DAYTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY DAYTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
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Mission Statement
The Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH), situated in four scattered sites over three counties in Southwest Ohio, is unique in the depth and breadth of its educational offerings to the general public. Within a 42 mile radius, it operates and manages: the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton’s natural history museum, science center, children’s museum, planetarium, observatory and zoo, which includes a State licensed pre-school with Title 20 certification and a Montessori/Reggio curriculum; the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery Springfield, a science oriented Children’s/ Youth Museum; and two pre-contact Native American archaeological sites with museums, SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park and the Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Center, both of which are National Historic Landmarks. The DSNH is one of only a handful of museums in the United States to hold dual accreditation from the AAM (one of the first in the 1970s) and from the AZA.
About This Cause
The Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH), situated in four scattered sites over three counties in Southwest Ohio, is unique in the depth and breadth of its educational offerings to the general public. Within a 42 mile radius, it operates and manages: the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton’s natural history museum, science center, children’s museum, planetarium, observatory and zoo, which includes a State licensed pre-school with Title 20 certification and a Montessori/Reggio curriculum; the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery Springfield, a science oriented Children’s/ Youth Museum; and two pre-contact Native American archaeological sites with museums, SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park and the Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Center, both of which are National Historic Landmarks. All have been recognized as having the highest professionals standards, to-wit, it is one of only a handful of museums in the United States to hold dual accreditation from the AAM (one of the first in the 1970s) and from the AZA. In addition, the DSNH is an ASTC Governing Member, an ACM reciprocating member, and is American Camp Association accredited. The DSNH has successfully implemented all of its major goals from its past and current long range plan (in spite of the extended recessionary years beginning in 2008), choosing to stay the course with planned growth to expand its footprint to reach a larger geographic community that now includes members and regular visitors from central and southwestern Ohio, northern Kentucky, and eastern Indiana. Many of the professional staff hold advanced degrees in disciplines that include astrophysics, archaeology, early childhood education, zoology, environmental science, biology, anthropology, public history, and museology. All four of the professional staff in Collections and Research teach at the university level, and are a constant “workforce development” avenue for under and post graduates to intern with the DSNH and many become staff and/or volunteers. Due to the literally hundreds of years of combined expertise, education and skills of the staff, the DSNH is able to remain nimble and creative in its ability to provide educational opportunities with on-site, off-site, and distance learning in an interactive video format in subjects in “technology and math” as well as “sustainability and health” to satisfy divergent populations and interests . Recent exemplary permanent installations include the only NOAA Science On a Sphere installed in the State of Ohio, and the “first in the world” planetarium with a Digistar 4 with the Christie Mirage 3D system. The museum’s award-winning program designers have since been honored by the Digistar Users Group for their digital planetarium programs, and one has received the group’s lifetime achievement award. With Dayton being the home to the Wright Brothers and Wright –Patterson Air Force Base, its aviation and space programs have included hosting the construction of two Wright Brothers flyers on premises for the centennial of flight in 2003, significant solar system exhibitions, with the latest being the IMLS-funded Sun Room, and the NASA-funded Exoplanets, and partnerships with higher education and businesses involved in the emerging UAS initiatives in the area. Its more than 1.7 million item collection in the areas of anthropology (archaeology and ethnology), biology, paleontology, and geology, is comprised of objects and artifacts from all over the world. All of the collection is available for research, and much of it is available for loan to other museums. The Collections and Research Department regularly incorporates these items into internally curated exhibitions, displayed throughout the museums for the enjoyment of the public. The four different museum sites of the DSNH in three counties are reaching, on-site, in excess of 240,000 people annually from all walks of life – families with toddlers through retirees with grandchildren – Osher Lifelong Learning groups - citizens of Southwest Ohio - business travelers and vacationers – pre-schools through post-graduate students – Scout troops – corporate and civic volunteers – astronomy and archaeology aficionados - Ohio history and Native American culture – nature and animal lovers and FIRST LEGO League and robotics fans – there is something for literally everyone. With education being the key to our mission, particularly as defined today as “STEM” education, our community service outreach focuses on providing proven best-practice, age-appropriate, hands-on informal learning opportunities to students in a Qualified Low-Income Community as defined by the Federal government’s census track (which encompass the two inner city Dayton sites and the Springfield site ). Every year our on-site and school-site programs reach more than 60,000 children, the majority of which are in pre-K through elementary schools that are State-identified as “high-poverty” and “underachieving” in many science and math subjects. Senior professional staff work closely with social service agencies; public, private, charter and home school leadership; and with regional educational initiatives, i.e. Ready Set Soar for Kindergarten Readiness and reading on grade-level by the end of third grade, under the umbrella of Learn to Earn Dayton, which also works to assure a smooth transition to high school and entrance to college or certificate programs. All of this work is aligned with State and National Standards. Our community efforts are enhanced by our Title 20 certified pre-school; free lunches during summer camp through the Children’s Hunger Alliance; “free” family nights at the two BMD sites; and scholarship opportunities. All sites are ADA compliant; free wheelchairs are available; accompanying caregivers are not charged admission; and groups of mentally/physically challenged young adults learn meaningful job and independent-living skills through volunteer tasks at two sites. Diverse partners consistently share our impact; including the Dayton Public School Superintendent (“…provides a valuable supplemental service to the curriculum…”), The Engineers Club of Dayton (“outstanding contributions to the public understanding of science and technology”), Prevent Blindness of Ohio (“…creativity and commitment to an exceptional learning experience for kids.”) Evaluation of programming and exhibits is constant and involves staff, members, visitors, educators and their students, funders and community partners. The process includes advisory and focus group input, verbal, written and electronic surveys, pre and post-test results of on and off site programs, and study of national and local best-practice methodology. In addition, third-party on-site evaluations of overall operations occur, including those by the AAM, the AZA, the Ohio Department of Education licensing arm for the pre-school, Children’s Hunger Alliance, the American Camp Association, and marketing consultants. Major exhibition evaluations are conducted by NASA, NOAA-designated experts, the Ohio Humanities Council, along with private firms. Using gathered information and knowledge gained through regular training of professional staff; curriculum is revised, suggested improvements for exhibits and exhibitions are reviewed and implemented as appropriate.