FAMILY & YOUTH / SENIORS

Family, Youth and Community Activities & Programs in the Fenway Cultural District

Boston Symphony Orchestra / The Forsyth Institute / Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum / The Mary Baker Eddy Library / Museum of Fine Arts / New England Conservatory / Wheelock Family Theatre / YMCA of Boston

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Youth and Family Concerts
Family Concerts are the perfect alternative to Saturday-morning cartoons. Affordably priced, these performances are challenging yet accessible musical experiences for the entire family.

In 1980 the BSO instituted the Metropolitan Youth concerts to bring students from the Boston Public Schools into Symphony Hall on a regular basis. Each year the orchestra provides free admission to two Youth Concerts for more than 6,000 Boston students and their teachers.

Each performance includes music specifically chosen for young audiences and is complemented by theatrical and visual elements that create an exciting experience and encourage interaction between the conductor and the audience members. Attending a concert at Symphony Hall is a memorable experience for children, parents, and teachers alike.

Getting kids excited about the world of classical music is what Boston Symphony Orchestra Youth and Family Concerts are all about!! Now under the direction of Keith Lockhart, Youth concerts have brought the wonders of great music into the lives of thousands of elementary, middle school and high school students throughout the region. These young concert-goers experience the thrill of coming to world-renowned Symphony Hall for a concert performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and featuring a program especially designed to educate and entertain. For students just embarking on the study of a musical instrument, this a wonderful opportunity to build a knowledge of orchestral repertoire, composers, and the workings of an ensemble.

Days in the Arts
Fun in the summer sun plus an unforgettable arts experience--that's Days in the Arts (DARTS) at Tanglewood! This highly effective program gives fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade students from diverse backgrounds a week-long immersion in the arts, including music, visual art, theater, and dance. Each summer, 400 students, paired with their counterparts from communities throughout Massachusetts, share exciting experiences in the arts, learning along the way that we are a nation of many cultural traditions. The goal is to have the students return to their homes having mastered a new skill, discovered ways in which the arts can enrich their lives and having gained a new friend.

With the guidance of our professional arts faculty, each student chooses a specific discipline to study for the week, culminating in a presentation that brings together all artistic disciplines. Students also spend afternoons at Jacob's Pillow interacting with the resident dance company, or they may find themselves backstage at Shakespeare & Co., or the Berkshire Theatre Festival; they will experience a great artist's vision at the Norman Rockwell Museum, or Chesterwood Museum and they may also attend a master class with the young musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center or the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In addition the DARTS daily schedule includes creative writing sessions designed to enhance the understanding of the creative process.

High School Students Take Note Since 1959, when Harry Ellis Dickson founded the BSO's current Youth Concerts series, the BSO has offered a Concerto Competition for advanced high school instrumentalists (piano, string, winds, and brass). In 1996 the BSO competition and the Brookline Youth Concerto Competition merged to create a stronger event. As a result we now offer two First Place awards: the Cornelius A. & Muriel P. Wood Award, which includes a cash award and a performance at a Boston Symphony Youth or Family Concert; and the Harry & Marion Dubbs Brookline Youth Concert Award, which also includes a cash award and a performance at a Boston Pops concert.

For the winners, many of whom have gone on to careers as soloists, orchestral musicians, or teachers, it is a thrilling opportunity to perform with a world-famous ensemble. In fact, two BSO members are former competition winners--longtime bassist Larry Wolfe and newly appointed violinist Nurit Bar-Josef.

Community Partnerships
An important component of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's mission is to encourage music education and strengthen community ties. The orchestra is particularly proud of its Community Partnerships with the public schools and community leaders of Roxbury, Chelsea, Peabody, Lawrence, Lynn and Worcester. As one of the foremost arts organizations in the country, the BSO accepts its responsibility to help shape the future of our young people, for they are the audiences of tomorrow. The orchestra's community programs tailored to the particular needs of each constituency, address the need for high-quality arts exposure and music education in the public schools. In addition to forging alliances between the BSO and the community, Community Partnerships help make these audiences feel welcome and comfortable in Symphony Hall, and provide opportunities for families to spend quality time together.

The BSO's oldest community collaboration, The Roxbury Community Program, is unique in that it is not conducted through the schools; rather, it is implemented through more than 80 community, cultural, social organizations and churches located in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Jamaica Plain. Through shared learning and listening experiences, the program works to strengthen families and reinforce their children's musical education

The Forsyth Institute

Forsyth Educational Outreach Program
The purpose of the Educational Outreach Program is to:
Introduce Forsyth and its scientific mission to Boston high schools.
Introduce underrepresented young people to educational/career opportunities in basic science research, in particular oral and craniofacial science.
Provide inner-city high school students with eight weeks of research in a scientific laboratory.

History
In 1993, The Forsyth Institute initiated a program for Boston's science-oriented minority students and their teachers. Inspired by a model created by the American Association for Dental Research, Forsyth began its own Educational Outreach Program. Since its inception, more than 400 students have attended Forsyth's After School Workshop and more than 45 have held paid summer internships in Forsyth laboratories. Since 1998, Colgate-Palmolive has partnered with Forsyth to sponsor this Program.

