Canadian Children’s Museum gets ready to Run! Jump! Fly!

Canadian Children’s Museum gets ready to Run! Jump! Fly!

Gatineau, Quebec, August 5, 2009 — Running is not usually encouraged in museums, but the Canadian Children’s Museum is different, as visitors will discover with the opening of an action-packed new exhibition this fall. Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action, presented from October 10, 2009 to January 3, 2010 in the Kaleidoscope Gallery, will inspire young people to get moving.

“The goal of Run! Jump! Fly! is to show that physical activity can be exciting and fun regardless of your age, physical shape, size or ability,” says Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “Experts and parents agree that it’s important to draw children away from televisions and computers and get them involved instead in active play that offers both physical and mental benefits.”

Visitors to Run! Jump! Fly! will get their heart pumping as they explore high-energy adventure areas featuring different challenges and cultural contexts. The exhibition will spotlight young aficionados — real-life action stars — who can motivate children to discover their natural abilities through exhilarating new activities. Helping children find physical activities they enjoy will build their confidence and increase the likelihood that they will continue to exercise on a regular basis.

In Surf/Snow, visitors will climb onto a balance board and see how long they can stay on for a wild ride down a mountainside and on the ocean waves. To explore the Climbing Canyon, they will choose one of four trails according to their level of skill and ability, and follow it to a colourful cave. Once there, they will search for a hidden treasure by using hand- and footholds to move across a horizontal climbing wall.

On a journey into the bamboo-filled Kung Fu Forest, young visitors will learn traditional animal stances inspired by the rooster, snake and tiger, followed by flowing movements that improve coordination. In the Flycyle Sky area, they will strap on a helmet, tap into their imagination and ride a wacky, people-powered flying contraption through the clouds, lighting up the sky with stars as they go.

Finally, visitors will enter the Action Star Training Centre, where they will test their balance, strength, coordination and endurance through yoga, dance and strength challenges. They will receive an Action Tracker log to record the activities they try, challenging them to keep up the good work for 60 minutes a day for three days a week.

Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action was developed by the Minnesota Children’s Museum for the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative (YMEC). The exhibition is designed to be accessible to children ages five to 12 with varying physical abilities and developmental needs.

The Canadian Children’s Museum is one of the Canadian Museum of Civilization’s most popular exhibition areas. It provides a creative space in which children and families can learn about the world and broaden their cultural experience. Whether on a visit to homes in the International Village,