Posted by: Casey on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 10:00:00 am
I can’t believe how talented all of you Explorers are. The artwork in the 2012 Casey’s Clubhouse Art Show is so amazing!!
104 explorers turned in their artwork for the show this year. Everyone from the little kids in the 5 years and under category up to the big 13 year olds made super cool works. Markers, paint, glued paper, and even glass and Legos were used. Some made calm pictures, others made busy ones. Some worked to make their pictures look like the real thing, others didn’t.
All the great artwork made it really hard to pick top winners for each age category. After looking at all the art for a long time I found ones that stood out. The winner’s pictures really showed that the Explorer was exploring their world thru art and getting to know the art supplies they used. Here is who I picked and what I thought about what they made:
| |
5yrs & under |
6yrs-9yrs |
10yrs-13yrs |
| 1st Place |
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| |
1st- Dragons & Swords by Julian—This one looks just like a big battle of people with swords fighting dragons. The lines keep my eye moving around the picture and make it seem like it is really happening. |
1st- The Girl by Karissa—The girl in the picture looks like she is staring at me. She did a great job of making it look like the girl’s hair is moving. |
1st- All the World’s a Stage by Ester—Wow this must have taken tons of time. All the sequins pieces are pretty and look like lights on a stage. I like that it tells a story. I can imagine watching this play. |
| 2nd Place |
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 |
| |
2nd- Ghost by Emme –All the colors are fun and then BOO, a dark black spot jumps up in the picture. |
2nd- Jungle Sunset by Zane—All the mix of colors look like the sky during sunset. It was good to see that he used so many different things to make the picture. The jumping frogs are fun too. |
2nd- Unfinished Symphony by Elizabeth—This picture makes me hear music—the kind the wind makes. All the layers of paint and colors make the flower pop out from the paper. |
| 3rd Place |
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| |
3rd- Robot Mobile by Noah --I liked this one because robots have lots of different parts just like the artwork. It also moves, just like robots do. |
3rd- Cartoon Guy by Nicodemus –This picture has really cool lines. They are so neat. I can tell that each line took time to make. |
3rd- My Grandparent’s Farm by Aleah—The lines in this drawing make me want to run up the driveway to the house. It makes me feel like I am really there on a sunny day. |
Be sure to have your grown-ups bring you in to Minnetrista to see this exhibit. While you are there you can also check out the artwork adults made for the 22nd Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show & Sale. In that exhibit there is jewelry, paintings, photos, and even furniture.
Again, great job Explorers. I am so happy to see that you all like art just like I do. It is a fun thing to do and a great way to share what you explore with others. Keep making art and exploring.
Posted by: Casey on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Each month, Casey's Clubhouse Explorers can earn points by completing challenges. Check out what Casey is doing in September:
hoosier melons 
Wednesday,
September 7, 3:30—5:30 p.m.
Did
you know there are all sorts of melons that grow here in Indiana? Come to
Farmers Market at Minnetrista to meet (and eat) some of them. Earn 2 Explorer points.
Senior free-admission Day: grandparents day 
Sunday, September 11, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Bring
in your favorite senior friend to celebrate Grandparents Day! Minnetrista Theatre Preserves will perform Habitat-tat-tat at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Earn 6 Explorer points.
recycle glass week 
Monday —Friday, September 12-16; all day
Glass
can be recycled to make more glass or cool art projects. Celebrate
Recycled Glass Week by making a necklace or key chain with old glass.
Stop in to make yours and earn 3 points.
Smithsonian Museum Day
Saturday, September 24; all day
Celebrate
Smithsonian’s Museum Day by exploring museums. Whether you visit
Minnetrista or any other museum, send me a note and tell me what you
explored. Earn 3 points.
Cider Day
Monday, September 26, 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Johnny
Appleseed loved apples and so do I. Swing by Minnetrista’s Orchard Shop
today to purchase some apples or cider to take home. (Tell the sales
clerk your Explorer number or name to earn your 2 points.)
Posted by: Casey on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
National picnic month
All of August
Did
you know that August is National Picnic Month?
