Go ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ on Family Activity Day Saturday

The UM Museum hosts the second family activity day of the semester on Saturday (Oct. 17) from 10 a.m. to noon.

The University of Mississippi Museum staff invites families to join  them for the second family activity day of the semester on Saturday (Oct. 17). The museum classrooms and lobby will be filled with fun activities during the free drop-in event that runs from 10 a.m. to noon.

This event features the theme “Over the River and Through the Woods,” inspired by the museum’s current exhibit of paintings by American impressionist Kate Freeman Clark, on loan from the Kate Freeman Clark Gallery in Holly Springs.

Besides Clark’s landscapes, families will enjoy a variety of events, including story time, snacks, impressionistic sun catchers, fall reflection paintings and spooky October scene paintings.

“Family Days give parents and grandparents with children of all ages the opportunity to explore the museum in an engaging and hands-on way,” said Emily McCauley, the museum’s education curator. “Kate Freeman Clark’s stunning landscape paintings will transport viewers young and old, and we are excited for the building to fill up with families experiencing the exhibit together.”

This family day is made possible through the Ignite Ole Miss campaign in April that raised more than $6,000 to offer free family days to the Oxford community for three years.

“Baptist Memorial Hospital was our corporate sponsor for the Ignite campaign and we couldn’t have reached our goal without their support,” said Rebecca Philips, membership, events and communications coordinator. “We are thankful for all of the individuals who helped support our Free Family Day initiative.”

Graduate and undergraduate students who volunteer at the museum make all educational programs possible, McCauley said. The volunteers get to experience hands-on activities with children of all ages in a classroom setting.

“Family days are awesome,” said Stacy Siebenaler, graduate assistant to McCauley. “It is such an enriching opportunity for families to spend time together.”

To keep up with museum events, follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the museum’s website, http://museum.olemiss.edu/. Participants can share their memories of the family day on social media and use the hashtag #freefamilydays and tag the University of Mississippi Museum.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled. For more information, contact McCauley at esdean@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7073.

Courtesy UM Communications