Programs and Activities
Holland and Sallie Webb Family Learning Center
The public space remaining from the original (1974) Museum of the Red River building (and formerly housing the Jack Bell Activity Room), has been renovated to provide an enhanced and larger Family Learning Center. This “museum within the Museum” expands upon the child and family-friendly work stations available for interactive learning and hands-on study. The Center honors the service of Sallie Webb, who has been a dedicated program volunteer for over twenty years, and the support of her late husband Holland.
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There are programs at the museum throughout the year, including gallery tours, lectures, classes, workshops, and children’s activities designed to complement the Museum’s exhibits of native arts and crafts and develop a greater appreciation of natural history. Ongoing programs for children include Paleo Pals, and After-the-Bell. We also offer camps every summer for children ages 4-17.
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Paleo Pals
This program is designed for dinosaur lovers ages 4-12 who want to meet and learn about their favorite prehistoric animals. The group meets quarterly with dinosaur-related discussions and activities. Enrollment in the program is $25 per year and includes a 10% discount card for the Museum Store. Next meetings are May 9th, August 8th, and November 7th, 2013 from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
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After-the-Bell School Program
This new after-school program for grades 1-5 makes regular visits to the Mary H. Herron Community Conference in the museum. While here, children of the Idabel Public Schools are involved in various hands-on activities dealing with multicultural art.
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Teen Camp
Touring Central Oklahoma’s Diverse Heritages (2013)
During last year’s teen camp, we traveled the eastern part of Oklahoma to visit museums, historical and archaeological sites, and cultural centers. This camp provided a cultural education that started to shape an appreciation and understanding of the diverse heritages of Oklahoma. This year will be the second trip in a three part series. We will be traveling the heart of Oklahoma, near and around Oklahoma City.
There is a $150 registration fee for this five day opportunity to have fun exploring the central part of our state. This fee will cover the cost of travel, food and overnight expenses. Teen camp is partially sponsored by grants provided by International Paper in Valliant, Idabel’s Wal-Mart Super center and the Thomas Bagwell Bequest.
The Museum of the Red River is giving teenagers the chance to combine summer fun with a priceless hands on education about their own state and hopefully answer questions they may have about their own backgrounds. Call the Museum of the Red River to enroll. Space is limited so please call early. There will be an orientation for enrolled teens and parents on Friday May 31st at 5:00 pm.
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Explorers Camp
Contact! Aztec, Maya, and Inka (2013)
Explorers camp is for campers ages 8-12. This year we will be learning about Christopher Columbus' maiden voyage to "the Indies" in 1492. This voyage forever changed the many millions of people living in (what was later called) the Americas. Along with Columbus there were other explorers, like the Portuguese, who were given the "rights" to conquer the east coast (Brazil) by the Pope! The Maya were never completely conquered by the Spanish because of the lack of a central authority and the fact that their small armies were able to elude direct confrontation. Consequently, one could argue that today's class and cultural welfare in Southern Mexico (and part of Guatemala and Honduras) is the continuation of conflict now 500 years old.
There is a $100 registration fee for this five day opportunity to have fun exploring the time of Contact! Camp will be June 24 - 28 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
The Museum of the Red River is giving our youth priceless hands on education about European exploration and colonization. Call the Museum of the Red River to enroll. Space is limited so please call early.
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Allen Graffham Memorial Dino Camp
Over the course of this camp, for ages 4-7, our intrepid young paleontologists learn about topics ranging from dinosaur teeth — both the grinding teeth of herbivores like Triceratops and the slicing teeth of carnivores like Acrocanthosaurus — to weapons used in defense by dinosaurs: tails, teeth and feet. Campers also spent some time learning about new discoveries.
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Mary H. Herron Memorial Kite Festival
Make a kite and watch it soar! The Museum of the Red River has partnered with the Idabel Minority Action Council to celebrate spring with kites and food! We start the festival at 10 am at the Booker T. Washington Community Center by learning to make kites that are guaranteed to fly. Lunch is provided by IMAC at noon and if you miss the morning session, it's ok!, we have ready made kites to give away from 1 pm to 3 pm.
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ACRO Fest
The annual celebration of Acrocanthosaurus at the Museum features presentations by Dr. Kenneth Carpenter of the Prehistoric Museum at the College of Eastern Utah and a birthday party extravaganza. While Dr. Carpenter offers the educational program for our community, the birthday party offers dinosaur related games and prizes for the youth.
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Fall Arts Festival
Every year the Fall Arts Fest kicks off with An Evening of Elegant Edibles and Heirlooms, a ticketed event featuring previews of vendor booths and gourmet hors d’ouvres. The event begins in earnest the next day, featuring a large Arts and Antiques Showcase and the appraisal program What is it and What’s it Worth? given by visiting experts. There are also artistic demonstrations by local and visiting artists. The Museum welcomes several hundred participants to the festival and looks forward to the next installment of this now annual tradition.
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Festival of Trees
The museum invites interested businesses and civic organizations from throughout McCurtain County and southeast Oklahoma to enter the Festival of Trees. Sponsors decorated Christmas trees in ways representative of their fields of interest. For example, McCurtain Memorial Hospital decorated its tree with bandages, x-rays, etc.; the Lions Club used eye glasses and circus animals. All entries are displayed in the hall and lobby of the Mary Herron Community Conference Center throughout December.