The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center shares resources to enrich students’ understanding of the world around them. We accomplish this through the following:
Museum Tours – guided or self-guided group tours to fit specific curriculum needs or interests. Popular themed tours include: pioneer life, apple industry, First People (Clovis and Native Americans) and Washington State history. Tours may be booked Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. For school groups, at least one adult per six students is required. To arrange, call (509) 888-6240.
Special Programs – The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center offers numerous educational programs throughout the year designed for kids and families. Examples include Family ArtVentures (in cooperation with Wenatchee Art Educators Consortium), Family Fun Nights, Ice Age Adventures, the Regional High School Art Show, and Super Summer Adventures. This popular summer program consists of weekly enrichment classes for students entering 1st through 7th grades. The program is presented by the Museum with support from the Wenatchee School District, and the North Central Educational Service District. Sponsors for the 2010 season include Target, Rotary North and Wenatchee Rotary. Classes include chess, music, photography, Lego robotics, cooking, art, science, drama and more. You may access the registration form online (print it out, fill it in and mail with your check) or by calling the Museum at (509) 888-6240.
Museum-to-You Boxes – These self-contained educational kits contain objects and activity guides for hands-on learning, designed to supplement classroom curricula or provide a club activity. Each box contains an Educator’s Guide and most also contain EALR guides. The Museum offers 11 boxes on natural history and 7 boxes on cultural history. Teachers may reserve these boxes for up to three weeks by calling (509) 888-6240. Two weeks’ notice is suggested, as reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee is $15.00 per week. Descriptions of the boxes are below.
Community Learning Resources brochure
Natural History Museum-to-You Boxes
Bird Box: Soar into the wonderful world of birds with this introductory box. Includes specimens, feathers, nests, eggs and books.
Birds of Prey: Investigate the features and ecology of Washington’s eagles, hawks and owls. Includes specimens, video, owl pellet dissection and activities.
Butterfly: Investigate beautiful butterflies and their important place in our ecosystem. Includes specimens, video, activities and poster.
Elk: Examine the biology of elk and their surrounding environment. Includes specimens, activities, video and posters.
Fin Bin and Wild Salmon: Explore the life cycle of salmon. Includes specimens, activities and videos. In September, reservation is limited to one week.
Plant Discovery: Explore the rich plant life of Eastern Washington. Includes curriculum, posters, books, models, videos.
Plants for People: Take a tour of the natural “grocery store” found in plants growing on the Columbia Plateau. Includes DVD presentation, Powerpoint, plant samples, poster and activities.
Water and Bug: Examine life above and below the water line. Includes curriculum, posters, videos and water-quality test kits.
Wildfire: Learn about wildfire behavior and the role of wildfire in the Eastern Cascades ecosystem. Includes artifacts, CDs, books and activities.
Wolf Box: Use skulls, hides, tracks and scat to examine the magnificent, and often maligned, wolf. Includes specimens, videos, cassettes and reference books.
Cultural History Museum-to-You Boxes
Clovis Culture: Use archaeological data from the internationally recognized East Wenatchee Clovis Site to learn about people who lived on the Columbia Plateau 11,000 years ago. Includes artifact replicas, bones, a slide show and maps.
Mexican Art Adventure: Celebrate the art, culture and history surrounding Mexico’s El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday. Includes artifacts, prints, curricula and art projects.
Pioneer Life: Experience pioneer life in the 1890s. Discover how everyday tasks were accomplished and what kids used to do for fun! Includes artifacts, books and activities.
Trading Post: This lively reader’s theater play introduces the fur traders, Native Americans, Chinese miners and settlers who came through Wenatchee’s Miller-Freer Trading Post in the 1880s. Includes script, costumes and artifacts.
Wenatchi Culture: Learn about the resilient, resourceful culture of the Wenatchi Indian people and their yearly cycle of life. Includes script, overheads, artifacts and activities.
Visit with Mrs. Johnson: Investigate Central Washington dry-land farming and water use around 1905. Includes script, costumes, artifacts and activities.
Visit with Mrs. Tibbets: Discover the impact of water on turn-of-the-century life along our local rivers. Includes script, costumes, artifacts and video.
To discuss a customized docent tour or educational program, contact Education Coordinator Selina Danko.