component of the grant, approximately one hundred twenty northern Michigan middle and high school students and their teachers will participate in Invitationals on April 25th and 26th and use techniques in glass, clay, metal, fiber, wood & stone to create small artworks.

Raven Hill Discovery Center is a regional science and technology center. It is located on 157 acres in a rural area of northwestern Lower Michigan next to the Little Traverse Conservancy’s Raven Ridge Nature Preserve. It is also a cultural, historical and art center. The overall goal of the Center is to build lifelong connections for children and adults that link science, history and the arts in a hands-on learning environment.