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Rocketship Blasts Off!

Thanks to seven stalwart families, Habitot raised nearly $2,500 to refurbish and bring back the always-popular Rocketship and Mission Control exhibit which is sure to be enjoyed by 10,000 or more visitors.

It's here for just five months so don't delay! There are some new elements for those who remember the previous installation and brand new costumes and helmets. We're developing out-of-this-world activities for Outer Space Month in July, and a special space science speaker's series in June.

Donations are needed and welcome to support new exhibits at Habitot. Please contact Gina at habitot@lmi.net, or 510-647-1111 x11 or Donate Now.

New Outreach Collaboration in the Works

Habitot has long sought to reestablish its traveling exhibit program in order to reach more vulnerable families and children in low-income communities that lack safe and appropriate play opportunities. A recent grant from an anonymous East Bay foundation will fund a pilot project sending two of Habitot's exhibits into the San Antonio area of Oakland.

Habitot is collaborating with Lotus Bloom, a nonprofit providing playgroup experiences for a diverse group of families in the neighborhood. Other grants are pending to support staff and programming to accompany the exhibits.

Parents Seeking Caregivers
Meet & Greet on August 7th

Parents looking for a caregiver this coming fall are invited to an open house at Habitot on Saturday, August 7.

As a community service, Habitot will bring together experienced, Habitot-loving caregivers and families seeking a caregiver for a meet-and-greet. A nominal fee of $6 per family will cover Habitot's costs to host the event in our classroom annex.

To register, please contact Lydia at 510-647-1111 x 14 or call habitotvsc@gmail.com

State Farm Funds Habitot's 10th Annual
Early Childhood Safety Campaign

From June through September, look for free Car Seat Inspections, CPR and choke-saving demonstrations, poison control information, baby-proofing advice and much more!

Thanks to State Farm Insurance Companies, FREE admission during all safety events! See details for Safety Events

Caregiver Open House Planned for August 7

Mark your calendars for Habitot's first "meet-the-caregivers" open house. Dozens of caregivers available to work for your family starting in September 2010 will be on hand to share their qualifications, availability and philosophy of working with young children.

All caregivers will be "Habitot-experienced" and previously registered to work with one or more member families.

A small fee may be charged to defray the cost of hosting the event.

Caregivers interested in attending should register with Rachel at 510-647-1111 x 16 or parented@habitot.org.

Introducing Two New Board Members

Habitot is delighted to welcome Eric Techel and Laura Mytels to Habitot's Board of Directors.

Mr. Techel is Managing Director for Investment Operations at Capricorn Investment Group and father to twin Habitot tots. An Alameda resident, he's "excited about the opportunity" to help Habitot succeed.

Ms. Mytels, a self-employed strategy consultant with an MBA from Haas Business School, was formerly Senior Manager of Strategy at Razorfish. She's an Oakland resident with two boys, 5 and 2, and is joining Habitot's board "both for the future and for what Habitot currently offers the community." Welcome aboard!

Winners Chosen in 2nd Annual
"Preschool Teachers Make a Difference" Contest

We are pleased to announce these eleven winners in Habitot's 2nd annual "Preschool Teachers Make a Difference" contest:

• Nga Bui, El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative
• Aaron Calvert & Charlie Vincent, Step One School
• Joanie Deksnys, Golden Poppy Preschool
• Maria Fortanel, Betty's Children's Academy
• Kameka Goodwin, Grace Children's Academy
• Muriel Johnson, Monteverde School
• Martha Melgoza, Skytown Parent Co-Op Preschool
• Amy Murphy-Hilt, Cedar Creek Montessori School
• Mehrnaz Novinfar, College of Alameda Children's Center
• Judith Rawner, Holding Hands Preschool
• Kelli Tharpe, Little Sweet Peas Preschool

The teachers were chosen by the distinguished panel of judges listed below by reading nominations for over 40 preschool teachers, many of them nominated by multiple nominators. We thank our panel of judges for their hard work in selecting the winners from so many exceptional teachers described in the nominating statements - "this was hard!" said one judge.

• Stacey Boyd, Bay Area founder of the Savvy Source, an online resource for preschools nationwide
• Rona Renner, RN, parent educator, temperament specialist and
    host of Childhood Matters Radio Show on 98.1 KISS-FM
• Ramee Serwanga, formerly of The Room to Grow preschool in Oakland, and a winner of the 2009 "Preschool Teachers Make a Difference" award

Catch Habitot's 2010 Children's Art Show Before It's Gone

March - July, 5 2010

See this amazing collection of young children's art on display at six community locations.

