Whenever I set out to develop an Outreach program, I like to review some general aims concerning what I want to get across and how I wish to do it.

The first step is to review any program guidelines that my institution has set in place. Then I switch to my own personal goals.

showing knitted ammonite at mini-museum touch table photo source: Barb Magee

So, in a nutshell, here are some of the goals that guide me.

1. Make the program elements (eg, activities, crafts, printed materials) reflect the collections – the actual artifacts and gallery spaces that the families would visit if it were possible for them to do so.

2. Maintain a museum standard of presentation by avoiding cartoon-like representations of people and animals when there are more accurate and realistic images to draw upon.

3. Ensure that any information imparted during the mini-museum event is curator vetted. In our institution, there are many sources of printed and video materials produced or reviewed by the curators that we can draw upon.

4. Provide engagement for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents. It is a family program, not just a children’s program.

5. Provide materials and activities in both English and French. Some of the families who attend are from francophone communities. In addition, it is a mandate of our museum to be available in both official languages of Canada.

6. Be innovative. Try new ways of engagement beyond colouring sheets (although they do have their place in our programs).

Next, I will show the activities I am designing in various stages of creation. Some of them will actually get into the program, others will stall for lack of clear execution but may be resurrected later and yet others will not make the cut. What seems a good idea in my head does not always translate to a viable activity.