Local Science: Randolph College SciFest

J and I (K) are both educators, and we hear a lot about STEM education and its cousins, STEAM and STEM-H.  It's true that scientific thinking is important now and will be important in the future, regardless of one's chosen adult roles.  We work hard to try to help E, age 8, and G, age 4, learn various disciplines for thinking, and right now, a lot of that is about exposure to ideas and people who are passionate about them.  The Randolph College SciFest, an annual event including Science Day for kids, has become a favorite way to encourage E.  By next year, it might be a good fit for G, too.

When E realized we were headed to Science Day, he remembered his first trip last year and building cool boats to carry pennies fondly.  He was eager to get in place and explore this year's topics, which, from observation of the gym, included connections to archaeology, math, and earth and space science quite clearly.  Science Day features a rotation of such activities lasting about 4 hours and allowing kids to mingle with new friends (or the friends they brought with them).  It's like a combination of the best of the interactivity of science classrooms/labs and science museums.  It's not as intense or themed as a science camp, but the quality of activities is similar.

Honestly, I (K) had not been to the Randolph College campus before, so SciFest has become a great excuse to go.  One of my very bright faculty members is a Randolph grad, and the campus consistently presents as encouraging academics and true community.  (While I certainly recognize the importance of college athletics and social life, I prefer campuses that don't overemphasize these elements of the college experience.)  The students at Science Day are diverse, energetic, and thoughtful--way to represent, Randolph!  They also keep a good handle on the kids while preserving a fun atmosphere.

If you go to Science Day, know that a parent/guardian must stay present on campus.  You can visit the well-regarded Maier Museum's art collection and engage in similar activities, like a campus tour, or you can be like me and sit in the stands and do some homework, although I know I must take in the Maier Museum soon.  The generosity of area businesses provides the kids materials, T-shirts, and snacks.  If you are interested in going next year, start following I Love Randolph Science on Facebook and watch for registration dates--this amazing FREE event often fills up.  On event day, dress comfortably for inside and outside activities and arrive about an hour before start for the best parking choices.  More interested in the Roanoke area?  Try the Virginia Tech Science Festival and/or Senses and Scienceability at Jefferson College. We also like to think of college campuses as wonderful places to go for a walk/access interesting events, and we've visited Washington and Lee, VMI, Roanoke College, and Hollins College particularly.

Terracotta Warriors: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

We'd been trying to get to Richmond to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to check out the Terracotta Army: The Legacy of the First Emperor of China.  We'd tried to get there previously, but a poor weather report foiled us.  We're fortunate to have made it on closing weekend, and walking through the exhibit, one of my friends and blog readers spotted us, exclaiming she knew we'd be there. You betcha.

The kids were thrilled to get little exhibit books, and like the good museum attendees they are becoming, they rebuffed somewhat at less-than-courteous visitors (there were a few, although nothing overwhelming).  The toughest crowds were in the entry area near small cases.  The warrior statues themselves were near the end of the exhibit, and because some of the less-seasoned museum goers had a bit of apparent museum fatigue, there were not crowds around the statues.  We're always pleased to see such special exhibits get good attention, especially from audience members that don't consider themselves regular museum-goers; it just makes for a lot of traffic.  This type of collection draws in crowds and helps so many people experience a new slice of the human experience, so it's worth it.  If you don't consider yourself a regular at places like art museums, this type of attraction may be just the ticket to understanding what all the fuss is about.

Our favorites?  Extremely well-preserved pottery, dating back over 2000 years; a chariot pulled by a horse team; the warriors themselves, all in fantastic poses.  Information on the ancient Chinese architecture was also fascinating and especially well-presented.  A children's exploration area elsewhere in the museum had small blank books as freebies, and the kids were very amused by these with E drawing a great collection of terracotta statues.

If you go now to this exhibit, you are actually headed to the Cincinnati Art Museum--they co-organized the exhibit with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and it will be there from April 20 through much of the summer.  If you just want to take in the VMFA, that's a great day trip, too.  Go in nice weather, and you can enjoy the attractive grounds--there's plenty of places to spread out a little picnic, including some small outdoor tables near the parking garage.  Parking is available onsite for $5/day (free for members); general entrance is free of charge although special exhibits are ticketed.  Reserve your tickets in advance, especially for blockbuster exhibits like this one. On the day of our visit, every spot was sold out--and at an exhibit entrance rate of 300 people per hour.  Considering a membership?  Be sure to check out the student membership--it's a great deal at $10, and students are eligible at age 13 (a great savings if you visit more than once a year).  While you are in the area, know you are right beside the Virginia Historical Society, also with free general admission.

