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ACM Wishes to Thank ACM MarketPlace Yellow Pages Media & Social Media References Participant List for Networking Give us Your Feedback Full Conference Evaluation Survey Pre-Conference Evaluation Survey Evaluation Survey for Exhibitors

The following supporters have provided major gifts to InterActivity 2011: Innovation is Child’s Play. Generous funding received from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and the Houston Museum District Association.  Special thanks to the Board of Directors of the Children’s Museum of Houston for their support. General conference support is provided by The Tapeats Fund and The Joe Barnhart Foundation. The Playground for Your Mind™ evening event at the Children’s Museum of Houston is co-sponsored by Heartland Scenic Studios, Boss Display Corporation and Argyle Design, Inc. InterActivity Small Museum Financial Aid Program is sponsored by Jack Rouse Associates. Emerging Museums Reception and InterActivity Notebooks are sponsored by Lexington Design + Fabrication. The InterActivity Conference Tote Bags are sponsored by RedBox Workshop. The Leadership Breakfast is sponsored by Blackbaud. Emerging Museums Notebooks and Pre-Conference are sponsored by NorthStar Museums. InterActivity Conference Lanyards and Badge Holders are sponsored by The Nassal Company. Big Texas Welcome at The Heritage Society is sponsored in part by Science Museum of Minnesota. Affinity Breakfasts are sponsored in part by MindSplash. The Professional Perspectives session is sponsored by Argyle Design, Inc., Dinosaurs Unearthed, Imagination Playground and Roto Studio.

Media and Social Media References

Check out Vimeo to see keynote video of speakers Dr. Milton Chen and Lisa Henson.

Video of Steven Berlin Johnson can be accesss from the ACM Members Only site>>Bulletin Board>>InterActivity 2011.

See Photo Highlights

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM CONFERENCE COMES TO HOUSTON
—Innovation is Child’s Play Drives 25th InterActivity Conference —

ARLINGTON, VA — The global children’s museum community will converge on Houston, Texas, for the 25th Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) IinterActivity conference, May 19- 21, 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Houston Hotel. Innovative informal education theory and practice informs all sessions. Participants from the United States, Canada, China, Jordan, Mexico, Quatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and United Kingdom will explore the vital role children’s museums have in building children’s 21st century skills and in connecting with audiences in new ways.

Members of the media are welcome to attend plenary sessions and should contact ACM or CMH for a conference media pass.

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THE JIM HENSON COMPANY TO ACCEPT GREAT FRIEND TO KIDS AWARD
— ACM Recognizes the Leader in Family Entertainment at InterActivity 2011 —

ARLINGTON, VA — The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) will present its Great Friend to Kids Award to The Jim Henson Company at 9:00 a.m. on Sat, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency Houston. The Great Friend to Kids Awardis presented annually at ACM’s InterActivity conference and honors organizations and individuals that have made significant contributions to strengthening education and advancing the interests of children. The Jim Henson Company was selected for its longtime commitment to producing innovative, family programming that creatively addresses a range of topics and issues with compassion, humor and whimsy.

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BREAKING THE MUSEUM MOLD TO CREATE GLOBAL CITIZENS
— MetLife Foundation & Association of Children’s Museums Awards 21st Century Programming at Children’s Museums —

ARLINGTON, VA — Children’s museums are innovating and redefining the traditional museum world by creating places where all kids can learn what it takes to become global citizens. The educational experiences are highly interactive, challenging whole families to step out of their comfort zone, and often don’t take place at the museum at all. After a national search for exemplary children’s museum efforts that help children develop 21st century skills, Stepping Stones Museum for Children, KidZone Museum and DuPage Children’s Museum have each been selected as 2011 MetLife Foundation & ACM Promising Practice Award recipients. Grants totaling $25,000 will be presented during an award ceremony on Thursday, May 19, at the InterActivity 2011: Innovation is Child’s Play conference in Houston, Texas.

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Blogs: Read what colleagues have to say and see how they interpret InterActivity 2011 for their audience.

