Happy Birthdays!
For immediate release ‐ May 14, 2021
Contact: Micah Beasley, 919.707.9970. Images available upon request
The Museum has hosted birthday parties for over 20 years, providing an opportunity for friends and family to gather and make memories celebrating a beloved child’s birthday while also learning about the natural world. When, due to the pandemic, the Museum had to close and prohibit all in-person programming, we had to cancel 30 birthday parties. We knew that all of these children were likely disappointed by not being able to celebrate with their friends, so the first thing the Birthday Party team did was create short, personalized birthday videos for each child.
Next, we joined our colleagues in turning one of our classrooms into a virtual studio. This was no easy task, but the effort was well worth it. This new studio space has given Museum educators the opportunity to explore fun new technology, involve live animal ambassadors and most importantly, reconnect with our guests.
Given the possibilities of a virtual studio, the Birthday Party team was eager to explore the option of virtual birthday parties. In the early days of the pandemic, virtual birthday parties were almost unheard of. Without a template to pull from, the program had to be developed from scratch. The team worked hard, thought creatively and imagined how to translate the fun and celebration of an in-person birthday party to a fully virtual platform.
Collaborating with colleagues across the Museum, we developed three new virtual birthday party programs: “Reptiles Rock!,” “Dinosaur Discovery,” and “Bedazzled: Dragons and Gemstones.” Party guests sent in rave reviews and Virtual Birthday Parties quickly became a staff favorite to teach. How can you not have fun during a dinosaur dance party?
One of the most meaningful benefits of these virtual parties was unexpected. We witnessed the reunion of friends who had not seen each other for months, grandchildren laughing with their grandparents in other states, and families celebrating together from all over the world. We’ve had guests join our virtual parties from across the country and as far away as South Africa and Norway — we’ve even had a family all singing together in Greek!
Through the medium of an online celebration, the Museum helped connect friends and families with each other, and with nature, when those connections were needed the most. And we were so honored to be a part of it. Whether virtual or in-person, our goal is to connect people across the state and the globe to the natural world while providing a positive, engaging experience for all.
Book your Virtual Birthday Party today!
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