The other day I had a talk with Jessie Cunningham at the Northwest Railway Museum. Jessie is the museum's full-time educator. She is under 30 and that no doubt helps her relate to the children. We talked about the obvious topic of how to get children involved early and meaningfully.

Her major program is the fourth grade, home school, and preschool train programs each May. They are far more than a field trip to come ride the train, see some old stuff, and we'll answer your questions. It is an educational experience, of course you have to give them a train ride, but her program includes classroom-like activities including well prepared lectures and railroad games. These are outlined at:
http://www.trainmuseum.org/SchoolTrain.asp

We also discussed her outreach activities and I came away impressed by it all.

I just visited the home page of about 10 of larger U.S. railway museums. Few contain anything about education. For those that have a link to a page on the site, not one page was very creative. So good for Northwest because Jessie's link is top left, right where teachers and parents can find it.

Marty Bernard

That is an excellent presentation of the program details, and there are lots of good ideas there for other groups to consider if they are inclined to do so.

PC

I should have asked Jessey about her plans for the museum's just dedicated exhibition hall. Of the many RR museums I've visited, it is by far the best new display building. It will do more than just keep the rain off the collection.

The local paper printed this:

http://snovalleystar.com/2010/10/12/nor ... n-building

A link to our program at National Capital Trolley Museum includes lesson plans.

http://www.dctrolley.org/forteachers.htm

Wesley