InterActivity 2008: Let's Play

InterActivity 2008 Theme Statement

InterActivity 2008: Let's Play!
InterActivity 2008 will explore the serious (and not-so-serious) business of play. Program sessions will present the latest research on play and innovative play-based practices in museums, including techniques for creating playful programs and environments, motivating teamwork among staff, encouraging parents to become active playmates, serving as a community resource and advocate for play and making the case for play and learning to funders and the media. Most importantly, as we embrace the playful spirit of our field, this year's mile high program reminds us of why play is the foundation of all children's museums: Because it's fun!

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Registration Information — Online Registration is Live!

Instructions for Registering Online

To Register Yourself:

1. If you have an ACM Members Only account, then go to https://members.childrensmuseums.org; click “View and register for InterActivity;” log on using the preassigned ACM username and password that you received by email from ACM in early January. Please email ACM if you need to be reminded of your logon and password information.
   

2. If you do not have an ACM Members Only account, you must first create an online account by visiting https://members.childrensmuseums.org and clicking the “Create Account” tab (second tab from the left). The account creation will include a step where the system sends you an email, and you must click on a link in the email to continue the account setup. After you’ve set up your account, you can click on the “Conferences” tab (third tab from the right) and then on the name of the event (“InterActivity 2008: Let’s Play”) to begin the registration process.

To Register a Group:

1. Each staff member must have an online account with ACM. Attendees of InterActivity 2006 or 2007 may already have an account. Staff members who you plan to register can check if they have an account or set one up by visiting https://members.childrensmuseums.org and clicking “Log on.”

2. Once your staff member(s) have created an account, please allow one business day for ACM to link them with your institutional account and you may then proceed with registering and paying as a group. Please note that you are not required to register everyone together as a group to take advantage of the Take 5! Rebate; you can register staff either through their individual online accounts or through your institutional account. The advantage of registering everyone through the institutional account is that you can pay for all the registrations at once.

3. To register multiple staff and pay all at once, follow steps 1-3 under “To register yourself.” After logging on, choose “Register myself” to register the institutional account holder and/or choose “Register someone else” to complete the registration process for each staff member in your group.
   

Payment Options and Policies

Online Registration

• New! Individuals and organizations that register online may pay using: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or by check via purchase order.
  

• Payment by check: Upon completing the online registration form, a purchase order invoice will be emailed to the registrant. The individual/organization is expected to pay the amount of the invoice in full, within 30 days of the invoice date; however, online registrations submitted after March 6, are required to submit payment to ACM by April 4.
  

  • Please note that registrations with check payment pending will not be finalized until ACM receives the check. If the invoice is not paid in full within 30 days or by April 4, ACM reserves the right to cancel the registration and release event and/or tour tickets for purchase.
    

Mail and Fax Registration

• No credit card payment options for paper registrations mailed or faxed to ACM.
  

• All checks for InterActivity Early Bird and Advance registration must be received by ACM no later than April 4.
  

• International Attendees: To pay by wire transfer, please contact ACM at acm@ChildrensMuseums.org.
  

• ACM is unable to accept registrations by telephone. ACM is not responsible for payments not received.
  

Registration Confirmation: An online registration or paper registration form must be submitted for each individual. All registrants will receive an email confirmation of their registration and special events orders from ACM once payment has been received. If confirmation is not received within two weeks of registration, contact ACM at 202-898-1080.

Registration Discounts

Early Bird and Advance Registration Discounts
Early Bird Rate allows individuals to save up to $100 by registering by February 29. Advance Rate allows individuals to save up to $30 by registering by April 4. See the registration rate matrix for a complete list of prices.

ACM Member Discount
ACM members receive a discount on InterActivity registration, as well as a host of other benefits. If you are not currently a member, join ACM now and Save!

Student Registration Rate
To qualify for the student registration rate for InterActivity, an attendee must be a full-time student in a degree-granting program and not a full-time museum employee. Student must fax or mail a copy of his/her current student ID to ACM whether registering online or via a paper form.

New! Take 5! Rebate
The Take 5! Discount has evolved into a rebate offer. Member institutions sending five or more individuals (full-time and part-time staff members, interns, volunteers, Board and Trustee members) to InterActivity will receive a rebate totaling five percent of the institution's total InterActivity registration fees. Surcharges, membership dues, pre- and post-conference registration fees, tours and ticketed events are not included in calculating the total InterActivity registration fees. The rebate will be issued to the member institution as a check and mailed by June 30. Only full InterActivity registration fees paid by the institution count toward the Take 5! Rebate offer. Institutions are not required to register all of its group at one time. Institutions may register additional museum-sponsored individuals online through April 4, and on-site to qualify for the Take 5! Rebate. ACM's InterActivity cancellation policy will apply to all Take 5! Registrations. A canceled registration that reduces the number of individuals an institution sends to the full InterActivity conference to less than five will void the Take 5! Rebate.

