Special Lewis and Clark program to be given Tuesday
Almost three years ago, Kauffman Museum first opened its exhibit "K is for Kansas," 26 giant alphabet blocks that illustrate significant features of the natural and cultural history of the Sunflower State.
On July 19, Kauffman Museum will welcome its award-winning exhibit home. Over the last year, "K is for Kansas" has been at the Stauth Museum in Montezuma and the Smoky Hill Museum in Salina. "K is for Kansas" will be on display at Kauffman Museum through Nov. 13.
"We are excited to have 'K is for Kansas' back for south central Kansas residents to see," said Andi Schmidt Andres, Kauffman Museum curator of education. "Now we'll have a chance for some school classes to test the programs we've developed to go with the exhibit, and local families will be able to use the family packs we created specifically for 'K is for Kansas.'
"Our family packs and the large carpet map of Kansas are only some of the interactive elements of the exhibit," she continued. "Many of the alphabet blocks have hands-on activities, too. The mini-basketball game in the James Naismith cube is especially popular. Naismith invented the game of basketball, lived in Kansas and was KU's first basketball coach."
In conjunction with the re-opening of "K is for Kansas" at Kauffman Museum, there will be a summer Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum event five days later, on Sunday, July 24, when Deb Hiebert of Goessel will present "Wildlife of the Lewis & Clark Expedition."
Hiebert, volunteer coordinator and activities assistant at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, has been presenting programs on history, natural history, horticulture and culinary arts for 20 years. She has given presentations on Lewis & Clark for libraries, historical societies, and museums in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska.
On July 24, Hiebert will look at some of the wildlife that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark encountered as they made their way across the western half of the United States from St. Louis to what is now Oregon, 200 years ago (1804-05). Hiebert will have specimens to look at, skulls and fur to touch, and a few surprises.
This intergenerational program will be of interest to both children and adults. It starts at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Kauffman Museum is located at the corner of Main and 27th streets in North Newton. Regular hours are Tues.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sun., 1:30-4:30 p.m. For more information about "K is for Kansas" or the July 24 Sunday-Afternoon-at-the-Museum program, call (316) 283-1612.
