Winter 2015 PDF link

Winter 2015 • Volume 5 • Issue 2
News and Events for Members, Donors, and Friends
PLAY Time
4
6
6
Trivial
Pursuit®
Exhibit
Opening
Under
the Sea
Weekend
Abracadabra
Weekend
Royal Ball
Weekend
Exhibit Now Open!
Pages 2–3
Member
News
7
12
New Exhibit
Trace the evolution of dolls, action figures, toy soldiers,
plush animals, and other toys of the imagination through
three centuries of American history and role-play in
interactive, themed environments in Play Pals!
Become part of the action in an enormous toy package
and pose for pictures dressed like a doll or action figure.
Create your own story at the adventure table with toy
soldiers, superhero action figures, and ferocious dinosaurs.
Move them across dynamic settings including a volcano
overflowing with lava, two enemy castles separated by
a field, and a modern city brimming with skyscrapers
and underground lairs. Then grab a Buzz Lightyear
or Mr. Incredible figure, plug it in, and explore the
computerized world of Disney Infinity.
Step into a life-size dollhouse and prepare food in the
kitchen, dine at the table, and care for a baby doll in the
nursery. Outside, plant a flower bed, grab a snack at the
picnic table, or pile into the family car—complete with
GPS, pedals, and headlights. Head over to the fashion
dress-up area and try on gowns and accessories.
In the GUND Teddy Bear Check-Up area, use an otoscope
and blood pressure sleeve to test the health of stuffed
bears, dogs, and cats. After, slip into a doctor’s coat and
use bandages and other medical tools to fix what ails
them. Test your reflexes with an oversized operation
game, and try to pluck the honey jar, butterfly, and more
from a lovable teddy bear.
2
PLAY Time • Winter 2015
Encounter cases filled with a variety of dolls, action
figures, and stuffed animals from every decade.
A massive timeline traces the evolution of these toys
from the homemade dolls of the 1800s through the
creation of the teddy bear and Raggedy Ann in the
early 1900s, to the development of favorite modern
figures such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bratz.
A nearby case explores dolls created in the likeness
of cultural icons, such as pilot Charles Lindberg and
America’s sweetheart Shirley Temple.
Reconnect with favorite playthings, including Teddy
Ruxpin, Baby Alive, Tickle Me Elmo, and My Buddy. Also
marvel at rare artifacts, including a Bild Lilli Doll (which
inspired Barbie), an early G.I. Joe prototype, a Steiff bear,
a 1930s Mickey Mouse, and Mabel—the beloved doll of
museum founder Margaret Woodbury Strong.
New Exhibit
Play house, heal a teddy bear, and save the world in Play Pals,
an original exhibit now open on the museum’s second floor.
The 4,000-square-foot Play Pals exhibit is phase three of
a five-phase project to transform the museum’s second
floor into America at Play, a highly interactive exhibit on
the history of play in America. This project is made possible
in part by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and
Library Services.
Made possible in part by
Teddy Bear Check-Up generously supported by
Newborn Nursery baby dolls and clothing courtesy of the Madame Alexander
Doll Company.
www.museumofplay.org
3
New Exhibit
Through January 4
®
Jump into the game! Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure
opens Saturday, February 14.
Travel from coast to coast learning about historical
sites, iconic tourist destinations, and popular recreation
and sports venues through unique hands-on activities,
challenging puzzles and games, and a blend of classic
and special edition Trivial Pursuit® questions. Discover
unique customs and activities specific to each region
of the United States:
Northeast Region
Climb to the top of a lighthouse and use the spotting
scope to identify coastline features or warn approaching
ships with the beacon and foghorn. Make a stop at
Fenway Park in Boston and play a baseball game.
In New York, activate the countdown ball for a New Year’s
Eve celebration in Times Square. Mark Independence Day
on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and take a
pretend tour of the capital.
Southeast Region
Fill a basket with peaches, explore the Everglades, and
build a sand castle along the Gulf Coast. Be part of
Kentucky Derby race day by grooming and feeding a
realistic horse, then travel to Louisiana to create your
own jazz arrangement. Peddle a pretend steamboat
in Mississippi, putt on a two-hole golf course in
South Carolina, and go camping in West Virginia.
Midwest Region
Motor into the action of the Indy 500 by pumping
gas, cleaning windows, and changing the tires
on a kid-sized racecar. Pose for photos with the
presidents at Mount Rushmore, picnic before the
NFL Hall of Fame Game in Ohio, and make a stop
at the International Peace Garden.
Mountain Region
Race on skis against a friend in Colorado, take
a kayak past a waterfall in Idaho, and dig up the
bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex in Montana. Beware
of the rumble and look out as Old Faithful erupts
in Yellowstone National Park.
4
Explore the LEGO® Castle Adventure exhibit
before it closes on February 1. Train like a
knight in the jousting field, construct a virtual
castle wall using 3-D computer technology,
and admire royal furnishings including a
decorative suit of armor—made entirely out
of LEGO® bricks. Get creative and build
a LEGO brick masterpiece and construct
a paper brick to take home. Try your hand at
strategy games that have challenged people for centuries
including Red Dragon, Nine Men’s Morris, puzzles, and an
oversized game of chess.
