Art & Sculpture #1: Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park Plus 4 More Midwest Sculpture Parks

Exposing children to art can be so much more than giving them a box of crayons and paper.  Why not immerse them in art such as taking them to a play, concert, or sculpture park?

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Photo by Krenda

I count my children fortunate to have lived near Hamilton, Ohio - (a small town north of Cincinnati).  In 2000 the Ohio govenor declared Hamilton "The City of Sculpture".  You'll find sculptures throughout the city.  My kids and I especially enjoyed "Lentil" in the downtown.  It's a sculpture of a boy marching through town with his harmonica and dog created by Nancy Schon.  It's extra special because it has a local connection - it's based upon a 1940's children's book by Hamilton native Robert McCloskey.  To see other sculptures around town, check out the Hamilton city website:

http://cityofsculpture.org/Sculptures.aspx

I counted Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, a 265 acre park filled with trees and sculptures, as Hamilton's hidden treasure.  It's up a hill right off State Route 128, don't give up on finding the entrance.  Check out the website for address & contact info I especially enjoyed the large sculpture "Cincinnati Story" by George Sugarman.  Not only is it beautiful art, it is also located in a beautiful spot at the top of the hill with a view.  George Sugarman's first sculpture was considered radical because each form was painted a different color.  The sculpture in Hamilton was built later in his life in the 80's.  I think it's inspirational with it's cheerful multi-colors.  

 

Lesson Idea

Find a sculpture park near you and discuss the artist and their inspiration to make the sculpture.  You don't need to live near Hamilton to immerse your kids in sculpture.  Here's five Sculpture Parks in the Midwest:

1.  Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park - Hamilton, OH (pictured above)

http://www.pyramidhill.org/aboutthepark.php?pid=1

$8 adults, $2 children age 5-12

2.  Laumeier Sculpture Park - St. Louis, MO, one of the first and largest in the U.S. with 60 sculptures on 105 acres, free and open daily

3.  John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park - Des Moines, IA

4.  Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection - Wichita, Kansas

5.  Georgia and David K. Welles Sculpture Garden - Toledo, OH

For sculpture parks in Illinois, see my article about The Sculpture Park Schaumburg.

Engineering Lessons: 6 Lock and Dam Visitor Centers

"The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth.  It's current gentle, waters clear, and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids, a single instance only expected."  Thomas Jefferson.

Like the Ohio, I am connected to the Mississippi

Born near the Mississippi, living and working near the Ohio, I travel back to the Mississippi

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, to the Mississippi

Like the Ohio, I believe in freedom

Like the narrow river enabling escape from South to North, from slavery to freedom

Like the Ohio, I live to travel and connect

The river connects communities, I connect people and stories

And whether I'm watching the barges from upon a hill in Cincinnati as I've photographed

Or watching the sun rise and sun set from an Evansville office window

I appreciate the Ohio River, it's beauty, it's peace, and it's ability to change

You can teach kids about Science & Engineering by taking them to a lock and dam visitor center.

Through one of my jobs in which I met lock and dam engineers, I learned that there are many facilities throughout the US open to families to view the lock and dams.  I've been to the Mississippi River Visitor Center with my family:

Mississippi River Visitor Center Locks & Dam 15

Rock Island Arsenal, IL

April - Dec. watch boats pass through the locks

Jan. - March spot bald eagles

Here's 5 additional places to explore:

1.  Lock 16 Center & LaSalle Canal Boat, IL

April- Nov. 1 hour boat tour $14 in 2014

mule pulled replica of a 19th century canal boat

5 miles from Starved Rock State Park

2.  McAlpine Locks and Dam Visitor Center

Louisville, KY

includes a public fishing area from the bridge

3.  Bonneville lock and dam

near Cascades Locks Oregon, 40 miles E of Portland

declared a National Historic Landmark

You can call for a group tour request

4.  Lock & Dam No 1, Minneapolis, MN

Near Minnehaha Park (also a great family place)

Panoramic views from a pomenade three stories above the dam

5.  Lock & Dam No 7, St. Paul, MN

view lock operations from visitor center

Hotel or Cabin in the Smokies? My choice for a family event

I've been to hundreds of hotels, but when it came to planning our first trip to the Smoky Mountains, I decided to rent a cabin.  Why?  The purpose of the trip was to spend time with extended family and enjoy nature.  I imagined two scenarios.  Scenario One:  Six families relaxing in a cabin, eating together, having fun together whether hopping in the hottub or playing pool or foosball, enjoying nature together.  Scenario Two:  Six separate rooms in a hotel with each of us running from room to room in the hallways trying to find out whether each group was ready or worse, trying to all stand like sardines in one room.  And then searching for each other in the parking lot.

I'm glad I chose scenario one.  We celebrated my mother and father-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary and had great memories of the sun setting over the mountains.  Can you imagine that this photo was taken right off our deck?  What a view!  I was so inspired by the pristine scenery, I can't wait to return. 

