I just returned from a family vacation to Baltimore area. If you have young children I highly recommend it- very fun and lots to do in walking distance from Inner Harbor hotels.

One of our favorites was Port Discovery. This is an interactive musuem for children that stimulates all the senses. In addition to the three story climbing/net/habitrail thing there are other rooms that incorporate water play, an Egyptian treasure hunt, even a diner set up.

Other stations incorporated coloring and art activities. A large space was dedicated to an art roomer where children could participate in a session on the Japanese art of paper marbling. My inquisitive 5-year-old was all for that so in we went. Since he's a chatterbox (imagine!) he got to squirt the dye colors on the gelatin laden goo first. All of the kids at the table were entranced by the process where the dyes adhere to the paper for a decorative effect. My son's eyes got as big as saucers when he saw the result and of course he now wants to do this at home.

Listening in on the parents' conversations I noted that for the most part none of them considered themselves crafty. Yet, they saw the benefit of signing their child up early to get into one of these valuable spots for the Sumiyagashi paper marbling.

More than ever, museums of all kinds are reaching out to the next generation of patrons with art & craft projects either as regular functions or special events. Scrapbook retailers can benefit in supporting these activities:

• Be aware of crafting activities of local musuems and historic sites. Find out how they buy supplies for those activities and offer to source those items for them.
• Sponsor/underwrite paper crafting activities by providing an instructor, supplies or funding for an event. Having your store name as a sponsor will get you lots of support through the Museum's PR effort.
• Be proactive about ideas- if you have some scrapbooking or other papercrafting idea that will work for a local museum, contact their education or marketing director and see how you can work together.
  
• Promote your participation with museums in your media vehicles as through these activities you are supporting the local community.

 
Museums usually have thin resources- so your offer of support will be warmly welcomed.Support your local museums and historic sites. Visits to these venues inspire our children to celebrate arts and culture. Your crafting activity could be the highlight of an event and a calling card for your business--Beth