PLAY Time • Winter 2015
Southwest Region
Saddle up a kid-friendly mule for a ride into the Grand
Canyon, step into a pretend hot air balloon gondola, and
explore buildings of the “Old West.” See why everything
is bigger in Texas and have your picture taken with a
comically large cowboy hat. Then activate a rotating
Ferris wheel as you learn why the Lonestar State is
known for its state and county fairs.
Western Region
Guide a dog sled through the Iditarod in Alaska and then
warm up for a spell by hopping into a kid-sized convertible
for a cruise through sunny California. Perform a Hawaiian
dance, try to traverse Mount Rainer, and use a constellation
guide to search for stars.
Enter the Best of the Brick Contest
Monday, January 5–Friday, January 16
Calling toy-brick builders of all ages! Take
inspiration from the LEGO® Castle Adventure
exhibit and enter the Best of the Brick
Contest. Create an original masterpiece from
toy building bricks and upload a picture of it
to The Strong’s Facebook timeline between
January 5 and 16.
Storytime Club
Celebrate the joy of reading.
Hear children’s stories on select
Mondays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Have your Storytime Club
passport punched once during
each visit. Collect five punches
and receive a free children’s book.
Mondays, January 5 & 26
Frosty Fun
Curl up with stories about
wintertime adventures.
Mondays, February 2 & 23
Love Is in the Air
Enjoy heartwarming stories
about love, family, and friendship.
Mondays, March 2, 16 & 23
Silly Seuss Stories
Honor Dr. Seuss’s birthday with
books featuring tongue twisters
and silly rhymes.
Sponsored by
Winning designs receive a $50 museum shops card. Museum officials will
choose one winner per age group and fans will choose another in each
group by liking their favorite photos. For full entry rules, visit the museum’s
web page.
Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure remains on view
through May 10.
Monday Kicks for
Ages 2 to 6
The Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure exhibit was created by
the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc.
Trivial Pursuit® is a trademark of Hasbro and is used with permission.
1981, 2015 Hasbro, Pawtucket, RI 02861-1059 USA. All Rights Reserved.
Join in playful learning activities
with your child at this monthly series
created to help parents teach little
ones important skills through play.
Events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local media sponsor
Upcoming Programs & Events
LEGO® Castle Adventure
School-Break Week
January 12—Fun with Storytelling
Delight in tales and activities that
explore the art of storytelling.
Sprice: An Explosively
Good Time!
Saturday, January 10, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, January 11, 1–4 p.m.
Get ready for some explosive fun with Sprice, a Rube Goldberg machine
builder from Michigan and quarter finalist from season eight of America’s
Got Talent. Be amazed as he creates an enormous chain-reaction structure
featuring a variety of materials and detonates them at 3 p.m. on Saturday
and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Try building your own chain-reaction creation using
everyday objects.
February 9—Playing with Math
Sort, count, and create patterns
with math-themed songs and
movement activities.
March 9—Fairy-Tale Fun
Be whisked away to faraway
places with fairy-tale-themed
song and dance.
Sponsored by
www.museumofplay.org
5
Sunday, January 25, 1–4 p.m.
Get out of the cold and dive into The Strong for an ocean of adventure!
Swim with mermaids, but keep an eye out for the Creature from the
Black Lagoon! Meet the Pout-Pout Fish and enjoy story readings of
The Pout-Pout Fish and Pout-Pout Fish and the Big, Big Dark.
Get into the island spirit as you groove to the sounds of steel drums by
members of Alfred St. John’s Trinidad and Tobago Steel band, and learn
more about their unique instruments. Meet real underwater explorers and
shipwreck hunters from Shipwreck World. Check out their gear—including
sonar scanner and remote-operated vehicle—and discover what it takes to
uncover sunken treasure!
Search for shells at the Kinetic Sand indoor beach; make deep-sea-inspired
foam creations; create a life-sized drawing of yourself as a fanciful mermaid
or sea creature; and make a delightful paper jellyfish, crab, or sea turtle to
take home.
Materials for the Kinetic Sand beach generously provided by Spin Master.
View a special comic book display
by Art Force Five that illustrates
America’s journey toward civil rights.
This unique display includes more than
25 significant comic books and tackles
questions such as “Was Superman
created to fight bullies?” "Who is
this different Spider-Man," and “Was
Marvel’s Black Panther part of the
Black Panther party?”
Leave a symbol of peace by creating
a paper dove to hang in the museum.
Explore history of the United States
through dozens of interactive
stations and classic and special
edition Trivial Pursuit® questions.
Play a game of Rochester trivia
and guess the identity of local
landmarks, people, and more.
Craft a paper white hot and lilac,
Rochester's famous food and flower.
Then add a miniature magic carpet
to a giant map to show which U.S.
cities you would love to visit.
vis it
The Texas State Fair
Texas State Fair has
United States, the in Dallas since 1886.
The largest in the
ic Fair Park
been held at the histor
Austin

vis it
®
Saturday, January 24, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Set a course for The Strong this
school-break week and explore
Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure.
NEW YOR
K
Under the Sea Weekend
Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and enjoy the interactive show
“Championing Equality through
Power of Creativity” by Alfred
University Art Force Five—superheroes
with creative powers—at 1:30 and
3:30 p.m. See how creativity can help
with problem-solving and encourage
fairness and learn about creative
heros throughout history. (Participants
will receive an Art Force badge.)
