PA MUSEUMS 2022 Annual Statewide Museum Conference

Two of JCHC’s staff and a former Board member have been invited to make a presentation on the JCHS Scripture Rocks Heritage Park’s new Native Plant-Pollinator Pond Habitat and adjacent ADA Accessible Education Area. Kenneth Burkett, Executive Director; Kat Lyons, Operations Director and Chuck Williams of Williams Ecological, LLC and former Board member will co-equally present the slideshow. The presentation will focus on the planning, grant research and subsequent funding for the ADA area, and implementation of the project in 4 phases covering 2019, 2020 and early spring 2021.  This all led up to our hosting our first 4th grade class in May 2021 at the Park for an in-depth Environmental Education Day.

We created educational programs and accompanying materials—including rack cards of pollinators and pond life, a Plant-Pollinator Booklet (kudos to intern Alyssa Burkett) and Jr. Ranger booklet—for the kids. We also secured professional educators for the day. Our presentation at the conference is specifically targeted toward other History Centers and Museums interested in expanding from a solely indoor museum to an outdoor setting and developing an outdoor “exhibit” and educational opportunities.

We are also receiving a 2022 Institutional Special Achievement Award from PA Museums for this project which we titled “Pollywogs & Pollinators: Creating an ADA Accessible Garden Landscape & Education Area.”  A digital presentation of this award will also be on their website, http://pamuseums.org. The Conference, initially scheduled to be held at the Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA on April 24-26th is now a virtual conference April 25th-29th.  We are presenting on Wed April 27th at 11 AM.