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Poughkeepsie, NY - In an effort to expand learning opportunities for children in the Hudson Valley, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced a new partnership he helped create between the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum (MHCM) in Poughkeepsie, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, and the Poughkeepsie City School District. As part of this new joint venture, traveling exhibits from the AMNH will be on display at the site of the MHCM. Additionally, Hinchey detailed a federal grant he secured from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the MHCM that will pay for the expansion of two exhibits.
"Today is the beginning of a new era for the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum," Hinchey said. "With the museum's new partnership with the American Museum of Natural History and these new expanded exhibits, the children of the Hudson Valley will have even greater opportunities to learn about the natural, political and cultural history of their region. I was delighted to foster this new partnership between the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Poughkeepsie schools. I know that the traveling exhibit that will be here in November is only the start of a long-term and meaningful relationship between these two museums that will benefit local children for years to comes."
Serving as a facilitator, Hinchey convinced the AMNH to select the MHCM as a site to bring their mobile museum program. "The Paleontology of Dinosaurs" traveling exhibit will provide students with direct instruction from museum staff on dinosaur fossils, allowing them a hands on learning opportunity. The mobile exhibit will be on-site November 3 and 4. Selected classes from Columbus Elementary School, located within walking distance of the museum, will visit on November 4.
Hinchey also announced that using his position on the House Appropriations Committee, he secured $200,000 in federal funds from the IMLS funding for the museum to expand and enhance existing programs. The first exhibit is the Dive Bell, which was partly acquired from the Hudson Valley Children's Museum in Nyack, New York. Inside the Dive Bell students are able to take a virtual journey to the bottom of the Hudson River. The exhibit has a robotic arm inside that will allow students to "fish" for replicas of Hudson River species. The Dive Bell also has an on-board aquarium and periscope that lets them look out to the Hudson River. The goal of the exhibit is to help students and other museum visitors to understand the importance of keeping the Hudson River clean. The funds Hinchey secured allowed museum officials to expand the Dive Bell exhibit so that there is room for an entire class.
Additionally, the federal funds will enhance on-site exhibits with new green screen and projection virtual technologies that allow students and other museum visitors to "sign" their name to the U.S. Constitution and "ride" the same route that 16 year-old Sybil Ludington, our area's female "Paul Revere," took to warn of the British arrival. The museum still has additional funds from Hinchey's allocation, which will be spent on yet to be determined projects.
Hinchey also helped announce a separate federal grant for the MHCM, in collaboration with the Dutchess County Historical Society, to work together on traveling education trunks. These trunks will go to schools in the Hudson Valley to assist in teaching the history of the American Revolution. Hinchey supported the competitive grant application, which was 1 of the 100 selected nationwide out of a competitive pool of 900 applicants.
"We are very fortunate to have so many great learning opportunities for our children in the Hudson Valley," Hinchey said. "I admire the great work of the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, the Dutchess County Historical Society, the Poughkeepsie City School District, and now the American Museum of Natural History for helping to provide youngsters with interesting and exciting ways to learn inside and outside of the classroom."
Joining Hinchey at the press conference to announce the new partnership and federal funds were MHCM Executive Director Diane Pedevillano, Poughkeepsie Mayor Nancy Cozean, Eileen Hayden of the Dutchess County Historical Society, and Bob Watson -- Superintendent of Poughkeepsie Public Schools.
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