Jamie Tisch teaches a sensory art class at The Boca Raton Children’s Museum.
The class uses tactile and multi-dimensional objects to create art. Here, Tisch (left),
Avery Luppino, 16 months, and Jolene Luppino use a string to balance pirates
created with paper, crayons, tape and pennies for weight and balance.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Janis Fontaine
The Boca Raton Children’s Museum, called the oldest children’s museum in Florida, announced it is now an affiliate of the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, a nonprofit that has been dedicated “to providing children a pathway out of poverty” in Boca Raton for more than 40 years. Leading the charge to rejuvenate the museum is Florence Fuller’s CEO, Ellyn Okrent.
Jayne Morrison, the museum’s operations coordinator, called Okrent “a dynamic personality with a proven track record.” Okrent will try to lead the struggling venue to solid ground.
The Children’s Museum is a charming place, with real historical significance. “It’s an important part of our community, but it couldn’t sustain itself,” Morrison said. One of the first things the new leaders did was begin planning the Dash Around Town Cocktail Party, a fund- and friend-raiser to be held July 18.
“We call it a ‘friend-raiser’ because we need the older, more established members of the community to show support for us,” Morrison said. “We need to let people know about our new events and activities we offer, and to identify people who want to support the museum. The historic importance of our buildings is still the museum’s cornerstone.”
Three historic structures make up the museum: Singing Pines is one of the oldest unaltered wooden structures in Boca Raton. The 1935 cottage was originally built as a private home but it was used by the Arvida Corp. as its first local construction and sales office in the 1960s and was moved to the museum grounds in the ’80s. The newest building opened in June 2011. The Rickards House is a replica inspired by one of the first homes built in Boca Raton by Capt. T. M. Rickards in 1897.
A variety of art and enrichment activities take place every day, plus there’s plenty to explore and touch. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and admission is $5. Infants are admitted free. Soon there will be even more to see.
“Our exhibit builder, Adrian St. Cyr — we call him ‘our museum imagineer’ — is working on two new exhibits to go up this year. One will be a water table for indoor water play. The other is a story-time tent. We’re kicking it to a whole new level!” Morrison said. “They haven’t seen anything yet!”
If you go: The Dash Around Town Cocktail Party will be held from 7 to 10:30 p.m. July 18, and will features drinks, dinner by the bite, and a performance by jazz singer Deborah Paiva. Guests will have a chance to meet Florence Fuller CEO Ellyn Okrent. Tickets are $35, which includes two drink tickets, dinner by the bite, and entertainment. A cash bar is available. Raffles and auctions are also planned. For tickets or information, call 368-6875 or visit www.cmboca.org
Summer activities to keep your youngsters happy
Looking for something different to do with the kids?
We know children come with diverse interests, so we found five things to do in July, each appealing to a different personality. See if there’s one that fits your child.
For your science nerd: The Children’s Science Explorium offers Grab ’n’ Go EcoPacks — backpacks filled with tools and materials needed to guide your family through an investigation of the plants, animals and insects in the park. There are three pack options: Bug Hunter, Botanical Investigator and Bird Sleuth.
They’re free for the asking, but an adult (18 and older) needs to reserve the pack with a valid ID. Eco-packs are available during regular hours. On July 18 and 19 at 3:30 p.m., the Explorium will host a free weekend science demo best for ages 7 and older. Kids will learn scientific principles through interactive demonstrations. The Science Explorium is in Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. For more information, call 347-3912 or visit www.scienceexplorium.org.
For your budding chef: The master chocolatiers at Hoffman’s Chocolate Factory — the local source for handmade, artisan chocolates for 40 years — is looking for kids with a creative mind and sweet tooth.
On Thursday mornings at 10:30 from July 9 through Aug. 13, kids become chocolatiers for an hour, dipping and decorating delectable dollops of deliciousness. They also make their own chocolate pizza. The class is suited for age 6 and older and is $14.95. Call for reservations. Hoffman’s is at 5190 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. Call 967-2213.
For your sun worshiper: Each summer, the naturalists at Sandoway House Nature Center take kids on a beach adventure, “hunting and decoding the mystery of the various critters washing up on our shore.”
Called Decoding Beach Curiosities, the guide leads the intrepid explorers on a hunt for clams, snails, corals, plants and other signs of life. A careful examination reveals their similarities and differences and, ultimately, the identification of these creatures.
The fee is $8, including admission to the nature center. The program will begin at 9 a.m. July 11 and is appropriate for all ages. Sandoway House is at 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. To reserve your place, call 274-7263.
For your fairy tale-loving thespian: Curtain Call Playhouse, an 18-year-old local touring troupe, presents an interactive twist on a classic fairy tale — The Little Mermaid’s Adventure — as part of the Willow Theatre’s Summer Children’s Series. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved story, this show is an interactive performance with singalongs to familiar songs and even a few educational life lessons.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for ages 12 and younger. Each child’s ticket includes a carousel ride token; and cookies and juice will be served in the lobby after the performance. Show times are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 19 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Call 954-784-0768; www.curtaincallplayhouse.com.
For your grand explorer: Pretend your family’s survival depends on locating the certain critical items and your only means of transportation is by bike. This is the Geocaching by Bike family adventure at Daggerwing Nature Center, which “integrates modern technology with the exploration of nature.”
It’s a bike hike / scavenger hunt using a GPS (or your smartphone) as a guide. Build communication skills, bond as a team, and take a deep breath outside before it gets too hot.
You must bring your own bike. Start time is 10 a.m. July 30 at Daggerwing, inside South County Regional Park, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.The fee is $5; reservations are required. Call 629-8760.
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