The Earth Day Puppet Parade (with animal puppets and wacky instruments) marched through the whole Museum... Yesterday was a lively day here at the Museum & Theatre, with the premiere performance of The Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings AND a major Earth Day celebration! I couldn't resist dropping in on the Ranger Station to join the fun and snap a few photos.Sadly, my camera's rechargeable batteries were on their last legs, so I only got a few photos before they were kaput. But don't worry - in honor of Earth Day (and generally trying to be a responsible recycler) I'll be sure to dispose of the batteries safely! I found this really neat website, www.earth911.org, where you can use their search engine to find a place to recycle anything. Why not celebrate Earth Day all year long and check them out?...and right out the front door! (Don't worry, they came back!)

The Easter egg hunters gathered for a group photo out front to display their treasures.

On Saturday evening, I had the privilege of tagging along for a very special event: Operation Home Front’s annual Easter egg hunt for military families, which they held here at the Museum. A group of dedicated volunteers hid treasure-filled eggs in countless nooks and crannies (can you imagine how many hiding places there are here?!). The kids (many in bright Easter dresses) were let loose to explore and search for eggs, and soon every child’s basket was brimful. The children also received beautiful baskets, and the families enjoyed snacks and drinks from donors like Cabot Cheese and Capt’n Eli’s. They also had time to explore and play – many families were particularly taken with the giant globe in the We Are Maine exhibit, where they were excited to point out all the different places they’ve lived, and to find the places where their dads and moms are stationed now.

Easter baskets full - time to play!

Donna Chapman (Chapter President of Operation Home Front) and her volunteers did an amazing job making this event special for every family who attended. We feel honored that they choose to host this event at the Museum & Theatre, and we’re glad everyone had fun!

Donna tells me that April is Military Child Month – to learn more about how you can support military families during this month and all year long, visit the Operation Home Front website at http://www.operationhomefront.net/newengland.

Non-profit groups get a discounted rate for facility rentals – please contact Shana at 828-1234 x232 or shana@kitetails.org if you’d like to learn more about holding an event like this!

I love the animal programs here at the Museum & Theatre. I was brimming with excitement as I made my way down to the Ranger Station last Friday for Animal Friends with David Sparks. What furry or feathered animal would David bring today? As I walked in, I found two 12-day-old pygmy goats!

Soon, the little bleats drew dozens of families into the Ranger Station to learn more about these little guys. David Sparks showed everyone how to pick up the goats and even tried to feed them some milk! But they were much too excited to take a food break. It was great to see parents and children alike playing with the pygmy goats.

There are two more animal programs in March: Animal Fun with the Animal Refuge League is on Thursday, March 18 at 11:30am and Pets & More with the Animal Welfare Society is on Saturday, March 20 at 10am.

Join us to discover a new animal or learn more about an old friend.

Our visitors never cease to amaze us!

Blaine and his mom stand behind their No Ends Blocks creation.

Thanks, Blaine and Trisha for sharing your tower with us, and thanks Gabby for capturing the moment!

Our young visitors were clearly inspired by the holiday, producing sparkling, beribboned, heart-shaped masterpieces! I didn’t want to be nosy, but I had to ask – who would be on the receiving end of these heartfelt Valentine’s Day cards? Most popular answer: Mom and Dad! Check out our facebook page for more pictures!