Local Subterranean Fun: Dixie Caverns

It had been a long weekend, and not in the best sense, after fierce windstorms took out power to the house.  It was time for a little outing--nothing recharges K quite like getting out and about.  E and K took off to Dixie Caverns, a show cave very near Salem, Virginia.  J and K had been there on a date years ago, but we had not returned.  E initially went grudgingly--but by the end of the tour, he was checking out brochures for Luray Caverns and Shenandoah Caverns, planning future cavern trips.

The caverns, open most every day of the year, offer 45-50 minute guided tours at a reasonable entry cost (free under 5, $6 ages 5-10, $14 for others).  If you can navigate substantial stairs (up, down, and uneven), this makes for a fun, easy outing with very little prep.  Our guide was quite knowledgeable of both the cave's interesting history and of the science involved in the cave, making for an interesting visit that encouraged curiosity and questions. 

Much of the cave tour, visitors are actually "in" the mountain rather than beneath ground level.  Formations include tons of "soda straws" and flowstone as well as a bell-shaped formation known as the Wedding Bell (yes, you can get married there).  The natural entrance is visible from inside the cave, prompting a better understanding of its history.  At the end of your tour, you'll have the option of spending a few moments in total cave darkness. 

If you go, dress for 55-60 degrees, and wear shoes that can take on stairs.  There's a gift shop with some rock souvenirs, an attached antique mall, a campground, and ample free parking.  The site itself is right off the I-81 exit aptly named Dixie Caverns.  You can even leave your mark--while you can't touch cave formations, you can write in a chunk of clay that was harvested from the cave.  E wants you to know he was there.

Virginia's US Civil War Battlefields: Chancellorsville

The Haltermans really needed to get out of town, just for a minute, for a change of scenery.  Nothing "bad" to escape from--but the act of seeing somewhere different, teaching our kids about it, and meeting people who are passionate about a cultural institution is just refreshing to us.  So, we headed out to the US Civil War battlefield at Chancellorsville, Virginia, relatively near Fredericksburg and part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.  The drive from Roanoke will get you off the interstate and through roads of gentleman's farms and small towns, pleasant in its own right.

On an academic level, this National Park Service site will help you understand the run up to the Battle of Gettysburg. By featuring the Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson family's story, the site will also give you a heightened sense of the tragedy that was the war.  Stonewall was mortally wounded by friendly fire here, shortly after meeting his only child that would survive to adulthood.  The exhibits in the visitor's center are engaging and nicely displayed in a reasonably small space, providing an interesting view of both the "human side" of the battles as well as its military movements. If you frequent these type of cultural sites, it is difficult to find those that can leave the average visitor with a better appreciation of both the human impact and the military circumstances, and this is one that can do that.  We mention the battles plural because this National Park is about multiple, separate battles in the region, close in time and clearly linked.  The Chancellorsville Visitors Center is one of two visitors center sites in the park with information, and it offers an orientation film that is $2 for adults, $1 for seniors, and free for kids under ten.  It's obviously worth it.  The rest of the park is fee-free.

With the kids, we highly recommend the Junior Ranger program.  It will be pretty doable for most kids six and older with assistance, eight and older with reasonably little assistance.  And the reward patch?  It's awesome!  The kind visitors center staff even announced E's accomplishment during our trip!  In just about any season, the brief, well-surfaced loop trail around the center will lead you to major Jackson-related monuments.  The 10-stop driving tour from the center will also take you interesting places, including a landmark of the Lee-Jackson Bivouac there (their final such bivouac, or meeting) and Catherine Furnace, a battlefield landmark which is, well, just interesting to view.  When we return outside of winter, we'd also be game to take one of the park's three relatively short hikes (translation: hiking for an hour or two, perfect with relatively inexperienced children hiking along).

If you go, plan to spend time exploring.  One of K's current pet peeves is that the average visitor to National Park Sites only stays a very brief time, sometimes less than an hour.  A less-than-an-hour visit does not give you any real time to appreciate the interpretation, so stay longer if you can.  There's a small bookstore with some academic selections, and as we mentioned, we found a very welcoming, interested staff.  The park is in a rural but well-trafficked area, but there are not a bunch of restaurants super close by.  There is a strip mall down the road towards Charlottesville where you will find a local pizza place and similar places if you are interested, and Fredericksburg is not that far up the road.  For those ambling north to Gettysburg, this park would be a great stop along your adventure.  There is also a good compliment of seasonal programming, including a beautiful Memorial Day illumination event and some interesting presentations we saw advertised in honor of Black History Month, about which there are more details on the park Facebook page.

Roanoke's Latest Exhibit: Play at the Taubman Museum of Art

A fun art exhibit in your hometown is cause for excitement. Play: Toys Reimagined as Art at the Taubman Museum of Art is a great excuse to get out and enjoy, and at the time of this writing, it still has a few weeks left.  K, E, and G  have visited several times and found the exhibit highly accessible and interesting, if small in terms of the number of pieces (which could be a great asset for many children exploring art). 