• Paul Orselli from POW!
• Jen Alexander from KidCity (Middletown, CT)
• Pinky from Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia, PA)
• Megan Fischer from Providence Children's Museum (RI)
• Brenda Hanan, Children's Museum of Tacoma (WA)
• Susan Mackay, Portland Children's Museum (OR) login name: opalschool; password: children
• Schipul: The Web Marketing Company

Photo Highlights See more Photos on Thursday morning. Breakfast coffee and conversation is perculating. Suddenly a brass band appears! Follow the band to find out what's going on... The band leads to the ballroom. Discovery Guides from the Children's Museums of Houston smile, greet, dance and ask: Are We Ready? There's Keith Osfeld, a.k.a." Mr. O" who reveals the Are You Ready? message. CLICK image for video! We've got to get a copy of that Are You Ready? presentation! After thunderous applause, Tammie Kahn opens the conference and introduces Houston's mayor. The Honorable Annise Parker welcomes nearly 800 participants who have traveled from around the world to Houston for InterActivity 2011: Innovation is Child's Play. ACCESS VIDEO from the ACM Members Only Web site>>Bulletin Board>>InterActivity 2011 The audience takes notes! CLICK image for more. L-R: Carol Meagher, KidZone Museum; Rhonda Kiest, Stepping Stones Museum for Children; Janet Rice Elman, ACM; Rohit Burman, MetLife Foundation; Ruth Shelly, Madison Children's Museum; Sue Broad, DuPage Children’s Museum. L-R James Wells, Main Street Children’s Museum; LaTresa Jackson, The Discovery Science Place (Tyler, TX) Not shown: Rachel Raizola, Children’s Museum of Phoenix. Mandy Jo Euresti, Children’s Museum of Brownsville; Angela Colton, The Woodlands Children’s Museum; Christina Seidel, The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley; Lisa Chappa, The Imaginarium of South Texas. Michael Neville, Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut; Margaret Kuhl, Children’s Discovery Center (Clinton, IA); Jennifer O’Connor, Lander Children’s Museum; Jennifer Mullix, Discovery Playhouse (Cape Giradeau, MO); Erin Pruckno, Children’s Museum of Saratoga Fast forward Friday morning. InterActivity 2011, Day 2. Yes, the conference so far is out of this world...but Darth Vardar??!! The audience is sure to be blown away...just not sure if it will be a literal or figurative experience... Darth Vadar is Jane Werner! Pretty sneaky! And the connection is...Darth Vadar--Star Wars--George Lucas--Edutopia--Dr. Milton Chen, the Friday keynote speaker. CLICK on image for video! Friday evening. Play Ground for Your Mind! Quotes from the conference evaluation to follow. The band rocked! "This event was well planned and a blast. The staff at this museum and the museum itself are amazing." "What an enthusiastic staff- at the opening of the conference, and at the museum evening event. Great food there- and no lines! Loved the museum- could have used more time to see everything." "Great food -- well set up stations (no long lines to wait!) great hospitality. loved the outdoor part. Great job. It really felt like a party." "The staff of the museum was beyond helpful and excited about showing off their museum. I learned a lot from Cheryl, Kendara, and Mr. O. Thanks!" "Exhibit staff was beyond excellent. I overheard so many attendees comment about them." Congratulations! "LOVED LOVED LOVED the Children's Museum of Houston! The Museum, the store, the staff, the food, the drinks - it was a fabulous event!" "I wish we had more time." "The best part of being at ACM was seeing the Children's Museum of Houston. It was inspiring, as well as a great way to end the week!" Fast forward Saturday morning. CLICK on image for more info. L-R Janet Rice Elman, executive director of ACM; Susan Hildreth, director of IMLS; and Julia Bland, ACM Board Chair and executive director of Louisiana Children's Museum. CLICK on photo for video! CLICK on the logo above to see more photos taken by Schipul: The Web Marketing Company. Ajax Slider jQuery by WOWSlider.com v1.5 Innovation is Child's Play! Click "Play" to view ACM's Face of Innovation Gallery.