Components
Visiting Scientists from Forsyth are available to Boston high schools to describe oral and craniofacial science, Forsyth and career opportunities in scientific research.
The After School Workshop Program invites interested high school students and teachers to Forsyth for a hands-on research laboratory experience in a discipline of their choice. After learning of Forsyth's scientific mission, and a tour of the facility, students in groups participate in research in a particular laboratory. They reconvene to discuss their findings and impressions.
The Summer Internship offers an eight-week paid internship, during which students are paired with Forsyth researchers as mentors. Over the summer, the interns learn basic laboratory techniques and participate in ongoing research projects. At the end of the program, students present scientific posters describing their findings. Students may continue working on their projects during the academic year.

A Source of Pride
Students feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in their work. Although the mentors assign research projects, the students often shape the research to fit their own interests, many choosing to enter their projects in city and statewide science fairs. In addition to science fair awards, their achievements have been recognized outside Forsyth in the form of published articles.
Student interns spend the summer in a productive and enriching environment. For these underrepresented youth, the Educational Outreach Program not only is often their first "real" job, but also may be their first step toward a future career path filled with challenges and achievements.

Want to Know More?
For information about Forsyth's Educational Outreach Program, contact Dr. Martin Taubman, program director, at 617-262-5200, ext 314 or via email at mtaubman@forsyth.org.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
To request information about fees or a Registration Form contact:
Johnetta Tinker, Director of Community Programs
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
2 Palace Road
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-278-5126
Fax: 617-278-5175
jtinker@isgm.org

Group Visits
Guided museum and garden tours must be arranged three weeks in advance. Modest fees are charged. Discounted group rates are available to adult, senior, and student groups with fifteen or more people. Please call 617-566-1401 and press 6. For more information and reservations, contact the tour coordinator at 617-278-5147. Tours are also available by the Education Department, providing young audiences with a lively, interactive experience.

Education Department School Partnerships and Project Explore
The Museum's two multi-visit outreach programs, focus on building partnerships with local schools and community centers through year-long collaborations with teachers, students, and community leaders.

The Education Department now offers a series of Saturday morning workshops for children ages 6-10 accompanied by an adult. Called "Family Fun," the two-hour workshops provide interesting encounters with art for young children, including a close look at artwork in the galleries and a hands-on art making project in our new studio space. Workshops begin at 10 a.m., before the Museum is open to the public, and are limited to 20 participants. The cost for each adult-and-child pair is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Come join us for some artful fun!

"Eyes on Art," a helpful guide for young audiences, is also available at the Museum to make exhibits fun and interesting. Tours and group tours are also led by lecturers from the Museum's Department of Education.

Project Explore Partnership
Project Explore is a collaboration between the Gardner Museum and community professionals in the Y.M.C.A.'s Black Achievers Program. This multi-visit partnership program exposes teens and young adults from six local alternative schools and neighborhood after-school community centers and organizations to career opportunities in the arts. Participants get an in-depth view of the Museum through "Behind the Scenes" tours with Museum staff from the Conservation, Curatorial, Horticulture, Security, Public Programs, and Music Departments. Black Achievers volunteer their time as role models and assist as tour guides, offering support and guidance to the young adult participants.

Museum Associates Program
The Education Department at the Gardner Museum annually selects two young adults who participated in the Project Explore program to become Museum Associates. The Museum Associates work several hours per week in the Museum to gain special knowledge of the inner workings of museums and to develop important professional and social skills while being exposed to careers in the arts. The Museum Associates are trained by Education staff to assist as tour guides and to act as role models to elementary and middle school children who participate in the School Partnerships program. This program is a collaboration between the Gardner Museum's Education staff and the teachers and students in the Project Explore and School Partnerships programs.

School Tours
All groups must register at least three weeks in advance by calling 617-278-5147. A visit may be guided or self-guided. Guided tours are led by trained Gallery Teachers with an interactive approach to learning. All group visits are scheduled to arrive between 11:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Self-Guided Visits
Several learning resources are available for self-guided groups. Please ask about them when you register. The Education Department also offers a curriculum guide, entitled Eyes on Art, for teachers to use with students.
Costs: Registration fee & Admission fees

Guided Tours
Group tours of the collection are led by Gallery Teachers for a modest fee. Gallery Teachers highlight major works in the collection and encourage looking at and learning from art. A Gallery Teacher can accommodate a maximum of fifteen (15) visitors. Additional Gallery Teachers will be assigned to groups with more than fifteen (15) visitors. Costs: Registration fee, Admission fees & Gallery Teacher(s) fee(s)

Special Note for School Groups The Museum requires that there be one (1) chaperone for every ten (10) students in a school group. These chaperones are asked to familiarize themselves with the Museum Guidelines and assist Museum staff with their enforcement while visiting the Museum. Please note: Teachers and chaperones are admitted free of charge.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity
Summer SOULstice
Children from the Boston community gather at the fountain on the Christian Science Plaza in Boston for the annual Summer SOULstice free music and arts festival. Beginning with a special kick-off celebration with Mayor Thomas Menino, the mid-day events continued every Tuesday through the end of August, and featured a host of popular performers, including the Boston Pops, Huntington Theatre Company, Topf Center for Dance, Inca Son, Victor Cockburn, Ortega Stylz Band, Drumming About You, Sidewalk Sam, Rami Salami and Susan Bloom.

