OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Special outreach presentations are available to classes, teachers,
libraries, clubs, reunions, day cares and other organizations.
Hands-on sessions for children and adults are available in the
areas of science, history, or the arts. Programs cost $100 per
hour or $500 per day. Programs include, but are not limited
to, the following:
Connections
Science, history and art lessons are hands-on and right in
the classrooms with kids. Teachers choose the activity they
want, then they watch, participate & learn integrated activities
to fit their curriculum. Schools design a travel schedule for
Raven Hill to visit five or six classrooms in a day or provide
a variety of lessons in one classroom. Kids and teachers benefit.
Objectives correlate to the Michigan Curriculum Frameworks.
NO assemblies.
Animals
Everyone’s favorite. Opportunities are provided to learn
about & pet or hold exotic animals, including snakes, lizards,
spiders, birds and mammals. Observation and comparison skills
are emphasized.
Science Explorations
“Stations” are set up for exploration of simple
chemistry, motion, light, sound, machines, and magnetism, space,
life science or other areas of interest.
History Alive!
Hands-on history activities are brought onto your site from
a variety of time periods, such as stone age, ancient, medieval,
Renaissance, pioneer, civil war and modern times. Every experience
links the science and art with the history of various cultures
and times.
Art To Go
Art exhibits and hands-on activities can travel to a variety
of sites to promote the ties between art and history and science
through informal educational opportunities. Students and adults
can enjoy papermaking, copper planishing, glass mosaics, Shibori
and a variety of other arts and crafts.
Specials
Choose a specific topic for exploration: natural dyes, marbled
paper or fabric, lasers, Michigan geology, wheat weaving, useful
plants and trees or whatever your mind can dream up!.
Professional Development Workshops
Hands-on science for teachers, including materials kit for
participants. Name the topics and the grades and we custom fit
the activities, ideas, and connections.
Cheri Leach is founder, CEO and Director of Programming at
Raven Hill Discovery Center, a museum that builds connections
for children and adults linking science, history and the arts
in a hands-on learning environment. She has a major in biology
and a minor in chemistry from Albion College in Albion, Michigan.
She earned a Masters in Science Education through the University
of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1991 she was a National
Science Teacher Association (NSTA) Exemplary Facilities Award
winner. Also, in 1991, Cheri was an American Association of
University Women Eleanor Roosevelt Fellow. She currently teaches
graduate classes for teachers through Central Michigan University's
Off Campus Programs, as well as professional development classes
and student classes at Raven Hill and through the Center’s
Outreach programs. A science teacher since 1968 and a science
workshop presenter since 1987, Cheri collaborates closely with
Tim Leach, her husband and Director of Exhibits and Facilities
at Raven Hill Discovery Center. Tim has a Bachelor of Fine Arts
and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College with a major
in biology and a minor in geology. Both Cheri and Tim work as
mentors to youngsters, adults and teachers interested in sciences
and arts and the many connections science and art have to history
and to all the other aspects of our lives--past, present and
future.