®
Monday, January 19
Saturday, February 14–
Sunday, February 22
TEXAS
Upcoming Programs & Events
Celebrating Diversity
l de Texas se
, La Feria Estata desde 1886.
en los Estados Unidos
Park de Dallas
La mas grande cabo
en el histórico Fair
ha llevado a
Times Square
Along with Times
Statue of Liber Square, New York is home to
the
And, New York isty—an international symbol of freed
the only state that
om.
borders the Atlan
Ocean and the Great
tic
Lakes.
Albany

Junto al Times Square
, New York es el
la Libertad, un símbol
hogar de
New York es el únicoo internacional de libertad.la Estatua de
Ademá
estado que limita
con el Océanos,
Atlántico y los Grande
s Lagos
The Royal Ball
Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 1–4 p.m.
Sound the trumpets! Come dressed
in your most regal attire and be whisked away
to the royal court. Join the Queen of Play for live music, pageantry,
and courtly dancing. Enjoy song and dance with Nonesuch Early Music
Ensemble, “feast” at the royal banquet table, and create your own
crown, scepter, and family crest.
Complete a quest and be knighted by the queen, check out real armor
and try on chainmail, and work on your hand-eye coordination with
Nerf slingshots in Sherwood Forest. Stop by Rapunzel’s hair salon for
a fashionable, courtly hairdo; receive a bejeweled gift from the Fairy
Godmother; and create your own imaginary world of princesses,
dragons, and knights with Folkmanis puppets.
On Saturday only, enjoy Rochester Lyric Opera’s production
of “The Tales of Custard the Dragon” at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
Upcoming Programs & Events
Trivial Pursuit®
School–Break Week
Fit Kids Day
Abracadabra
Weekend
Saturday, February 7, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, February 8, 1–4 p.m.
Hocus pocus! A weekend of pure magic is right before your eyes! Be amazed
as Rochester’s premier comedic magician Bill Gormont performs astounding
illusions and fantastical sleight-of-hand feats. Learn tricks of the trade—such
as a vanishing coin and disappearing pencil—in the Magic Lab. Put on
a magic show in the Kid to Kid theater, create a personalized magic wand
and other magical props, and make and take home your own bag of tricks.
6
PLAY Time • Winter 2015
Klutz® School–Break Week
Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Saturday, March 28–Sunday, April 5
Jump, run, or slide into the museum
for a day filled with fitness fun!
Practice coordination with hula hoops
and oversized balls, perfect your aim
in the Sport Zone, and learn how to
turn plastic grocery bags into a jump
rope. Join other museum guests for
an indoor snowball fight and get
snowboarding tips from experts from
Bristol Mountain. Pick up a Passport
to Family Wellness booklet and taste
healthy snacks from Wegmans.
Fit Kids Day is presented in cooperation
with the Lets Move! Museum and
Gardens initiative.
Get crafty during Klutz School-Break Week.
Twist and turn pipe cleaners of all sizes into
caterpillars, dragons, and anything else your
imagination can dream up. Create unique
artwork using your fingers and an ink pad and
fashion paper airplanes to soar through the sky.
Check out Klutz craft books including Twisted
Critters, Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes, and
Klutz: The Most Amazing Thumb Doodles
Book in the History of the Civilized World.
© 2014 Klutz and ®/TM
Klutz. All rights reserved.
Materials for school-break
week generously provided
by Klutz.
www.museumofplay.org
7
Museum
Member News
Bubbles, Little Green Army Men, and Rubik’s Cube
Inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame
Magical, iridescent bubbles;
monochromatic, miniature little
green army men; and the colorful,
puzzling Rubik’s Cube became the
latest inductees to the National Toy
Hall of Fame this past November.
All are relatively inexpensive, easy to
come by, and have been delighting
young and old alike for generations.
The origin of soap bubbles
is anything but transparent.
Historians know that people in
Europe manufactured high quality
soaps by the 16th century, but no
documentation exists of the first use
of soap bubbles for fun. However,
during the 17th century, the earliest
paintings of children playing with
bubbles appeared in the region
of Flanders (now part of
modern-day Belgium).
Ever since the 1930s, little green
army men have occupied territories,
lands, and entire make-believe
nations. Molded with incredible detail
and manufactured by the millions,
the plastic toy soldiers have fueled
kids’ imaginations, prompted their
narratives, and encouraged their
stories of daring and heroism.
Invented in the early 1970s by
a Hungarian lecturer, the threedimensional Rubik’s Cube satisfies
a kid’s sense of intrigue and inspires
serious mathematicians. The colorful
cubes can be arranged 43 quintillion
(a number with six commas)
ways and have inspired organized
competitions across the globe.
Bubbles, little green army men, and
Rubik’s Cube entered the hall at a
special ceremony at The Strong on
November 6, 2014.
Miniature Rooms Added to Collections
A miniature antique and art shop, consignment store, grocery market,
and a resale store are just a few of the 28 miniature rooms that Indianapolis
mother-of-two Julie Conner built over a 20-year period and recently donated
to The Strong. Doctors diagnosed Julie’s oldest son with autism at the age
of three, and after some demanding days in the early years, Conner says she
would use her evenings to create the meticulous miniatures as a way
to decompress. She describes it as a form of “adult play therapy.”
