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Cernan Earth and Space Center "Touch the Sky" Grant August, 2009 Dear Educator or Group Leader, I'd like to introduce you to a unique opportunity for local schools, senior citizen groups and other non-profit organizations to receive a free planetarium show at Triton College's Cernan Earth and Space Center, along with a $40 store credit to purchase books and educational materials from the Cernan Center's Star Store gift shop. In the late-summer of 2009, the Cernan Earth and Space Center of Triton College received a two-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to reprise its popular Touch the Sky initiative that provides a wide range of astronomy and earth science lessons and life experiences to underprivileged non-profit groups, including K-12 schools, day care centers, and senior citizen groups. The major component of this federal grant allows underprivileged schools, senior citizen groups and other non-profit organizations the opportunity to attend any one of the Cernan Center's educational programs free of charge on weekday afternoons from 12:10 to 4:00. A limited number of these grant-supported free time slots will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Participating group leaders may select any of the Cernan Center's currently available educational programs and can choose between the Cernan Center’s 12:10, 1:20, 2:30 or 4:00 weekday time slots for their program. The show selection includes eight children's planetarium shows, thirteen multimedia earth and sky shows, and six C-360 wraparound films. Laser light shows, which have no educational content, will not be supported by the grant. Time slots would be allocated on a first come, first-served basis. Preferential treatment will be given to larger groups (i.e. 50 to 100 students) so as to maximize the educational "reach" of this initiative. In addition to the free planetarium show, visiting groups also will be given the opportunity to purchase $40 worth of educational books and teaching materials to supplement their classroom instruction during their visit to the Cernan Center, thereby extending the educational benefit of this program. The Cernan Earth and Space Center's Star Store gift shop offers a wide variety of educational books and teaching materials related to the themes of astronomy, space exploration and the study of our own planet earth, including astronomy or earth-science books, magazines, posters, videotapes, educational DVDs, etc. Since the intent of this offer is to provide materials for classroom instruction, these funds should be limited to the purchase of merchandise that has direct educational and teaching value. Groups interested in participating in the Touch the Sky program should submit a letter on their organization's stationery stating their interest in reserving a free program at the Cernan Earth and Space Center, as well as the fact that their organization lacks the necessary funds to support the admission fees to the Cernan Center, which are normally $4.50 per student per show. All letters should be sent to: Bart Benjamin, Cernan Earth and Space Center, Triton College, 2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove, IL 60171. If your request is approved, you will be contacted by the Cernan Center to make specific field trip arrangements (i.e. date, time, and choice of program). Transportation to and from the Cernan Center remains the responsibility of each visiting group or organization. The IMLS grant does not cover transportation costs. If you have any questions about our Touch the Sky program, please call the Cernan Center at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3372 during regular business hours. |
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