The Arkansas Discovery Network is putting together a new exhibit plan that will allow every partner to host a network exhibit at any given time. Each partner is developing a unique exhibit that concentrates on an area of particular interest to that partner. This has already helped to promote capacity building at several partners as they plan, implement and evaluate their own exhibit ideas.

One museum is developing an exhibit that includes several Active Prolonged Engagement (APE) exhibits, while another is concentrating on science that can be found in your own backyard. Topics to be covered include geology, geocaching, mapping, engineering, illusions and life sciences.

The projected opening dates for these exhibits will be in spring/summer of 2009.

The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover is lighting up their oilfield park during Lighting Extravaganza. Take a tour through the oilfield park and enjoy the thousands of lights and scenes of the holiday season! You can also go inside the museum, browse the gift shop and have hot chocolate! See "Around Arkansas" below for times and other information.

You can take away the contents of a 12-foot Christmas stocking at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock. Santa's Discovery Stocking is full of toys valued at more than $1,000! All paid visitors to the Museum of Discovery between November 28 and December 20 will be eligible to win the contents of a 12-foot Christmas stocking - and you can enter multiple times. A puppet theater with puppets, giant puzzles, building blocks, magnetic gears, board games and musical toys are just a few examples of the stocking’s contents. The winner will be announced live on air on Monday, December 22, during the morning show on KARK Channel 4.

The Mid-America Science Museum Volunteer Association is hosting a special Holiday Breakfast for Kids on Saturday, December 13th, from 9-11 a.m. Children will enjoy a delicious breakfast, engage in creative holiday activities, get their pictures taken with Santa Claus, be entertained by special “surprise” guests, and delight in exploring the Museum. Tickets are $5. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets will go on sale on November 10, 2008, and can be purchased online at www.MidAmericaMuseum.org, or by calling the Museum directly. All proceeds benefit the Mid-America Science Museum Volunteer Association.  

The Mystery of the Medallion will be at the Museum of Discovery until December 14. Those of you in southern Arkansas will have a chance to solve the mystery when it opens at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover, where it will be from December 21 until March 8.

An archeological team has mysteriously disappeared from a dig site in Palenque, Mexico. They had been investigating a long-standing rumor that a priceless jade medallion is buried in the temple there. However, something horrifying has scared them off. Luckily, in their haste to escape, they managed to leave behind a video with clues and a warning to all who come after. See if you can uncover the mystery of the dig site and find the priceless treasure!

To see photos of the Mystery of the Mayan Medallion, go to our Flickr page!

Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
The work of western artist and sculptor Frederic Remington continues in the galleries at the Center with the exhibit “Frederic Remington Makes Tracks” running until Jan. 24. Also continuing in the galleries are the “Impression-style” landscapes of artist Clyde Downs of Louisiana and the freestyle pottery of Gail Miller with Miller’s Mud Mill of Dumas. For more information, contact the center at (870) 536-3375 or visit the web site. at www.artssciencecenter.org.

Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
Santa's Discovery Stocking through December 20
For each paid admission, enter to win toys displayed in a 12-foot Christmas stocking.
Saturday Discoveries: Creature Feature Saturday December 13 1- 4p.m.
How is an alligator different from a lizard? Why is a hedgehog prickly? And more. Grades K-6. $20/person. (501) 396-7050 ext. 111.
Book your holiday party at the Museum of Discovery
Your company, family, and friends will appreciate having a party at a unique location (with built-in entertainment). Call 501-396-7050 ext. 111 for more information.

Mid-America Science Museum, Hot Springs
There are Gifts Galore at MASM’s Museum Store. Its superlative array of creative, innovative-play, and educational gifts has makes it THE ideal place for “smart” holiday shopping. From rocks and minerals, classic toys and games, jewelry, butterfly collections, pottery from local artisans, puzzles, plush toys, books, museum apparel, and science kits, shoppers can find it at the MASM Museum Store. You don't have to be a Museum member or pay the Museum admission fees in order to shop. Holiday shopping at the Museum Store is a breeze this year with not one, but two upcoming sales: November 28 – 30, 2009 and December 13 – 14, 2009. During these sales, all educational science kits will be on sale at 20% off, and seasonal holiday items will be 40-60% off.

Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, Smackover
Light Extravaganza
November 21 - December 27, 2008; Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Take a tour through the oilfield park and enjoy the thousands of lights and scenes of the holiday season! Come inside the museum, browse the gift shop and have hot chocolate!Adults - $5.00 Children 12 and under - $3.00 Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) - $15.00 $2.00 for each extra child. Groups 10 or more $3.00 per person The last ticket will be sold at 9:00 p.m. and the park will close at 10:00 p.m. In case of rain Light Extravaganza will be cancelled for that night only.

To see what else is going on at our partner sites across the state, see our Events page.

The mission of the Network is to bring world-class educational experiences to the children and families of Arkansas. A generous grant of $7.3 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation initiated the Network and made the programs possible.

Find out more about the network of museums across the state of Arkansas. To keep up on the latest events and a behind-the-scenes look every now and then, check out our flickr photostream or flickr group page, our blog, our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.