Exploration is only a click away, thanks to virtual offerings by local institutions

The WKTV Journal and the Grand Rapids Public Museum team up to take residents behind the scenes into the GRPM’s Collection. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

They were just swimming along, enjoying the comforts of their home when suddenly a large black hose was dunked in and began sucking water out and vacuuming the rocks.

But the two 10-month-old Lake Sturgeon need not panic, it was only a Grand Rapids Public Museum staff person cleaning their tank.

The Lake Sturgeon are the stars of a new reality show featured on the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s website, grpm.org/live-stream. Due to the governor’s stay-at home order, visitors can not see the Lake Sturgeon in-person, so the museum officials decided to feature the fish in a live stream.

“The Museum is committed to continuing to deliver content digitally to the community during our closure,” said Kate Kocineski, the Museum’s Vice-President of Marketing and Public Relations. “We want to continue to entertain, educate and spark curiosity within our virtual visitors while many are safely in their homes during this time.”

The Public Museum is not the only venue to take to social media with virtual tours, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and the John Ball Zoo all have had videos featuring staff discussing specific items or exhibits at each of its facilities.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Classroom Activities and Education Technology Coordinator Carlie Fournier talks about the transformation from a chrysalis to butterfly. (Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Facebook page)

Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is offering daily virtual visits at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meijer Gardens Public Relations Manager John VanderHaagen said with the governor’s executive stay-at home order, it has limited staff availability, but the virtual tours will continue.

“We will still be bringing content to our followers, but we’re going to have to change our tactics,” VanderHaagen said. In fact, today, Senior Horticulture Manager Wendy Overbeck was going to describe the different types of butterflies in the “Fred and Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibition on the Meijer Gardens’ Facebook page. Also on the Meijer Gardens’ Facebook page, there is a live feed of the chrysalis area where visitors can watch the butterflies emerge as well as past videos that include staff reading children’s books and discussing other interesting facts about butterflies.

From the John Ball Zoo Facebook Page.

John Ball Zoo

The John Ball Zoo staff also has taken to Facebook to feature visits with the animals and an insightful interview with the Zoo’s veterinarian Dr. Ryan Colburn answering questions about how the coronavirus is impacting the animals.

GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen

Grand Rapids Art Museum

On the GRAM’s Facebook page, both GRAM Director and CEO Dana Friis-Hansen and Chief Curator Ron Platt have videos discussing current exhibits at the Art Museum.

GRAM Communications Manager Elizabeth Payne said the museum offerings do extend beyond Facebook to a number of digital resources at its website artmuseumgr.org.

“We’re offering everything from artist interviews to digital publications and resources for kids,” Payne said. “We’ll also be adding to this in the days to come as we produce more content.”

Like the GRAM, many institutions have been providing digital or online resources long before the coronavirus came along. The Public Museum’s Collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and specimens can be explored at grpmcollections.org and residents can create their own login for the website and begin to curate their own collections and digital exhibits.

“Our goal is to encourage the community to keep their minds active by exploring the GRPM’s vast Collections database,” said GRAM Chief Curator Alex Forist. “There’s something new to discover with each click whether you’re interested in furniture made in Grand Rapid, fashion from the turn of the century or rocks and mineral from right here in Michigan.”

Also the Public Museum does provided Virtual Discovery Kits to help keep students engaged. Currently there is an Egypt: Be Curious Virtual Discovery Kit, where students may explore the GRPM’s digital Collections for Egyptian afterlife. Visit grpm.org/HomeMuseum for more information.

A National Movement

Again, virtual content is nothing new. Just like the GRAM and the Public Museum, larger institutions have been providing virtual content for years. There probably is more now as many U.S. states and other countries are dealing with stay-at home orders. A Google search offers a variety of options including an extensive list of national virtual tours at npr.org.

The Lake Sturgeon at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Picture from GRPM’s live stream.)

Keep Checking Back

There is always new content and the various institutions are working on other virtual opportunities as well. And the online offerings are not just about providing activities to keep children, families and anyone busy, but it is also about making connections.

“It is important to us to continue to connecting with the community and fostering a sense of curiosity and joyful learning during this time,” said GRPM Director of Education Erin Karen.

Also, virtual tours and live streaming are available anytime day or night…well except for the Lake Sturgeon. The lights go out at night, because, after all, stars do need their beauty sleep.