We fell in love with the Smoky Mountains so much that the second time we visited, we bought a cabin and we rent it out so more families can create memories.  Search for Indigo Moon Lodge.

Animal Lesson #5: The Wilds Conservation Park in Ohio

 You don't need to buy an expensive airplane ticket and get a passport to teach your kids about animals and Africa.  Who would think that North America's largest conservation parks with endangered animals is located in Ohio?  It's true.  You can drive to 14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH and take your kids on an educational safari.

The Wilds mission is "advancing conservation through science, education, and personal experience". It's a 9,000 plus acre conservation park that opened to the public in 1994.  You might have heard about it from Jack Hanna because he serves as a board member.

The Wilds takes care of 27 species of rare or endangered animals living in a 14 square mile area of reclaimed mining land.  This family friendly place gives you an opportunity to teach your children about conservation. 

We went with three toddlers and they loved the adventure.  You can choose from the Safari Transport Pass (bus) or Open-Air Safari.  I chose the Open-Air Safari because it got us close to the animals and allowed us to easily photograph the animals.  The tour lasts for over two hours and includes stops at Lake Trail and Carnivore Center.

With toddlers, you might want a simple game to keep their eyes wide open:

Activity Idea #1:  Animal BINGO
Go to The Wilds website, print off the animal photos, cut them out and place them on a BINGO card.  First kid to complete a row or diagonal line wins.

For older kids, you can connect nature and geography:

Activity Idea #2:  Animal World Map
Print the animal photos and have the kids paste them onto the world map, according to the animal origin:
      *Banteng; Southeast Asia & vulnerable
      *Dhole, East and Southern Africa & least concern
      *African painted dog, Sub-Sharan Africa
      *Eld's deer, Southeast Asia & endangered
      *Indochina Sika Deer, East Asia & least concern
      *Grevy's Zebra, Kenya & Ethipia & endgangerd
      *Perisan Onager, Syria/Iran/Pakistan, India, Israel & endangered

Activity Idea #3:  Conservation Index IQ
Discuss the conservation index ranging from Extinct in the Wild (EW) to Least Concern (LC).  On paper draw the range with each category:  EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC.  Then place the animals in their current category status:
      *EW:  Pere David's Deer, Extinct in the Wild (formerly China)
      *CR:  Bactrian Camel, Critically Endangered (Central & Southeast Asia)
      *EN:  Przewalski's Wild Horse, Endangered (Central Asia)
      *VU:  Sichuan Takin, Vulnerable (Tibet & China)
      *NT:  Southern White Rhino, Nearly Threatened
      *LC:  Sable Antelope, Least concern, (East Africa & Southern Africa)

Tip:  Bring your hiking shoes!  Even though it's a bus tour, the tour gives you time to walk to ponds or throughout the Carnivore Conservation Center (opened in 2007 with cheetahs and African wild dogs).  You'll see unique animals and wildflowers, so get off the bus.

I hope you can experience it too. Season opens May 2nd.  Camps available June-August.
Learn more at http://www.thewilds.org/.  For a few more photos, go to my personal collection "The Wilds" at http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenda/sets/.  If you have a scout troop, check out their Scout Day Program offering tour, meal, and canoe usage for one packaged price.

Gym Class #2: Rolex Kentucky & 7 Other Horse Events

Photo by Krenda

If you want to help your child envision, show them the best.  Sporting events help kids see what's possible.  Before signing up for horse back riding lessons, take your kids to a competition or event.

Living near Kentucky, we simply drove down to Lexington for the Rolex Three Day event including:  1) dressage, testing the gaits and obedience, 2) cross country, riders and horses go at speeds up to 25 mph over challenging terrain, including obstacles, water hazards, ditches, 3) jumping - a thrill to watch.

Prices can be steep, so check online for lower advanced pricing.  The Rolex takes two tickets, one for grounds admission ($20 to $40 for adults) and one for stadium competition seats ($10-$40 daily).

A friend of mine from my MBA college program has family in KY, living and breathing horse breeding and racing.  Kentucky residents are fortunate to be surrounded by horse farms and events:  Kentucky Derby, North American Junior/Young Rider Championships, American Saddlebred World's Championship Horse Show, Paso Pino Horse Association Grand National Championship Show.

You don't need to live near KY to find a horse event.  You can find events across the US and throughout the year.  Here's 7 other horse events (locations and dates may change):
1.  FEI World Cup Show Jumping & Dressage Finals -April, Las Vegas, NV 

2.  International Friesian Show Horse Association World & Grand National Horse Show- Sept., Burbank, CA

3.  AQHA World Show - Nov., Oklahoma City, OK

4.  Super Ride US Equestrian Drill Ride Championship - June, Lindale, TX 

5.  American Eventing Championships - Sept., Tyler, TX

6.  Arabian Sport Horse Nationals - July, Namba, ID

7.  Arabian Youth Nationals - Albuquerque, NM