Conner hand-crafted most of the 2,500 furnishings in the 28 rooms. Diagnosed
with Asperger's (a form of autism) herself, Connor says that it’s the symptoms
of her condition that drove her to seek such perfection with the rooms. Many of
the rooms recall elements of her life—places that she traveled, events that she
remembers fondly, and people that she loves.
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PLAY Time • Winter 2015
During the past 65 years, millions
of children have traveled through
the Peppermint Stick Forest and
Gumdrop Mountains on their way
to Candy Land’s Candy Castle.
The Strong’s comprehensive board
game collection includes several
historic and significant examples
of this classic game. Toy company
Winning Games (licensed through
Hasbro) recently released a historic
version of Candy Land based on
two 1960s examples in The Strong’s
collections. Distributed nationally,
the game carries
instructions that include
a brief story about the
museum’s history
and its substantial
board game
collections.
RPO Musicians
Explore Electronic
Games Collection
As a prelude to the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO)
performance of Video Games Live,
members of the RPO visited
The Strong for a behind-thescenes professional development
opportunity facilitated by The Strong's
International Center for the History
of Electronic Games (ICHEG) staff.
Nearly 15 RPO musicians and staff
explored the museum’s electronic
games collections—more than
55,000 objects and growing—to
gain a deeper understanding of
their significance.
Prince of Persia Series Creator Donates
Design and Business Records
Prominent game designer and writer Jordan Mechner, creator of the
bestselling Prince of Persia franchise, has donated a collection of design
notes, drawings, correspondence, business records, and software related
to the development of his three best-known games—Karateka (1984),
Prince of Persia (1989), and The Last Express (1997).
Mechner pioneered the use of cinematographic techniques in video game
design—such as rotoscoping—which helped him to develop smooth-scrolling,
realistic animation for his first game, Karateka. He filmed his brother running,
jumping, and fighting with a sword, and then colored over each frame to
create the realistic animation for his second title, Prince of Persia. The game
spawned a franchise that includes an ongoing Ubisoft video game franchise,
graphic novels, toys, LEGO sets, and a Walt Disney Pictures feature film,
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
“Jordan Mechner’s Prince of Persia combined cutting edge graphics, exciting
action, and immersive storytelling in a way that had rarely been done before.
It’s no wonder that the series continues to sell millions of games and inspire
books and movies more than 25 years after its inception,” says Jon-Paul
Dyson, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of
Electronic Games. “Thanks to the materials donated to The Strong by Jordan
Mechner, scholars and researchers can now take a glimpse into the mind of
one of gaming’s great innovators and one of its finest storytellers.”
The Jordan Mechner Collection sits alongside and complements The Strong’s
vast collection of games, design documents, business records, and related
materials that chronicle the history of the video game industry. These include
the Brøderbund, Inc. Collection donated by company founder Doug Carlston
earlier this year. Carlston and the Brøderbund team worked closely with
Mechner to publish Karateka, Prince of Persia, and The Last Express.
“These incredibly detailed rooms offer a rare glimpse into the mind of an adult
at play,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections at The Strong.
“They also provide an example of the way in which play can help people
understand and cope with the things in their lives that may be beyond
their control.”
Researchers Examine Play-Related Materials
Connor’s miniature rooms will be part of a future museum exhibit.
In October, Emily Flynn-Jones,
a postdoctoral research fellow at
York University in Toronto pored
through trade catalogs, magazines,
and video material, including
Through its research fellowship
programs, The Strong encourages
and supports scholarship.
Museum News
The Strong’s
Collections Influence
Recreation of
Historic Game
The Strong’s America at Play: Play
Stories Archive to understand
how women and girls have been
represented throughout history.
In November, Raiford Guins,
Associate Professor of Culture and
Technology with the State University
of New York at Stony Brook,
examined materials related to the
history of coin-operated arcade video
game cabinet design as research for
a forthcoming academic article
for The Journal of Design History
published by Oxford University Press.
www.museumofplay.org
9
Museum News
Museum News
The Strong Earns
Highest Recognition
The Strong Welcomes
Distinguished Guests
The Strong has achieved reaccreditation by
the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)—the
highest achievement for excellence in the museum
community. AAM’s rigorous accreditation process
takes nearly a year to complete and examines all
aspects of a museum’s operations.
Accreditation verifies The Strong’s commitment to excellence, high
professional standards, financial and ethical accountability, and continued
institutional improvement. Citing its innovative exhibitions, creative
publications, community engagement, and sound financial management, Burt
Logan, chairperson of AAM’s Accreditation Committee, declares The Strong,
“a model institution” and notes that it is an outstanding representative of the
museum field, combining excellent collections, wonderful facilities, a thoughtful
mission, and an engaged Board of Trustees and staff.
Research Library
Adds Doris Bergen
Papers
George Gomez, legendary game designer
and executive vice president for game
development at Stern Pinball, pictured with
machines and schematics of his designs
during a recent visit to The Strong.
Of the nation’s nearly 35,000 museums, just over three percent are currently
accredited. The Strong has maintained this highest designation since 1984.
Democrat & Chronicle Multimedia Solution
Museum Garners Local
and National Acclaim
The Strong has acquired papers,
publications, and research materials
spanning the long and distinguished
career of Dr. Doris Bergen, professor
of educational psychology at
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
The collection contains unique
primary source materials such as
observational videos of preschool
children and special needs toddlers
at play in the United States, China,
and other countries from the early
1990s, as well as raw data from
select research studies. Also included
are articles, letters, speeches, and
research-related papers.
