The Challenger Experience
Young children and their grown-ups lift off from Earth, dock
with a space station, and return to Earth – all in 20 minutes!
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a
parent or guardian.
$3 per person
Mini-Missions
This 45-minute session in the spacecraft simulator will fly you
to Mars and back. For ages 8 and up; each child aged 8 to 11
must be accompanied by a partner aged 12 or older.
$3 per person
Junior Missions - for groups only
GROUP ACTIVITIES AT THE MUSEUM
The KVM is a great destination for parties and
group activities. Groups can attend performances,
planetarium shows, Challenger Learning Center
missions, movies, special classes, or hands-on
programs! Call us at 269.373.7965 for more
information on any of the programs
available to groups of all ages.
VOLUNTEER ALERT!
Call 269.373.7955 to learn about the benefits of
volunteering at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
SCOUT PROGRAMS
Call or check our website for a complete listing of
Scout programs.
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
The KVM is barrier-free. Sign language interpreters
may be scheduled for programs with a minimum
of two weeks’ notice. Assisted listening devices are
available for use in the planetarium.
90-minute missions designed for small groups of up to 14
participants, ages 8 and up.
Reservations required
$5 per person
Full-Crew Missions - for groups only
This 3-hour program is designed to build teamwork and
leadership skills for adults or students in grades 5 and up.
Reservations required
$25 per person
Minimum fee for all group programs is $45.
230 North Rose Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
269.373.7990
800.772.3370
Visit us at
kalamazoomuseum.org
/KalamazooValleyMuseum
@kalamazoomuseum
FREE GENERAL
ADMISSION
Planetarium and Challenger programs are
fee-based; minimum fees apply for groups.
Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday (Oct.–May): 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sundays & Holidays: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed: Easter (April 5)
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by
Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed
by its Board of Trustees
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees
Derl D. Oberlin, Chairman; Mary T. Gustas, Vice Chairman
Anna Whitten, Secretary; A. Christian Schauer, Treasurer
Susan L. Miller, Trustee; Jeffrey E. Patton, Trustee;
T. Kenneth Young, Trustee
MUSEUMNEWSLETTER
The CLC is a space-flight simulation experience, now for all
ages! Come find out what school kids already know – this is
way cool! Go to our website for details on public program
dates and times, and to make reservations for groups.
GENERALINFO
WINTER 2015
CHALLENGER
LEARNING CENTER
kalamazoomuseum.org
kalamazoomuseum.org
WINTER 2015
MUSEUMNEWSLETTER
In memory of Alvin H. and Emily T. Little
MIX IT UP! ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW!
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Third Floor Havirmill Gallery
Oct 18, 2014 – May 17, 2015
Kalamazoo for the Union!
Immerse yourself in Civil War history through the eyes of
the people of Kalamazoo County. The exhibit showcases
their efforts through stories and events of the time, along
with hands-on activities.
First Floor Gallery
Feb 14, 2015 – Aug 30, 2015
Evidence Found: Explorations in Archaeology
Learn the real science and methodology of
archaeology in this new visual and hands-on exhibit.
Identify potsherds and their uses, learn about
stratigraphy, and see our newly-restored 2600-year-old
mummy coffin!
FRIDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
Through June 5, the Museum is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays.
A variety of movies, concerts, Art Hops, special events, and a laser light show are available for adult audiences each week.
See detailed information online or pick up fliers at the KVM. Prices range from FREE to $5 per person.
On Art Hop nights, exhibits are also on display at Kalamazoo Valley’s Center for New Media.
Art Hop events begin at 6 p.m.
Live events and movies begin at 7 p.m.
Laser Light shows begin at 8 p.m.
Prices listed individually below:
Jan 9 Art Hop: Mid-Season Kick-Off Concert with Dixon’s Violin
(transformational journeys via digital violin) FREE
Jan 16 Fantasia Ballet Folklorico (Mexican native folk dance) $5
Jan 23 Unified: A Kalamazoo Music Experience $5
Jan 30 Chuck Whiting and The Tip Rail Ramblers
(honky-tonk blues & Midwestern swing) and
Moxieville (torch, swing, soul, R&B, jazz, roots, blues) $5
Feb 6 Art Hop/ Storytelling Festival Kick-Off Concert:
Karen Libman (storyteller) and
BenJammin Educational Music FREE
Feb 13 Abraham Lincoln in Song (Civil War era music) $5
Feb 20 Kevin Collins and Kuungana (African drum and
dance troupe) $5
Feb 27 The Hired Hands (Americana) and The Moody Coyotes
(rootsy Americana, bluegrass, rock, country) $5
Mar 6 Art Hop: 2015 Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival Play-In
Contest FREE
Mar 13 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with Peat in the Creel
(Celtic/world) and Belfast Gin (Celtic rock) $5
Mar 20 2015 Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival Kick-Off Concert:
The Real Fantastics (classic soul) FREE
Mar 27 REBEL: Loreta Velazquez, Secret Soldier of the
American Civil War (film) FREE
Apr 3 Art Hop: The ErlKings (singer-songwriter/pop) and
Groove Platter (blues rock) FREE
Apr 10 Zeemo the Yo-Yo Man: The Story of the Yo-Yo $5
Apr 17 Black Arts & Cultural Center presents:
Campus to Community-College Arts & Cultural
Organizations Showcase $5
Apr 24 Boheme Tribal Belly Dance and Wisaal
(Mediterranean fusion) $5
May 1 Art Hop: Double-Strung (country, bluegrass, gospel,
acoustic rock) and Steve Pesch (classic rock) FREE
May 8 “Spoken Murals” Poetry Showcase
(spoken word poetry) $5
May 15Blues Night with the Kalamazoo Valley Blues
Association $5
May 22Memorial Day Observance: Capt. Guy D. Gruters, Fighter
Pilot, P.O.W. 5 Yrs (motivational speaker) FREE
May 29Fancy Pants Theater Presents! (live performance) $5
Jun 5 Art Hop/Jump into Summer Kick-Off Event: Digital
Storytelling (KVCC Center for New Media students) FREE
SUNDAY SERIES
Presenting all new or updated topics! Programs begin at 1:30
p.m. and are FREE. Seating is limited. See detailed information
online or pick up fliers at the KVM.