When we say accessible, we mean there are sculptures to climb on (clouds) and walk under (balloons) as well as pieces constructed from familiar materials (Legos, crayons).  Additionally, the Art Venture creation and play space features related materials like large quantities of Legos and base plates. There's always something interesting in the other galleries as well.

If you go, know that membership is a good value for many families. Yes, admission is typically free, but special exhibits and Art Venture access have fees.  For families making multiple trips and taking advantage of these features, membership can easily pay for itself, and right now, there is a 20% off membership sale with the code Play18.  Don't miss visiting the porch overlooking the nearby roads, and walk to the Roanoke Market Building food court or Nawab's buffet for lunch.

Above the Clouds: Sandia Peak Tramway

K had a wonderful opportunity after a long day of conference work to enjoy the splendor of the Sandia Peak Tramway this past fall.  Close to Albuquerque, New Mexico, the tramway and its staff made for a stunning evening outing with truly can't miss views.

The tram, which can tote skiers, sightseers, and hikers, is a 15-minute-each-way ride across beautiful chasms of pinkish-hued rocks.  Boulders look like pebbles, and from the top of the mountain, you are literally above the clouds.  It sounds simple, but the views are beyond words.  At the top, you can walk around, although there is also an enclosed shelter from which you can take in some views.  The most adventurous, fit, and time-flexible can also hike up or down the mountain--but one would need to be well-prepared for a strenuous hike and weather changes to do so.  Those well-prepared can even hike out to the small stone house you see in the photo below--look closely.

By talking with the gregarious, interesting staff, K found out lots of "workplace culture" items that indulged her curiosity.  For instance, employees ride the trams atop them to help conquer fears of heights, and an employee remains in the shelter at the top overnight each day in case of stranded hikers.  From the top of the mountain, you are a good two hours from emergency services or the like absent the tram, and the staff has to be prepared for a little bit of everything.  Several of the employees shared interesting stories, including the gate attendant who was a retired engineer.  Ask them plenty of questions, but dress a little more warmly than K did.

If you go, do not plan your trip for a tight time frame.  Variable weather conditions resulted in high winds that kept K at the top of the mountain in the shelter there for around an extra hour.  It was a pleasant time, but it would have been tough to manage if also juggling getting ready for a flight, dinner plans, and the like.  Go when you have extra time, just in case.  And yes, they are serious that the temperature at the top may be a solid 30 degrees or so cooler than the temperature at the base, and the wind will be higher as well.  Dress accordingly, especially if you want to walk a bit.  Consider calling ahead to check weather conditions at the park.  If you do not like confined spaces or crowds, try working with the staff to time your tram ride for a less crowded "flight." There is a gift shop as well as a restaurant on site at the base, but they are redeveloping the restaurant formerly "at the top" of the mountain (it was closed at the time of this visit).

A Little Afternoon Magic: The Paper Blooms Project at Roanoke College

Looking for a way to have an easy, calm outing on a rainy day, K and G visited the Paper Blooms Project at Olin Hall Gallery of Roanoke College.  We'd seen a related mention on Facebook, and we have a developing fondness for community- made art and larger-scale, immersive installations.

We were both delighted by the hand -crafted flowers, all made by volunteers the general public using simple supplies like crepe paper and glue.  Some of the flowers are shockingly realistic; others are more fanciful and integrate interesting papers like maps.  The exhibit is primarily colorful and small enough to be pretty accessible to young kids -- it kept G's attention for a good 30 minutes at age 4.  The staff member present answered our questions about how the flowers were made and the reasoning for the white wall of flowers, a memorial tribute.  She also shared that the flowers will make their way to locations like rehabilitation clinics when the exhibit closes at the end of March.  

If you go, be prepared to park and walk if the nearby lots with limited visitor parking (primarily in front of the Roselawn admissions building and the lot immediately beside Olin on High Street) are full.  We were pretty disappointed with parking availability, but our trip was rescued by a helpful gallery attendant.  We called in to Roanoke College and asked to be transferred to the gallery office, and she helped us access the gallery from the "lower Olin" parking lot by walking to meet us--super nice.  Her kindness made our day and truly made this little trip successful.  The gallery is free and open 1-4 most days, including weekends, when there is not a holiday or college break.  We were the only visitors there for most of our visit, despite the fact that there have been several related local news stories.  We also enjoyed the exhibit of Carolyn Deck's work in the nearby gallery.  If you are making the trip into the area and want to make a day of it, we suggest taking in the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke and staying on theme--there's always something interesting there.