UT’s McClung Museum has teamed up with Knox County Public Library and other area partners to offer summer enrichment opportunities for children and teens.
The partnership between McClung Museum and 14 area museums and cultural attractions offers these activities as part of the new Summer Library Passport Program, which complements the library’s summer reading programs.
The goal of the summer reading program for both and children age 5–11 is to read for 20 hours between May 20 and July 31. Once participants complete their reading goals, they can return their reading logs to the library for a reward.
This year through the Passport Program, participants can substitute up to five hours of reading with select enrichment activities, including the “tools through time” scavenger hunt at the McClung Museum. Other activities include visiting area historic homes, attending a keeper chat at Zoo Knoxville, or identifying trees at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum.
Research shows that struggling readers often lose academic gains over the summer, which can compound into a two-year deficit. By reading regularly over the summer and by participating in educational activities such as museum visits and tours of historic sites, students can maintain their academic standing. The Summer Library Club seeks to provide resources and support to all students to prevent this “summer slide.”
Participants may pick up their passport at any Knox County Public Library or the McClung Museum. They can also track their progress online.
Program members can also be entered to win a basket of goodies from Visit Knoxville by obtaining 10 stamps from participating organizations.
Participating organizations include the Historic Homes of Knoxville (Blount Mansion, Historic Ramsey House, Historic Westwood, James White Fort, Mabry-Hazen House, and Marble Springs State Historic Site); Ijams Nature Center; Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum; The Muse Knoxville; Zoo Knoxville; Knoxville Museum of Art; Museum of East Tennessee History; Visit Knoxville; and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
While admission is free to the McClung Museum, entry fees may apply for other organizations.
The McClung Museum is at 1327 Circle Park Drive. Museum admission is free, and the museum’s hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. The museum’s Circle Park Drive parking will be closed for most of summer 2017 as UT works to beautify campus. During this time, a section of parking will be designated for guests in the C-8 lot off Lake Loudoun Boulevard. Visitors are still entitled to a two-hour parking pass while at the museum. Look for the signs and visit the parking website for more details. For information about wheelchair accessibility or other accessibility issues, call the museum prior to visiting at 865-974-2144.
See the museum’s website for more information about family programming, parking, and collections and exhibits.
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CONTACT:
Leslie Chang Jantz, McClung Museum, Curator of Education (865-974-3662, lcjantz@utk.edu)
Mary Pom Claiborne, Knox County Public Library (865-215-8767)