The Doris Bergen Papers, 1974–2014
Spin Master’s Susie Adelson and Nick Pagee
For the 13th year in a row, readers of
enhance The Strong’s growing
tour the museum and its library and archives.
the Democrat and Chronicle named
collection of archival materials related
Pictured with The Strong’s President and
The Strong the gold standard for best museum
to the study of play. The collection
CEO Rollie Adams (far left) and Vice
in Rochester. City Newspaper readers again distinguished the museum
sits alongside and complements
President for Collections Chris Bensch
WE for
CONTINUE
TO CONNECT
YOU TO THE AUDIENCES
THAT MATTER MOST WITH EXPANDED, EFFECTIVE MARKETING SOLUTIONS.
Rochester’s best family-friendly attraction. And
a decade
straight,
(far right).
assemblages from other prominent
The Strong was awarded “Top Spot to Take the Kids” and “Favorite Kid-Friendly
play scholars such as Brian SuttonMuseum” from readers of KidsOutandAbout.com. Additionally, the museum
Smith, Vivian Gussin Paley, Lella
earned a “Best Spot in Town” rating from online review site Yelp.com.
Gandini, and Anthony Pellegrini.
Together these create an unmatched
Recent national accolades come from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest
resource for museum staff, research
travel website, which awarded the museum its highest honor; Family Travel
fellows, and other researchers and
magazine, which named The Strong one of the “10 Must-Visit Family Museums”;
scholars who come to The Strong
Destinations Travel Magazine, whose list of the nation’s best museums included
from around the world to examine
The Strong; and Sherman’s Travel, which designated The Strong as one of
the interdisciplinary study of play.
“9 Pop Culture Museums Worth the Drive.”
ROCHESTER’S CHOICE WINNER’S SECTION
The Strong Collaborates with
Gates Chili School District
The museum recently welcomed teachers and faculty from the Gates Chili
School District for a full-day workshop on “Playful Learning in the Early
Childhood Classroom.” The workshop signaled the start of an ongoing
collaboration between The Strong and the school district to support
a new play-based universal pre-kindergarten program (UPK) for 90
Gates Chili students.
As part of the partnership, The Strong’s Education Team provides training
sessions for Gates Chili staff where participants explore how play supports
learning and development, draw upon the museum’s interactive exhibits for
school lesson ideas, and develop plans for their pre-kindergarten classrooms.
The collaboration also includes museum field trips throughout the school
year for those enrolled in the Gates Chili pre-kindergarten program.
“A cornerstone of our UPK program is to expand our children's access to rich
and varied learning experiences in order to prepare them for school success,”
says Erin Ugine, UPK coordinator with Gates Chili. “Our partnership with
The Strong is unique because their early childhood specialists truly recognize
the essential role of play within the learning process and human development.”
CONGRATULATIONS!
Staff from the College of Image Arts and
Sciences at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto,
Japan—including Masayuki Uemura (middle),
advisor and developer of the Nintendo
Advertise
in the
Rochester’s Choice Winners
Famicon—tour
The Strong’s
collections
with ICHEG
staff.
Section!
Thank your loyal customers and
You’re a Rochester’s Choice Winner
The Strong Represented at
Wonderplay Conference
10
Playfulness Key to Happy, Lasting Relationships According
to Upcoming Issue of the American Journal of Play
encourage new ones to try your business
According to a
The Strong’s President and CEO, Rollie Adams, joined the museum’s
for the first time. Let everyone know you’re
study conducted by
Vice President for Play Studies, Scott Eberle, and Director of Education,
Garry Chick, PhD,
a Rochester’s Choice Winner and watch
Debbie McCoy, at the 92Y Wonderplay Early Childhood Conference in
and colleagues at
business boom!
New York City. The trio was present as Lella Gandini, the United States
Pennsylvania State
Liaison for the Dissemination of the Reggio Emilia Approach, was honored
University and
for her profound influence in early childhood education. Gandini’s personal
published in The
papers—including examples of her publications; scores of other works on
Strong’s American
early childhood education and related topics; and a compilation of research
Journal of Play in
notes, presentations, and other documents used throughout her career—are
2012, playfulness
DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE:
Full run tabloid inserted into the D&C on 11/30/14
housed in The Strong’s Brian Sutton-Smith Library
and Archives
of Play.
may serve an evolutionary role in
In 2012, Gandini was interviewed for The Strong’s American Journal of Play.
mating preferences and make a
Gavin Landry, executive director of tourism
person more attractive to potential
ONLINE: All individual print ads will be
online State
fromDevelopment
11/30/14 - 12/6/14
for Empire
Corp., visits
mates. A follow-up study published
The Strong. Pictured with museum Vice
in an upcoming issue of the
President
for
Marketing
and
Communications
The entire winners section will be online from 11/30/14 - 12/28/14
Suzanne Seldes (left) and Director of Public
Journal by Rene Proyer, professor
PLAY Time • Winter 2015
Relations Shane Rhinewald (right).
of psychology at the University of
Zurich, Switzerland, replicates that
research with German-speaking
peoples and takes it a step further—
suggesting that playfulness not only
aids in humans finding a mate, but
that it also plays a significant role in
creating a long-lasting relationship.