2008 Diversity in Action InterActivity Scholarship
Application Deadline: January 18, 2008

The Diversity in Action InterActivity Scholarship provides selected individuals with complimentary registration and lodging at InterActivity 2008. The purpose of the scholarship program is to encourage professional development and retention of museum staff of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Individuals employed for at least one year at an international or U.S. ACM member children's museum that is in good standing are eligible to apply for a scholarship. Additional eligibility requirements are listed in the application. Apply now online.

New! InterActivity Small Museum Financial Aid Program Sponsored by Jack Rouse Associates
Application Deadline: February 15, 2008

The InterActivity Small Museum Financial Aid Program provides selected individuals with complimentary registration to InterActivity 2008 and tickets to two evening events. The goal of the program is to offset professional development expenses for museum staff at open children's museums with annual budgets under $500,000, who would otherwise be unable to attend InterActivity. The intent of the program is to cultivate staff members at small museums for long-term careers in the children's museum field. Travel to InterActivity and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the selected recipient. Apply now online.

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Registration Policies

• InterActivity Registration Fee: The registration fee includes all conference sessions, non-ticketed meal functions and admission to the ACM MarketPlace.

• Conference Registration Transfer Policy: Conference registration may be transferred from one individual to another without a fee if an email request is submitted by April 4. Requests made after this date will not be considered. Address emails to acm@ChildrensMuseums.org.
  

• Conference Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be made in writing to ACM and emailed to acm@ChildrensMuseums.org. ACM is not responsible for cancellations not received. Please contact ACM at 202-898-1080 to confirm receipt of your written cancellation. Any refunds, based on refund schedule below, will be issued following InterActivity and prior to June 30.

Meals Included in Conference Registrations

• Pre-Conference: Emerging Museums registration includes breakfast, lunch and light hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks at the concluding reception.
  

• Pre-Conference Workshop: Encouraging Preschoolers' Science Play with "PEEP and the Big Wide World" registration includes a light dinner. Note: this workshop is scheduled 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and is free; however, pre-registration is required.
  

• Full, three-day, InterActivity 2008 conference registration includes the following meal functions: Thursday, Affinity Roundtable breakfast; Friday, ACM MarketPlace kickoff breakfast and ACM MarketPlace lunch; and Saturday, Salon breakfast.
  

• One-day and half-day InterActivity 2008 registration includes all scheduled meal functions on that day. Your
  conference badge will serve as your ticket to all included meal functions, so remember to wear it at all times.
  

• Post-Conference: Healthy Partnerships Build Health Communities registration includes lunch.
  

Ticketed Event and Tour Fees: Tickets are available in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. ACM cannot guarantee the availability of tickets for purchase on-site. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase special event tickets with their registration. ACM reserves the right to cancel any event due to lack of interest.

• ACM will not refund any event or tour purchases unless ACM has canceled the event. Ticketholders that are unable to attend an event/tour have the option to transfer or exchange their ticket.
  

Ticketed Event and Tour Transfer / Exchange Policy: Requests to transfer a special event or tour ticket from one individual to another should be submitted to acm@ChildrensMuseums.org by April 4.

• Please note that it is necessary for ACM to record the transfer to issue a valid ticket, but it is up to the individual to broker the financial transaction with the new ticket holder. Requests to exchange a ticket to a special event or tour for a different special event or tour should be emailed to acm@ChildrensMuseums.org by April 4, and will be granted if tickets to the desired special event or tour are available. Please note that individuals will be charged the price difference if the replaced ticket is of higher value; however, ACM will not refund the price difference if the replaced ticket is of lesser value.

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Registration and Session Preference Forms

At this time, online registration is closed. On site registration is available.

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Conference Registration Rates

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Award, Recognition, Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities

2008 MetLife Foundation and Association of Children's Museums Promising Practice Award

Who: Nonprofit ACM U.S. children's museums members that are in good standing are eligible for this award.

What: Honoring exhibits, programs and management practices that promote the importance of outdoor play and activity as a key component of healthy living.. A maximum of three cash awards totaling $20,000 will be presented to selected museums. One of the awards is designated for a small museum with an annual budget of $499,999 or less.

How: Apply online

Deadline: January 31, 2008

Where: Awards presented at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

2008 MetLife Foundation and Association of Children's Museums Promising Practice Replication Award

Who: The award competition is open to prior cash award recipients of the Promising Practice Award that are voting members in good standing with the ACM. Prior recipients of the Replication Award are not eligible to apply for the same practice.

What: The Promising Practice Replication Award, a cash award of $10,000, will be given to a museum previously honored with the Promising Practice Award program (1999-2007). The Replication Award winner will be expected to document the program development process and to create a “tool kit” that will enable other museums to replicate the program in their own communities.

How: Apply online

Deadline: January 31, 2008

Where: Awards presented at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

Universal Design for Learning Award

Who: Nonprofit ACM U.S. children's museums members that are in good standing are eligible for this award.