Thank you to all these businesses for their support in hosting the show and to volunteer curator Kelli George for mounting our 12th Annual Contemporary Art Show.

For a complete list of venues, please click here or see list of galleries on our eNewsletter.

Bring a receipt from any one of the venues, dated April - July, and receive a discount admission pass. All works displayed are available for purchase. Please contact dassoc@habitot.org if you are interested in making a purchase.

Berkeley Playhouse Summer Camps Introduce Tots
to the World of Music Theater

Come sing, dance and play "let’s pretend" – just like they do on stage! Berkeley Playhouse offers half-day summer camps (9 am – 12 pm, Monday – Friday) for music theater make-believers ages 3-5 at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts.

Through creative play and story-telling, children develop social skills and friendships. Summer programs will be inspired by the adventures in the Berkeley Playhouse main stage production of Aladdin!
More at www.berkeleyplayhouse.org

Their production of Oliver has opened to fantastic reviews. Berkeley Playhouse, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704 - 510-665-5565 x381

Flu Season Means Restrictions on Entry

Each year, we ask parents and caregivers to refrain from visiting Habitot with sick children or adults. Precautions are especially important this year because of increased concerns about the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus and its risks to children under 5 and pregnant mothers. read more

Previous News

Welcome to Our New Volunteer Coordinator

We're delighted to announce that long-time Habitot member, Deanna Boone, has volunteered to serve as Habitot's Volunteer Coordinator. She will be filling the role defined by our Americorps Volunteer, Matejka Handley, who worked last fall to complete Habitot's volunteer recruitment plan.

To offer volunteer time or service or request a brochure, email Deanna at habitotvol@gmail.com or call her at 510-647-1111 x15.

Help Defeat Bill to End First 5

First 5 funding, on which Habitot relies for 10% of its operating budget, is once again under threat. Although California voters soundly defeated a previous attempt to divert the funds (Prop 1D in 2009), sending a clear message that dedicated early childhood funding is a priority, State Senator Cox has just introduced a bill to channel all First 5 revenues into the state General Fund for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal.

'Robbing Peter to pay Paul' is not a good strategy for our state's youngest children. First 5 supports valuable early childhood programs across the state that would not otherwise receive state funding. It is critical that First 5 supporters let their voices be heard. Please, once again, fax your opposition to raiding the First 5 monies.

Say no to SBX8 41 and help keep these dedicated First 5 funds in place. For more information, go to: http://www.f5ac.org/item.asp?id=4190

Annual Survey Highlights
What Our Members and Visitors Want Us to Know!

Over 8% of our surveyed audience responded to our post-2009 Annual Visitor & Member Survey and, as usual, we learned a lot about what parents like and would like to see more of at Habitot.

• We learned that for the first time, websites, blogs and online links have surpassed "word of mouth" as the top way parents find out about Habitot. Does everyone know we have a Facebook page now?
  
  
• We learned that our Totmail newsletters are read only occasionally, so we are thinking creatively about new ways we can get the word out about Habitot's many programs and services. Ideas anyone? Email dassoc@habitot.org
  
  
• A majority would like to see us host a family fundraising event as a sustaining activity. Join our special events fundraising committee.
  
  
• Many people mentioned bringing back the Rocketship exhibit; an exotic animal exhibit was also a popular idea. We are currently appealing to our supporters for new exhibit funds that will allow us to refurbish the Rocketship exhibit so new, and old, audiences can enjoy it again. Read our appeal here.

Tina Ramirez is the winner of the free Family Circle Membership. Her name was drawn from the names of those who participated in the survey. Thank you everyone for participating!

Habitot Supports Local Preschool and a Scholarship Fund with a Time-Limited 5-Visit Pass Offer

Over 400 people purchased a discounted 5-Visit Pass to Habitot for just $35 in a 72-hour sale co-sponsored by the Savvy Source online preschool resource for parents this past week. Normally the pass sells for $75 and includes $128 worth of total admissions. 5% of all purchases of the pass will go to tuition scholarships for children in need to attend preschool and 5% will go to support Bay Area preschools.

Chevron Volunteers Refurbish Museum

Thousands of workers in the Bay Area get a day off work in September to help a nonprofit organization during the "Week of Caring". For the eighth year, Chevron employees signed up to refurbish Habitot on our annual Spit 'n Polish Day, September 16.

More on Habitot

Awards, Recognition and Achievements

Habitot has received many awards over the years see List of Awards
Institute of Museum and Library Services IMLS Grant Award.
Habitot's Children's Museum Achievements.
Habitot's History 1992 to 2009

Read Habitot's New eNewsletter

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