April is a month of starts and finishes. The Dimensions & Discovery winter art exhibit closes Saturday, April 8. Next week, we start the process of resetting the Ayres Associates gallery for the 20-banner traveling exhibit ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas opening April 29. Daily ECASD third grade field trips wrap up next week and we look forward to welcoming regional field trips to the museum.

And there are other Museum Happenings.... 

Teen Guides Applications
Due in 10 Days!

The museum's summer service-learning program for teens entering 8th - 12th grades helps teens develop community and peer connections. They practice real-life workplace skills such as cash handling and customer service while growing and sharing their knowledge of the community and its history.

Online applications are due Saturday April 15th and must be accompanied by 2-3 written recommendations from adults and a short statement of interest in the program. Both in-person and virtual program orientations are available in May. Accepted Teen Guides have their choice between two scheduled training weeks and the option to make special arrangements for make-up training due to school-year end dates.

Following training, Teen Guides are expected to schedule 32+ hours in their choice of available service roles over the remainder of the summer.
Questions? Contact Angela by calling 715-834-7871 or emailing a.allred@cvmuseum.com 

Please share this opportunity widely!

Community Interest Survey 

Survey Open for One Week Only!

Do you have 10 minutes to help guide our next 10 years? UWEC students in Dr. Lester's Community Leadership class developed this survey to help the museum better understand community interests. The results of this survey will guide the development of future programs and exhibits.

Anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $25 Festival Foods gift card. Survey closes April 13.

The Schlegelmilch Garden Story

Wednesday May 4^rd, 517 S Farwell St, 6:30- 7:30 pm

Please Note: Previous May 3rd date for this program was incorrect.

Daffodils stand as the first springtime garden blooms at the Schlegelmilch House, about 2017

The Schlegelmilch House has stood downtown since the 1870s, but the blooming garden there is a much newer feature. Join the volunteers who manage and maintain the garden at the corner of Lake and Farwell Streets for a program revealing original garden plans and the ongoing caretaking that has created this downtown centerpiece. Arrive early and enjoy a self-guided tour of the curated rooms in the house. Cost: $10 ($8 CVM Members).

CVM Members: Remember to "Logon" when registering to receive your $2 member discount on this program. For support with registration, call the museum or email Angela (a.allred@cvmuseum.com)

Summer Programs Still Available

Third grade students in the cook shanty, photo courtesy Amber Steffel

Time Travelers programs are offered for 1st - 5th graders at $8 per session + $5 material fees. Classes run 90 minutes and every class includes a project and snack plus a unique exhibit experience. 

• Dairy Daze: June 27th General | June 28th ECASD

• All Stars: July 11th General | July 12th ECASD

• Logging Camp Lore: July 18th General | July 19th ECASD at the Wisconsin Logging Museum and Paul Bunyan Logging Camp

• On the Move:  July 25th General | July 26th ECASD

Contact Museum Educator Karen Jacobson with any questions regarding children's programs at k.jacobson@cvmuseum.com | (715) 834-7871

** Students living within ECASD boundaries should register for ECASD Only sessions on Wednesdays to take advantage of special pricing arrangements,Some classes have waitlists.

Last Call for
Dimensions & Discovery

Exhibit Closes April 8

Photo courtesy Empty Walls Art

There are just a few days left to catch this year's winter art exhibition featuring 11 local artists. It's truly a stunning exhibit, and we're grateful to guest curator Christy Skuban and Empty Walls Art Collective for sharing their wonderful talents.

The exhibit closes at 5 pm on Saturday, April 8. 

Coming Next

Baseball diamonds have long served as a place for people to come together to express their cultural traditions. Through bilingual text, video, and soundscape, ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas will reveal how generations of Latinos/as -- players, fans, owners, and managers- -- have helped make baseball the game it is today.

Help! Do you have a photo of kids playing catch in the backyard or playing pickup baseball with friends? We're looking for photos of non-organized baseball for use in the upcoming Playball! Eau Claire exhibit. Contact Diana Peterson to share your photo(s).

Please make sure to take the Community Survey before it closes April 13. The Chippewa Valley Museum is your museum and your voice is needed to help shape the museum's future.

Peace,
Carrie Ronnander
Chippewa Valley Museum Executive Director

PS -  I recently journeyed down to Madison to speak to local legislators about the Wisconsin Historical Society's new history center. Why does a new history center in Madison matter to me, the Chippewa Valley Museum, and the Chippewa Valley as a region? There are a few reasons.

Preliminary architectural sketch of the new history center to be built on Capital Square.

Chippewa Valley history will be included in the new exhibits, bringing our history to a wider audience and inspiring tourism to this region. Just last week, I had a discussion with an exhibit curator about featuring Eau Claire in one of the new exhibits. 

New digital technology at the history center will connect our museums and bring virtual programming to the Chippewa Valley Museum and throughout the state. The Chippewa Valley Museum is planning for the technology which will enable us to interact with the new history center, but there's time. The new center is due to open in 2026 if all goes as planned. it's exciting to think about local students connecting with all the Wisconsin Historical Society has to offer, and not having to take a bus trip to Madison (though a day spent on a bus does have its own charm and sense of adventure).

There's also discussions about traveling exhibit opportunities. Wouldn't it be great to have WHS-produced exhibits right here in the Chippewa Valley?

Location of new history center on Madison's Capital Square.

Those are concrete ways the new Wisconsin History Center will benefit our region. The new history center will also spark curiosity in history and encourage conversations that connect the past to the issues of the present and future. In other words, it will get people excited about learning, saving, and sharing history. This is a benefit to ALL history museums. It's also important for our democracy. 

As President John F. Kennedy once said, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

To learn more about the Wisconsin history center, attend the April 12 virtual discussion session hosted by Wisconsin Historical Society. You’ll hear about the vision for the project and what goes into designing a history center that represents both Wisconsin and North American history. The virtual session starts at 6:00 pm. You must register to attend.