Ron Anglin delights young and old with his juggling and comedy program, “Quite a Catch.†He will present his juggling feats on Friday, April 17, for the Celebration of the Young Child at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
His show will be at 10 a.m., and the celebration will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.
Before and after the show, children may create “make and take†crafts with the Florence Crittenton Agency, be “Kids in Motion†with the National Fitness Center, learn about fire safety from the Oak Ridge Fire Department, experience healthy living with a “Balance and Nutrition†program by the Anderson County Health Department, and taste healthy snacks presented Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Garden activities, healthy snacks, and playful exercise will introduce the museum’s new Healthy Living Initiative during the Celebration of the Young Child. The initiative, which will feature new classes, camps, programs and an exhibit, is made possible by a grant the Children’s Museum received last fall from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Storyteller Adele Roberts will lead storytelling and puppet fun. Roberts has written a series of children’s books, starting with “The Adventures of Sammy the Skunk.” Her stories focus on teaching character values based on circumstances in which the animals find themselves.
Puppets will be part of the Pilot Club of Oak Ridge presentation of BrainMinders, a children’s safety program featuring puppets presenting stories about safety issues. The World of Trains, the Puppet Room, TVA Waterworks, Rainforest, Dollhouse, and other exhibits will be open.
Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee and Healthy Families/Nurturing Parents programs will invite the museum’s young gardeners to “plant†a garden of pinwheels for prevention, a symbol of child abuse prevention, in the Environmental Learning Center and Gardens.
“Make and take†crafts will include a finger paint mermaid, construction paper flowers, and glittery paper plate ladybugs.
Juggler and comedian Anglin is a former Army helicopter pilot who taught high school for nine years before taking his juggling act all over the country. He juggles balls and clubs, spins plates, stacks dice, and performs soap bubble tricks, among other feats. His shows teach science, geography and character traits. From Molena, Georgia, he was a performing artist for young audiences at Woodruff Arts Center for 12 years. He teaches circus arts for Cirque du Soleil’s outreach program, Cirque du Monde.
Sponsors of the Celebration of the Young Child include the Pilot Club of Oak Ridge, Anderson County Health Department, Knoxville Area Model Railroaders, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, National Fitness Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Healthy Families/Nurturing Parents and Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee, Florence Crittenton Agency, Mayfield Dairy, and Books-A-Million.
The Celebration of the Young Child is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
As part of a special Week of the Young Child celebrated in April across the country, the Children’s Museum is honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives with its special celebration. The Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, is April 12-18.
 Admission is $6 per person, and scholarships are available upon request. For more information, call Carroll Welch at the Children’s Museum at (865) 482-1074, extension 105. Also, see the Children’s Museum website at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
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