Christy Naquin – BCCM – September 16
Christy Naquin – Executive Director of Bayou Country Children’s Museum
By: Vera Holloway
Christy Naquin came to Rotary Club of Thibodaux to give an update on the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. On Sept. 28, 2014 the Museum celebrates its one year anniversary. She reported that they had a great first year. Before opening the board set a goal of 45,000 visitors to the Children’s Museum for the first year. As of this month they have had 43,890 visitors to date and they are expecting to meet the goal of 45,000 before the end of September.
Since the opening they have hosted 216 birthday parties and 72 field trips. St. Mary’s Parish residents has shown the greatest amount of support to the Children’s Museum over this last year.
The Museum has partnered with various organizations over the last year and will continue to expand partnerships in the future. They have recently partnered with CASA of Lafourche. This partnership will allow children who are in state custody and in the CASA program to be able to access the Museum at no charge. This will give children who otherwise would not have had access to the Museum an opportunity to experience it at no charge. The Museum has also began working with St. Joseph Manor residents and recently hosted a craft day at the Museum for the residents. In the future, Museum employees will begin visiting St. Joseph Manor and interact with the residents by engaging in crafts and activities with them. The Museum will also give the residents the opportunity to volunteer at the museum.
Over the Museum’s first year they have partnered with Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to create Safety-Ville. Safety-Ville is a guided tour led by a uniformed deputy. The tour includes a severe weather simulation, fire stimulation, and other exhibits, simulations and demonstrations on safety in the home, biking, and cars. The Museum has also done Sensory Days for children with Sensory related problems and once every other month they open the museum early for these children and their families on Sundays. They have Mom and Me Programs and also have once a month they have Half Day school programs for children who are school aged. These Half Day programs are hosted on days that the children in Lafourche parish are out of school early.
Some upcoming events at the Museum is the 1 year Anniversary Celebration and the 6th Annual night at the Boo-seum. The 1 year anniversary Celebration – Coco’s Birthday will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28th 10am – 12noon for members only. General admission is from 12 noon – 4pm. This year the 6th Annual night at the Boo-seum will be held at the Thibodaux Fireman’s Fair Grounds on October 24th at 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Tickets are $6 per person in advance and can be purchased at the museum and $8 per person at the gate. The Thibodaux Rotary Club is going to partner with the museum for the Night at the Boo-seum by selling and collecting tickets at the event. More information will be coming forth, so stay tuned.
The Thibodaux Rotary Club also gave a check of $2,000 to the Bayou Country Children’s Museum to fulfill its commitment of support over the last few years.