Last year's program also included a "quiet time," during which children enjoyed storytelling with the Boston Public Library and explored the secret life of plants with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. On many days, Radio Disney(R) joined the celebration with free books and frozen treats for all the children, while the local Marche restaurant provided free hot dogs to the lunch-hour crowds, at times numbering upward of 700.

If you would like more information about the Library's Summer SOULstice program or are interested in participating as a performer at next year's Summer SOULstice, please call 617-450-7319 or send an e-mail to summersoulstice@marybakereddylibrary.org. Watch this website for the latest Summer Soulstice deatils!

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Materials for Families
Self-guiding booklets written for a range of age levels help families actively explore American and European paintings, and art from China, Japan, Egypt, and the Sudan. Booklets and pencils are available free of charge at the Information Center at all times.

Children's Room
This free, drop-in gallery and workshop program is designed for children ages 6 to 12. Classes involve children in an active exploration of the MFA's collections through art projects, drama, poetry, and music. Classes meet from 3:30 to 4:45, Monday through Friday from September to May, and Monday through Thursday from July to August. Meet at the Sharf Information Center just before class time. No groups larger than five, please. Children's Room does not meet on Monday holidays or during school vacation weeks. Parents may pick up their children at 4:45 pm outside the workshop studio, Court Level, West Wing. Visit the Children and Families Calendar for the weekly topics.

Artful Adventures
Programs for community and special-needs groups; call 369-3303.

Boston's Family Place & Children's Room
Designed for children ages 4 and up with an adult, Family Place self-guiding activities promote active learning through sketching, puzzles, and games in the galleries. Travel through Impressionist landscapes; meet powerful kings, queens, gods, and goddesses; hunt for fantastic creatures, or unravel the mysteries of the mummies! Family Place is free with MFA admission and meets every Saturday and Sunday, October through June, from 11 am to 4 pm. Meet in the education lobby, Court Level.

Materials for Families
Self-guiding booklets written for a range of age levels help families actively explore American and European paintings, and art from China, Japan, Egypt, and the Sudan. Booklets and pencils are available free of charge at the Information Center at all times.

For information on all of the above call 617-369-3300, and for a current calender of events, visit www.mfa.org/education/childrenteenfamily.htm

New England Conservatory
Preparatory School
Students may enroll for any program of lessons, classes, and ensembles for which they qualify. Early childhood studies involve children as young as 4 years old in Eurhythmics classes, and older and more advanced students can choose from a full range of music theory, jazz, and private instrumental, composition, and voice studies. Performance ensembles range from the NEC Children's and Youth Choirs to the critically acclaimed NEC Youth Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Zander. The complete description listings for courses follow, along with registration/placement procedures for each field of study.
For more information call (617) 585-1130 or visit www.newenglandconservatory.edu/prep

Wheelock Family Theatre
WFT is the only theatre in New England with an education program sustained by a professional theatre and an institution of higher education, Wheelock College, whose mission is focused on child development, early childhood education, and improving the lives of children and families.

Through WFT's education program, established in 1983, we have offered classes to thousands of young people, hundreds of whom have also had the opportunity to develop their creativity in WFT productions and to be mentored by professional actors and directors. The primary focus of our education program is supporting a child's intellectual, emotional, creative, and social development through drama activities. Several of our students have enjoyed prominent national careers (such as Academy Award-winner Matt Damon). However, we believe success is not measured by fame, but through instilling in our students lifelong values of creativity, compassion, and respect for others.

All children attending classes at Wheelock Family Theatre are invited to audition for our shows!

For more information on class offerings, visit http://www.wheelock.edu/wft/wftclasses.htm

YMCA of Greater Boston
Youth Programs
Aquatics
Swimming is not just a fun sport but great exercise even for kids! Children may select from a variety of aquatics programs geared for the beginner to the expert. You can find everything from private swim lessons to lifeguard training at many of our branches. There are also a number of programs including programs for infants, swim team options for teens and older children, as well as aerobics geared for youth.
Education & Training
The YMCA offers youth employment support programs as well as other informal education classes for youth.
Enrichment
Preschool and youth enrichment programs include classes that help children grow and explore their world.
Fitness Programs
The YMCA of Greater Boston has a large number of fitnessprograms to make sure that young people get the appropriate work out.
Leadership
YMCA youth leadership programs help train young leaders for tomorrow.
Sports
YMCA youth sports helps children learn how to work together as a team. Everyone plays and everyone learns sportsmanship and values.
Sports Skills
Sports skills classes include gymnastics and other sports with an emphasis on skills development

For more information call 617-927-8060, or visit www.ymcaboston.org