Jan 4
Jan 18
Feb 1
Feb 15
Feb 22
Murders Most Foul (Tom Dietz, curator emeritus)
A Black Woman’s Journey into the 21st Century
(Dr. Betty Brown-Chappell)
Township History – Prairie Ronde (Tom Dietz)
Civil War Quilts (Leslie Goddard)
Artifactory (Kalamazoo Friends of Poetry & Tom Dietz)
Mar 1 Photographing the Night Sky (Eric Schreur)
Mar 15 Township History – Richland (Tom Dietz)
Apr 19 Past Forward: Bringing an Old House into
the 21st Century (Sharon Ferraro)
May 3 Archaeology in Kalamazoo (Tom Dietz)
May 17Forgotten Experiences of SW MI Soldiers in
the Civil War 1861-65 (John Urschel)
PLANETARIUM
This show chronicles teams around the world competing
for the Google Lunar XPRIZE by landing a robotic spacecraft
on the Moon for the first time in more than 40 years.
Wildest Weather in the Solar System March 21 – June 19
Fly through the thick atmosphere of Venus, magnetic
storms on the sun, and anticyclones whirling at hundreds
of miles per hour on Jupiter.
SEASONAL STARGAZING SHOWS:
Tuesdays, Thursdays at 3 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m
Heroes in Time January 10, 1–4 p.m.
Discover local heroes by creating artifact reproductions
and going on a scavenger hunt through our history gallery.
Sky Legends of the Three Fires
January 3 – March 20
The Mockingbird Project January 19, 2 p.m.
The Museum will be open from 1 until 5 today, Martin
Luther King Day. The Mockingbird Project is a play written
by Kalamazoo Central High School students, answering the
question, “What does an equitable society look like?”
Gather around a flickering campfire with Larry Plamondon,
known as Two Hawks, for three stories about the night sky.
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket March 21 – June 19
Join in the story of two children who build a rocket out
of a cardboard box and take a fantastical voyage
through the solar system.
North Versus South January 24, 1–4 p.m.
Learn more about the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and life
on both sides while creating a variety of arts and crafts.
LASER LIGHT SHOWS
Orion Nights January 3 – March 19
The Artists’ Sky March 21 – June 18
Storytelling Festival February 7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Every Friday Night at 8 p.m. $3
Words That Heal
Storytellers, arts and crafts, and books galore during this full
day festival that will feature Gemini and Kinetic Affect.
The festival kicks off on Friday, February 6 with
BenJammin and Karen Libman.
Pink Floyd’s The Wall
Burton Henry Upjohn
Archaeology: Fragments from the Past
CHILDREN’S LANDSCAPE
February 21, 1–4 p.m.
Learn more about the human side of history with
artifacts, fossils, and anthropology.
Children five and under are encouraged to play and explore in three rooms of
interactive exhibits and playful environments. All Children’s Landscape programs
are FREE. Children’s Landscape provides themed educational experiences for
families and preschool groups that change bimonthly.
December/January
February/March
April/May
Let’s All Get Along
Health and Safety
Taking the Scare Out of School
Circle Time programs
Mondays–Fridays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturdays at 11 a.m. (no Circle Time during
spring break April 6–10, but play hours
extended until 5:00 each day)
These literacy-based 20-minute
programs are free of charge to
families and preschool groups.
Programs are designed for
children ages 3–5 and may
include stories, musical
activities, games, and
art projects.
Children’s Landscape Hours
Monday–Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 1p.m. – 5 p.m.
Programming and hours of operation
may differ during holiday breaks.
Festival of Health March 7, 12–4 p.m.
Area health organizations come together to
share about health and nutrition.
APRIL 6 – APRIL 10
SPRING BREAK
HANDS-ON HAPPENINGS
SPORTILICIOUS! 1–4 p.m.
Come for a full week of arts and crafts focused on fun sports and some
creative books. Enjoy ten different crafts each day and story times
throughout the program.
April 6
April 7
April 8 April 9
April 10
A Splashing Time! Hear Red Rubber Boot Day
by Mary Lyn Ray
Punches, Kicks, and Crashes! Enjoy The Three
Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Up, Up, and Away! Take off with Kite Flying by Grace Lin
Picking Sides! Prepare for Rotten Richie and
the Ultimate Dare by Patricia Polacco
Batter UP! Vegetarians and Meat Eaters compete
in Dino-Baseball by Lisa Wheeler
Check our website for special daily planetarium shows and
Challenger missions during spring break.
All Hands-On Programs are FREE. Challenger missions and
planetarium shows, $3 per person.
Visit our website for details on all programs.
WINTER 2015
WINTER 2015
Back to the Moon for Good January 3 – March 20
FAMILY SHOWS:
Monday – Friday at 11 a.m.
through March 20
Saturday at 1 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
kalamazoomuseum.org
kalamazoomuseum.org
FEATURE SHOWS:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Visitors can drop in anytime during the hours indicated for these FREE family Hands-On programs and performances.
MUSEUMNEWSLETTER
MUSEUMNEWSLETTER
See the latest in planetarium technology — full–color, full–dome video with more animation
than ever before. New shows added every year! $3 per person.
PROGRAMS FOR KIDS & FAMILIES