Proyer cites research suggesting
that playfulness may help couples
to overcome routine difficulties,
prevent boredom, and boost positive
emotions. He points out that people
involved in romantic relationships
rated playfulness as more
important—and displayed higher
traits of playfulness themselves—than
those not in romantic relationships.
Additional articles in Vol. 7, No. 2
of the Journal focus on such topics
as competitive speech and debate,
the philosophy of play, and gender
differences in children’s play. Read
the American Journal of Play free
of charge at journalofplay.org.
Printed editions are also available
for subscription and single
copy purchase.
www.museumofplay.org
11
Member News
In October, Jon-Paul Dyson,
director of the International Center
for the History of Electronic Games
and vice president for exhibits,
spoke about The Strong’s video
game preservation efforts at
a conference called Meant to
Last: Preserving the Modern &
Contemporary hosted by the
Conservation Center for Art &
Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia.
Dyson also served as a judge for
the Toy Industry Association’s
e-Connected Toy of the
Year competition.
Traveling Over Winter Break?
Thanks to The Strong’s partnership with the Association of Children's Museums, patron-level members receive
discounted admission to more than 200 children's museums across the United States and Canada. This is an incredible
way to experience other family-friendly museums while saving on the admission fee. Visit childrensmuseums.org for a list
of participating museums.
Patron members also receive four one-time use guest passes and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden passes—that’s a $70
value for only $41 more than the cost of a family or grandparent membership. Ask about upgrading your membership at
the museum Admissions desk or call 585-263-2700 x254.
Saturday, January 10 at 1 p.m.
vs. Detroit Waza Flo
Sunday, January 25 at 4 p.m.
vs. Syracuse Silver Knights
Saturday, February 14 at 1 p.m.
vs. Harrisburg Heat
Thursday, February 19 at 7 p.m.
vs. Harrisburg Heat
12 PLAY Time • Winter 2015
Strong members save 10% on select
family performances at the Nazareth
College Arts Center. Offer available
online only at http://artscenter.
naz.edu/. Enter coupon code
PLAYSTRONG.
Beth Lathrop, director of libraries
at The Strong, presented “Playing
with the History of Play: Toymakers,
Game Designers, and the Creative
Process" at the Wayne-Finger Lakes
BOCES School Library System
Library Leadership Academy.
Theatreworks USA: Skippyjon Jones
on January 17 at noon and 2 p.m.
Atlantic Theatre Company: Ivy +
Bean: The Musical on February 7
at noon and 2 p.m.
Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train LIVE!:
Buddy's Big Adventure on May 2
at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Valid on orchestra seat tickets only.
Limit four tickets per order. Prior sales
excluded. Not valid with other offers
or discounts, including subscriber
discount. Offer valid January 1 to
May 2, 2015. Contact the Nazareth
Arts Center box office at
585-389-2170 for more information.
In November, Vice President for
Collections Chris Bensch and
Curator Nic Ricketts attended
the Toy and Game Inventor
(TAGIE) Awards.
In December, McCoy and
Woodbury School teachers
Cheryl Nichols and Marlene Heuer,
presented a workshop on how
the Reggio Emilia approach is
used in Woodbury School for
the Rochester Association for
the Education of Young Children
Reggio Study Group.
Members Save at Select Lancers Games
and Nazareth Arts Center Performances
Strong members can score $10
premium tickets for select Rochester
Lancers indoor soccer games. To
purchase tickets, contact Hannah
at 585-872-5425 or Hannah@
rochesterlancers.com and mention
you are a member of The Strong.
Tickets must be purchased one week
before each game and cannot be
purchased at the box office. Other
restrictions apply.
Also in October, Director of
Education, Debbie McCoy,
provided the keynote presentation
and facilitated small group
discussions and observation in
museum exhibits for members
of the Ohio Association of the
Education of Young Children
in October.
Don’t Forget
Your Member
Benefits
There’s much more to membership
than free museum admission. Strong
museum members receive other
great benefits such a $1 discount on
general admission for guests, a $1
discount on member admission to
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, and
a 10% discount to both museum gift
shops. Show your valid membership
card and start saving today.
In December, Shane Rhinewald,
director of public relations, and
Kim Della Porta, public relations
and marketing associate, presented
a session on communications in a
nonprofit world to an upper-level
public relations class at the College
at Brockport.
The Strong Builds
Partnership with GUND®
When the Play Pals exhibit opened in December,
guests were introduced to the playful and
interactive GUND Teddy Bear Check-Up area.
GUND, a division of Enesco, LLC, is known
worldwide for its top-quality, soft, and huggable
plush designs—products that appeal to all ages
and are popular among children and collectors.
President for Gotta Getta GUND
Bruce Raiffe with The Strong's
President and CEO Rollie Adams.
Made possible by a $100,000 sponsorship, the
GUND Teddy Bear Check-Up area allows children to role-play as a veterinarian
and care for precious, soft animals friends using colorful, kid-sized medical
equipment. Children can weigh their favorite GUND animal, measure its height,
and even check its vital signs. The Strong is grateful for GUND’s support
and partnership.
