Acton Residents Have a Lot of ‘Discover’ at Local Museums

Children might be able to bang on pots and pans, pretending to be a rock star in their kitchen, but it could also be much to Mom’s dismay. At the Discovery Museum in Acton, however, that sort of musical creativity is welcomed and encouraged in a free space without giving parents a headache or jeopardizing the integrity of their cooking utensils.

On July 17, where able to make noise and develop their own music using different materials outside at the Discovery Museums. It’s just one of many programs offered for Acton residents. “We were setting up all day,” Jill Jacques, museum store manager. “We have lots of pots and pans, setting up drum kits, all sorts of things that can make instruments for kids to take home with them,” she said.

Making music with household objects isn’t the only program the Discovery Museums sponsor.

On July 18, one program offered called “Exploring Nano: The Smallest Science,” a class for hands-on education about nanoscale science.

Every Friday night, the museums offer a free night of fun, offering picnics under the stars or exploring the two museums.

Next week, the museum is sponsoring a program entitled, “Make a MESS: Free Form Forest of Fairyborough” where children can construct their own fairy houses. “That will be going on all week, where kids can make fairy houses outside with whatever we have,” Jacques said.

Caterpillars will also be making their way to the Discovery Museums on July 27, where hundreds of live native Massachusetts caterpillars will be brought in for participants to study, according to Jacques.

Also on July 27 is a free evening for families with children on the autism spectrum. Romy Wilhem, a musical therapist from Indian Hill Music, will be on hand for children to explore their creativity, and learn variability, flexibility and building tolerance to change.

“We just do a lot of things that you wouldn’t be able to do at home,” Jacques said. “You can’t make a mess at home. The Discovery Museums is someplace you can go to explore, where you can make things, and sounds.”

Jacques said all the programs offered are varied, but provide something different for children interested in learning about all different kinds of science. The programs foster creativity and imagination.

“It’s discovering something new, something you didn’t know was out there before, or putting something you’ve never put together before,” Jacques said. “We provide a place for you to do that, where you might not have thought of doing it at home.”

For more information on the various programs offered at the Discovery Museums, visit http://discoverymuseums.org/ for a complete and comprehensive list for all the weekly events and programs offered.