What: The award is an innovative collaboration between VSA arts and ACM identifies model programs in children’s museums that demonstrate learning standards for inclusive practice and provide sub-awards and technical assistance to the selected museums to refine and document their practices for dissemination. A maximum of three cash awards totaling $45,000 will be presented to selected museums.

How: Apply online

Deadline: February 15, 2008

Where: Awards presented at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

Diversity in Action Showcase

Who: International and U.S. ACM children's museums members that are in good standing are eligible for this recognition.

What: The Diversity in Action Showcase was created to give ACM colleagues a venue to share their current efforts and work in promoting, supporting and celebrating diversity in their institutions as it relates to staff, visitors and/or the community. Looking for ideas of what kinds of programs to submit? See summaries of the 2007 Showcase participants.

How: Apply online

Deadline: March 10 , 2008

Where: Selected models will be shared with the field at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

2008 Diversity in Action InterActivity Scholarship

Who: Individuals employed for at least one year at an international or U.S. ACM member children's museum that is in good standing are eligible for this award. Additional eligibility requirements are listed in the application.

What: The goals of the scholarship program are to encourage retention and professional development of museum staff of diverse backgrounds.

How: Apply online

Deadline: January 18 , 2008

Where: Six selected individuals will receive complimentary registration and lodging at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

InterActivity Small Museum Financial Aid Program Sponsored by Jack Rouse Associates

Who: Individuals employed for at least one year at an open, current ACM member children's museum with an annual operating budget under $500,000 are encouraged to apply for financial aid. Additional eligibility requirements are listed in the application.

What: Recipients receive complimentary registration to InterActivity 2008 and tickets to two evening events. The goal of the program is to offset professional development expenses for museum staff at open children's museums with annual budgets under $500,000, who would otherwise be unable to attend InterActivity.

How: Apply online

Deadline: February 15, 2008

Where: Five selected individuals will receive complimentary registration at InterActivity 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

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Hotel and Travel Information
Read Below Carefully for Discount Offers!

About Denver: Denver is an energetic young city with 300 days of annual sunshine, brilliant blue skies and stunning mountain scenery. Founded in 1858 as a gold mining camp, Denver is located at the base of the majestic Rocky Mountains, 5,280 feet above sea level . exactly one mile high. This city has it all . from nationally recognized chefs, exciting nightlife and world class attractions to a thriving arts and cultural scene, countless shopping options and abundant outdoor recreation found in the largest city park system in the country.

Weather and Dress: Denver weather is usually mild and dry, boasting 300 plus days of sunshine a year at 5,280 feet above sea level.
Because Denver is closer to the sun, it can feel much warmer than the actual temperature during the daytime, but then become very chilly after sundown, particularly in the Spring. In April, the average high temperature is 61ªF and the average low temperature is 34ªF. While there is no dress code for the conference, most attendees wear business casual attire and are encouraged to dress in layers to be most comfortable.

Hotel Information: ACM InterActivity headquarters is the Adam' s Mark Denver located at 1550 Court Place with 1,225 rooms, including 92 suites. The hotel is situated on the 16th Street Mall, a mile-long pedestrian promenade filled with outdoor cafes, shops, fountains and open plazas in the heart of downtown Denver. Free shuttles loop from the Mall with stops to various downtown attractions and restaurants. Rooms will fill up fast . book soon!

• Reserving Your Hotel Room: The conference room rate is $159 per night for a single or double room. Call 877-642-9212 (toll free) or 1-314-993-2326 (international) before April 4, 2008, and inform the reservations agent that you are attending the Association of Children' s Museums conference. You can also book your room online.
  

Airport: Denver is served by Denver International Airport (DIA). Please allow 45 minutes to an hour between the airport and the hotel.

• Frontier Airlines Discount: ACM has negotiated a 10 percent discount off all published roundtrip fares on Frontier Airlines for InterActivity 2008 attendees. Reservations can be made on www.FrontierAirlines.com only.

1. On the airline' s home page under Flight Finder, select "More Search Options."
2. Add the code 0V7311 ("V"is the only letter in the code) in the meeting ID box
3. complete date of travel and cities fields
4. click "Find Flights" and you are on your way!

Once you' ve selected your flight, a little green sunshine character will appear indicating that the discount as been applied. Discount is in effect April 21-29, 2008.

Taxi: Taxi fare between the hotel and the airport, one person one way is $60-$70 not including tip.

SuperShuttle: SuperShuttle runs between the hotel and airport. With the ACM discount, the round trip is $30, $19 one way per person.

SuperShuttle Discount and Payment Options

• You may pre-pay online at www.SuperShuttle.com and enter the discount code G2B4Y.

• Alternatively, you may download a coupon and present it at the SuperShuttle counter at DIA with payment.
  

Train and Bus: Amtrak services Denver via Union Station located at 1701 Wynkoop St. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com. Greyhound services Denver via the Denver Greyhound Station located at 1055 19th St. Call 1-800-231-2222 or visit www.greyhound.com for reservations.