IMLS Grant Supports New Exhibit
Advancement
Out and About
The Strong received a $149,993 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) to complete Build, Drive, Go, a 2,500-square-foot exhibit
focusing on the history and evolution of play with toy vehicles, building toys, and
miniature settings. The exhibit, part of the larger America at Play exhibit taking
shape on the museum’s second floor, is scheduled to open in December 2015.
Build, Drive, Go will feature rare artifacts from The Strong’s world-renowned
collections plus hands-on activities including a construction area featuring
a wide range of building materials and a test track where guests can modify
the road to make their vehicles go faster.
The Strong’s collection of toy vehicles and building toys is the largest collection
of such artifacts in a public institution in the United States. The comprehensive
assemblage demonstrates how these toys have changed over time and how
these changes have reflected and influenced American culture.
Target Grant Supports Reading Programs
For the seventh consecutive year, The Strong has received grant
funding from Target to support its two early childhood reading
initiatives, Storytime Club and Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6.
Both programs are designed to encourage young children and
their parents or caregivers to read together and to foster a love of reading
in children at an early age.
Thank you Corporate Partners
Businesses that make a financial contribution to The Strong’s Corporate
Partners Program provide meaningful support for the museum while receiving
valuable benefits for their employees, such as free-admission days, family
passes, and employee discounts on museum membership. To learn how
your company can participate, contact Katie Riley at 585-410-6368 or
kriley@museumofplay.org.
Welcome to our newest corporate partners:
Indus Hospitality Group
Toshiba Business Solutions
Thank you to these corporate partners for renewing their memberships:
Bill Gray’s Restaurants
Paychex
M&T BankTarget
Tucker Printers
www.museumofplay.org
13
Kids Page
Can you match the close-up pictures on top with the larger images on
bottom? Look closely and put the letter of the image that matches each
number on the corresponding line below. Check out the activities featured
in these images in Play Pals, The Strong's newest permanent exhibit.
See pages 2 and 3 for more information.
Book Nook
A
B
by Kevin Henkes
(for younger readers)
C
D
7
11
12
13
14
18
19 20 21
SAT
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
15
16
17
18
19 20 21
15
16
17
18
19 20 21
22 23 24
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
SAT
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Friday, January 9–Tuesday, March 31
Cats Versus Dogs Display
Explore this ages-old pet debate and see
rare and unusual cat- and dog-related
artifacts from The Strong’s collections.
Wednesday, January 21
Science of Living Things
Homeschool Day
Study plants and animals found in the
museum’s live collections, learn from
real scientists, discover the life cycle
of butterflies, and more. Advanced
registration is required. $10 per student.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Monday, January 5–Friday, January 16
Best of the Brick Contest
Monday, January 12
Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6
Swim with mermaids, meet the Pout-Pout
Fish, enjoy the island sounds of steel drums,
meet real shipwreck hunters, and more!
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
Fun with Storytelling: delight in tales and
activities that explore the art of storytelling.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Monday, January 19
Celebrating Diversity
Enjoy shows by Art Force Five, make
a peace dove, and celebrate the legacy
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday & Sunday, January 24 & 25
Under the Sea Weekend
Saturday & Sunday,
January 31 & February 1
LEGO® Castle Adventure Exhibit Closing
Last chance to be a knight, a princess,
or a noble craftsman in the LEGO® Castle
Adventure exhibit.
2
FEBRUARY
Mondays, February 2 & 23
Storytime Club
Monday, February 9
Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6
Love Is in the Air: enjoy heartwarming stories
about love, family, and friendship.
Playing with Math: sort, count, and create
patterns with math-themed songs and
movement activities.
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
3
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
4
Saturday & Sunday, February 7 & 8
Abracadabra Weekend
Be amazed as magician Bill Gormont
performs astounding illusions, learn tricks
of the trade in the Magic Lab, create a
personalized magic wand, and more.
by Gary Paulsen
(for older readers)
Saturday & Sunday, February 14 & 15
Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure
Exhibit Opening
Saturday, February 14–
Sunday, February 22
Trivial Pursuit® School–Break Week
This school-break week, set a course for
The Strong and explore the history of
the United States through dozens of fun
and engaging interactive stations in the
Trivial Pursuit®: A 50-State Adventure exhibit.
Play a game of Rochester trivia, enjoy
geography-inspired activities, and more.
Travel from coast to coast learning about
iconic tourist destinations, popular recreation
venues, and more.
MARCH
1
2
Mondays, March 2, 16, & 23
Storytime Club
Monday, March 9
Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6
Saturday, March 28–Sunday, April 5
Klutz® School-Break Week
Silly Seuss Stories: honor Dr. Seuss’s birthday
with books featuring tongue twisters and
silly rhymes.
Fairy-Tale Fun: be whisked away to faraway
places with fairy-tale-themed song and dance.
Twist pipe cleaners into caterpillars and
dragons, create fingerprint artwork, make
paper airplanes, and more.
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.
3
Saturday & Sunday, March 7 & 8
The Royal Ball
4
Correct answers: 1. D 2. A 3. C 4. B
14 PLAY Time • Winter 2015
6
March 2015
FRI
See Sprice from season eight of America’s
Got Talent build and detonate enormous
chain-reaction creations.
Frosty Fun: curl up with stories about
wintertime adventures.
