Putnam Museum
Let’s celebrate the Putnam Museum! Spring Forward students have been visiting the museum since 2015 on field trip adventures and the outreach program has been visiting after school sites since 2016. That’s seven years of partnership and collaboration! Spring Forward is grateful for every visit at our program sites and each bus trip to the Putnam for exploration and excitement in learning.
The Putnam provides hands-on STEM enrichment activities for Spring Forward students during after school, intersession, holiday, and summer. Putnam educators have also made an impact on students virtually through STEM activity videos and instruction cards in take home kits provided by Spring Forward.
During a time when the world flipped upside down and everything went virtual, Spring Forward felt compelled to assist in at-home learning and brain stimulation. The Putnam stepped up to the challenge by providing six engineering activities, science experiment videos, and instruction cards for Spring Forward's remote summer camp take home kits. Similarly, the Putnam contributed a holiday STEM activity video and instruction card in December 2020 and 2021 for Spring Forward’s Winter Break Brain Kits.
This past summer, Putnam educators were thrilled to resume safe in-person programming; followed by an exciting return to the museum for an in-person field trip last June!
In October 2021, the Putnam partnered with Nahant Marsh for Spring Forward's Fall Intersession STEM focused camp. The museum provided two days of programming during the weeklong Science and Nature Camp. Activities focused on how nature inspires innovation. Our community partners ensure kids have fun while learning!
When asked to share a favorite memory of working with Spring Forward, Putnam Education Specialist Lakin Sheeder said:
“I personally enjoy taking our LittleBits and talking about simple circuits. It’s exciting to see the kids get excited about using the building blocks to make something work. The joy and excitement when they get a light to turn on or something to make noise is really fun to witness. It’s clear that they are proud and interested in what they’re creating—a functional simple circuit.”
The Putnam continues to collaborate with Spring Forward programs. Putnam Educators encourage creativity, collaboration, and curiosity while providing STEM focused enrichment.
From Rachael Mullins, President/CEO of the Putnam:
“It’s a pleasure to partner with a trusted community organization reaching historically underserved students in our community. We appreciate this opportunity to expand our reach in providing STEM education and museum experiences to ignite potential in local youth. Our partnership with Spring Forward has inspired us and sparked our thinking in how to better serve our community of learners during the pandemic. The innovation that our partnership inspired led to expanded virtual tools for families and youth to meet the changing needs of the community. We are so grateful!”
