Traveling Museum On-Track for Continued Growth

New from the Scotia-Glenville Traveling Children’s Museum
Contact: Diana Bennett 518 346-1746

Expects to schedule over 2,000 programs this year.

Despite a tough economy and tighter school budgets, the Scotia-Glenville Traveling Children’s Museum is on track to deliver well over 2,000 educational programs to children and adults this school year.

            “As of today, schools have already scheduled 1,930 programs, which is slightly ahead of  this time last year,” according to Traveling Museum Board Chairman Raymond Polikoski.  “For over 30 years, schools have looked to us as a very affordable way to meet State curriculum standards with unique programs delivered by a highly qualified team of professionals.  That reputation will likely put us well over the 2,000 mark for classroom programs this school year.”

On any given school day, the Traveling Museum deploys as many as twenty teachers to classrooms within a fifty mile radius of its Scotia Headquarters. 

“Sites as far away as Chatham and Herkimer are now booking our programs,” according to Traveling Museum Director Diana Bennett. “However, we are just as pleased to be working in nearby districts, such as the Schenectady City Schools that have dramatically increased the number of programs they request.”

Since 1978, Traveling Museum programs have reached more than 1.5 million people in the Capital Region. That experience is critical to ensuring Museum teachers are ready to go when a classroom of eager students awaits. 

“Being a purely “traveling” museum presents some very unique challenges,” says Bennett. “Most traditional museum exhibits can’t really fit in a car or be handled by a room full of first graders.  Throw in a snow day that forces two dozen programs to be rescheduled and you really need a proven system in place.”

Bennett says the key is the Museum teachers themselves. “They have a great reputation for not only being enthusiastic and engaging, but also for being for prompt and professional. They also have the experience that enables them to work seamlessly into the classroom routine and help students better understand important concepts in a fun and hands-on way.”

Along with its relevant programs and dedicated teachers, the Traveling Museum also credits prudent fiscal management to its current success.

“The Museum’s Board of Trustees made adjustments proactively, allowing it to continue to deliver quality programs,” said Board President Raymond Polikoski.  While it was a difficult decision to institute temporary furloughs for our office staff, were able to keep our staff working are now in a much better position to weather difficult times.