Brian’s Winter
Winter can be fun, but if you have
to survive day by day on your own,
winter is dangerous and deadly. This
tale provides an alternate ending to
Paulsen’s prior book Hatchet where
Brian is rescued after a plane crash.
Realistic, haunting images of Brian’s
struggle might make this a difficult
book for some to read. (This book
is shelved in the Adventure Island
section of Reading Adventureland.)
5
February 2015
THU
Saturday & Sunday, January 10 & 11
Sprice: An Explosively Good Time!
Mondays, January 5 & 26
Storytime Club
by Joan M. Lexau
(for younger readers)
Valentines are supposed to be loving.
They are not supposed to be mean.
Sam gets in trouble when the mean
valentine he makes for Amy Lou
ends up on the teachers desk.
(This book is shelved in Kid to Kid.)
WED
Explore the LEGO Castle Adventure exhibit
and build LEGO® brick masterpieces.
Construct a virtual castle, make a paper
brick to take home, try your hand at strategy
games, and more.
Enter to win prizes by uploading an original
toy building brick creation photo to
The Strong’s Facebook timeline.
1
4
TUE
JANUARY
Through January 4
LEGO® Castle Adventure
School-Break Week
Jessica
Don’t Be My
Valentine
Unless otherwise noted, events and character appearances
typically end by 4 p.m. and are free to members.
Thursday, January 1
Museum Opens at Noon
Librarians’ picks from the
Grada Hopeman Gelser Library
No one could see Jessica, but Ruthie
knew that she was there. They did
everything together. But Ruthie’s
parents hoped that she would find
new (and real) friends at school. This
sweet story with playful illustrations
has an unexpected and happy
ending. (This book is shelved in
Can You Tell Me How to Get to
Sesame Street?)
Winter 2015
MON
Calendar of Events
Play Pals Picture Match-Up
January 2015
SUN
Come dressed in regal attire and be
enchanted by live music, pageantry, courtly
dancing, live theater, and more.
Saturday, March 21
Fit Kids Day
Jump, run, or slide into the museum for a day
filled with fitness fun.
www.museumofplay.org
15
Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Rochester, NY
Permit No. 4144
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
The Strong® is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of
play. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization, The Strong is funded in part by contributions
and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and state and federal entities. It is home to the
International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the Brian
Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play
and houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play.
Museum Admission
General Admission (does not include admission to
Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden®): age 2 and older
$13.50, under age 2 free, museum members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden: $3
per person for members, general admission fee plus
$4 for nonmembers; children under age 2 free. Entry
to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden is by reservation
only. Reservations may be made at the museum’s
admissions desk.
Board of Trustees
Don H. Kollmorgen
Laura Saxby Lynch
Linda McGinley, EdD
William W. Napier
Aaron C. Newman
Cecilia Griffin Golden, PhD James H. Norman
David J. Burns
Timothy T. Conlon
Roberta DuBeshter
Steve Dubnik
Zeke Duda
Joy Ryen Plotnik, Esq
Bruce Raiffe
William D. Rice
Donald J. Riley
Fred W. Smith, PhD
Matthew Tipple
Jeff Valentine
John E. Van de Wetering, PhD
Mee F. Wing
Admission rates and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
fees subject to change. The museum accepts Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
G. Rollie Adams, PhD
President and CEO
Parking
Limited free parking is available for guests during regular
museum hours on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Strong is supported with public funds from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the New York State Council
on the Arts (NYSCA), a State agency. The Strong is accredited by
the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and is an institutional
member of AAM, the American Association for State and Local History
(AASLH), the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), and the
Museum Association of New York (MANY).
On high visitation days, the museum lot may reach
capacity early in the day. If space is not available on
site at the time of your visit, you will find additional
parking (fees apply) at neighboring municipal garages.
Museum Hours
Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The Strong is a United Way donor designation agency (ID#2556)
The museum will open at noon on New Year's Day.
DINING
The museum offers a variety of dining options
including Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell Express,
Subway, Louie’s Sweet Shoppe, and Bill Gray’s
Restaurant. Visit museumofplay.org for hours
and information.
Woodbury School
Accepting Applications
for 2015–2016 Year
On weekends, holidays, and during school breaks,
dining tables and chairs are reserved for restaurant
customers only.
Applications for the 2015–2016 year at
The Strong’s Woodbury School are being
accepted. Woodbury School offers both
a preschool program for three- and fouryear-old children and an early kindergarten
program for four- and five-year-old children.
Both programs are Reggio Emilia-inspired.
This “emergent” curriculum approach encourages teachers and
students to work together to plan the curriculum and create projects. Guided by
teachers who facilitate their explorations, children delve deeply into topics that
fascinate them and stimulate learning.
Information
585-263-2700 • museumofplay.org
PLAY Time
Editor: Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn
Contributing Writers and Photographers:
Kim Della Porta, Lisa Feinstein, Barbara Fulford,
Victoria Gray, Jonathan Groff, Kelly Murphy Lucyszyn,
Emily Pellicano, Shane Rhinewald, Katie Riley,
Suzanne Seldes
Children at Woodbury School learn and develop in playful activities set among
the museum's hands-on exhibits. Small and large group activities involve art,
music, cooperative games, movement, pre-reading, math, and other
age-appropriate experiences.
Art Director: Niki Kruger, Zimmet Group
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Download an application and learn more at museumofplay.org/education.
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