Did you know that Minnetrista is filled with lots of cool places to have
a picnic? Combine the two and you get a
month long challenge. Send me a photo of
you and your family enjoying a picnic at Minnetrista this month and I will give
you 2 Explorer points.
Summer stage fest at minnetrista - picnic & pops
August 24, 7:30 p.m.
Attend Picnic & Pops Muncie Symphony Orchestra concert and check in at Casey's Clubhouse on the lawn. Then complete the Casey's Clubhouse Challenge for 2 Explorer points!
Posted by: Casey on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Casey's Clubhouse Explorers can earn points for prizes when they join the club! Check out all the ways Explorers can earn points in the month of July:
Helpful Faeries 
Thursday, July 7, all day
Get to know more about faeries just in time for Minnetrista’s Faeries,
Sprites & Lights event on July 8 & 9. Visit Minnetrista any time
between 1-4 p.m. to pretend you are a faerie helping in the woods. Visiting
and doing this activity will earn you 5 Explorer points (3 points for visiting,
2 points for the activity).
Faeries, Sprite & Lights 
Friday & Saturday, July 8 & 9, 6-9 p.m.
Join in the Fae fun at Faeries, Sprites & Lights. Stop by Casey’s Clubhouse Outpost to earn your points.
Faerie Tea Party
Saturday, July 9
Attend a Faerie Tea Party at Minnetrista. Reserve your spot for tea in
the enchanted faerie gardens of Oakhurst. Play a game, make a faerie
craft, and meet one of the characters from Faeries, Sprites & Lights.
Camp Minnetrista Night at the Museum:
Nature Area
Friday & Saturday, July 15-16 Explorers, take a break from your parents as you
camp outside at Minnetrista
and learn about nocturnal life.
WIPB-TV Family Fundae
Sunday, July 17
Celebrate ice cream at the WIPB-TV Family Fundae 1-4 p.m. There will be
activities and of course ice cream. Have your grown-ups click here
to learn more. Be sure to stop by the Casey’s Clubhouse Outpost to earn
your 2 Explorer points.
Let's Move!
Monday-Sunday, July 18-24, all dayDid you know that Minnetrista has over two miles of trails? Walking
them is a great way to get your body moving and be healthy. Check out a
cool tool that will help you measure your walk. How far will you go to
earn your 5 points (3 for visiting, 2 for this activity)?
Summer Stage Fest: Muncie Civic Theatre
Friday & Saturday, July 29 & 30
Enjoy Muncie Civic Theatre’s youth performance of Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. Check in at the Casey’s Clubhouse Outpost for a special challenge to earn points.
Posted by: Casey on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Hi Explorers!
I just found a list of books that I want to read this summer. These books are about explorers of America, just like us! I thought you might be interested in reading them, too. Check out some of these books from the
Muncie Public Library and let me know if you read them! The entire list is
here, and you can check the library's web site to see if they have the book.
Little discoverers venture into the unknown and beyond with exciting and informative nonfiction books
Russell Freedman; ages 11 and upHistorian Russell Freeman explores the various claims to the "discovery" of the American continents. Every U.S. school child knows the story of Columbus, but what about the Chinese explorer, Zheng He? This lavishly illustrated volume traces explorers' journeys with archival maps, charts, and timelines. Freeman discusses the Native Americans, from the ancients to the pre-Columbian using archeological data and research. Families will enjoy discussing the competing theories.
by Christine Taylor-Butler; ages 8 and upEuropeans explored America for hundreds of years. What were they looking for? What is the Northwest Passage? This easy to read volume is good overview to think about why explorers came to the Americas. Can we figure out what their lives were like in their homelands and what compelled them to embark on these treacherous journeys into the unknown? Government structures, religion, and economics are simplified to help children develop their understanding of these complex issues.
written and illustrated by Hudson Talbott; ages 6 and up
Take a very personal look at the river that played its part in colonization of America. From Manhattan Island to the north beginning with the Indian peoples who held stewardship of the lands and waters before the arrival of Europeans like Henry Hudson. The double-page spread paintings interweaved with symbolic detail tell the story in a timeline fashion as we witness the development of the shoreline over the years.
