Please help us rescue and restore the historical community treasure embodied in the Orpheum Theatre. Pepsi is giving you an opportunity to make this happen. By committing to register to participate and then visiting and voting for the Orpheum’s Pepsi Refresh web page every day in October, you will join the Orpheum’s growing cadre of patrons, working to enable more expansive and inclusive science and arts programming; to provide our community’s youth with an accessible space for performances, exhibits, and events; and to continue the revitalization of downtown Champaign. Sign up NOW to receive a daily reminder each day in October.
Christopher Whalen has a long and pronounced career in education. Chris obtained undergraduate degrees in both Chemistry and Physics from Rutgers University (summa cum laude) while also studying Mathematics and Science Education. While in college, he was a long-serving tutor for the university’s Learning Resource Center and also volunteered his time at the Liberty Science Center Children’s Museum. After obtaining his teaching certificate, Chris went on to teach high school physics, physical science, and environmental science in Edison, NJ. While teaching, he also pursued additional graduate coursework in both Chemistry and Educational Psychology and conducted research in each before coming to the University of Illinois for graduate work in Neuroscience and Psychology. While at the UIUC, Chris was a student exhibitor and coordinator for the Neuroscience Program’s annual community outreach event for children: the Brain Awareness Week. In addition, Chris received a National Science Foundation GK-12 fellowship for two years where he worked in high school psychology and biology classrooms developing and teaching hands-on discovery-based lessons. The following year, he took the helm as the coordinator of the program. After completing his Masters Degree in Biology, Chris returned to the classroom as a mathematics teacher at Centennial High School in Champaign, IL.
Chris hopes to be a driving force in the upcoming developments at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum. He is committed to a steadfast and continual pursuit of the Orpheum’s mission, as well as to enhancing the Orpheum’s role as a community leader that unites schools, business, universities and community colleges, and the array of talent and resources prevalent in our community. Chris has an open door policy, and invites input and suggestions from the community.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Kids are returning to school; summer’s heat is subsiding; leaves will be changing soon; and the Orpheum’s calendar is bursting with exciting adventures!
September will be action packed. A new exhibit exploring the future of energy will open on September 18th. Girls Do Science Club meetings begin on the 13th. The Swann School Art Exhibit will run from September 7 through October 2. On the 25th, CU’s New Dance Crew competition will challenge middle and high school dance teams to step up with some fresh moves to impress the judges.
October will be busier still, beginning with the LEGO Contest on October 1st. Our newest club, Drawing Dinosaurs, meets for the first time on October 5th. On October 20th, join us at the 7th Annual Sun Singer Gala Wine Tasting at the iHotel Conference Center. Wrapping up the month will be the Mystery at the Museum, an iconoclastic take on haunted houses, undertaken with DCS’s Pointing Theater Group, designed for even young children and offering an entertaining look at scary stuff.
As the leaves of November are falling along with the temperatures, we’ll have plenty of indoor activities. Reading to Dogs and DIY Weekend Wizards are two of our most popular weekend programs that are free with admission. Then, the day after Thanksgiving, we are hosting a new event enabling kids to create holiday gifts that are sure to delight. Santa’s Workshop will take place on Friday, November 26th and participating “elves” will have several gift packages to choose from.
In December, as everyone is on the lookout for the first signs of snow, the City of Champaign will host its’ annual Parade of Lights. Be sure to check our website for details on our annual after the parade free familiy event. This year, Diane Ducey will be at the Orpheum spinning holiday music and cheer! Enjoy the 2nd half of 2010, and see you at the Museum!
The renovations continue in our beautiful Orpheum Theatre. Throughout the summer, we have been stabilizing the ceiling, repairing ornamental moulding and drywall, and painting the theatre with a historic color scheme. Contributions are still needed to fund the needed work on the facade, and your money will still be doubled due to our National Park Service matching grant.
Thanks to a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) the Orpheum will develop a new educational program called the Learning Environmental Awareness Program, or LEAP for short.
The program will be developed over 3 years and will be geared towards educating middle-school aged children about environmentalism and material consumption. As we begin this exciting new project we will keep you informed about these educational programs and new opportunities for volunteers to participate in this endeavor.
