This event was sponsored by Sasha Alyson. Thank you!
For three years, we've offered "The Mouse Experience" as a way for our staff to try new experiences, and to develop skills and confidence.
For the first time, we offered The Mouse Experience to a wider group. We invited several local organizations, such as the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, "My Library" and the Ock Pop Tok textile center to send several of their staff to a 3-day event at the Living Land, an organic farm on the outskirts of Luang Prabang.
There, a lively group of young people had the opportunity enjoy and benefit from the activities we've offered for our staff.
First, we spent a day getting ready. That meant cutting out shapes for Tangram puzzles, practicing new science experiments, planning the lunches, and arranging a visit from children at the nearby orphanage school.
The 3-day event started with many of the activities we offer at our "Discovery Days," such as using a microscope, experimenting with electronics, handling fossils, and taking apart a human anatomy model.
Then everyone learned new games and puzzles; by the end of the day, we had a lot of new sudoku fans. Optical illusions and 3-D pictures were an enjoyable new experience for everyone, too.
Other activities (there's not room to show everything here) included interviewing one another and making a short introductory speech about the person. We watched a movie and discussed the key elements, such as the plot and character development.
Wherever we go, we encourage reading aloud. We offered tips about reading aloud and invited children from the local orphanage school to come for storytime.
A well-rounded education comes from many experiences, and varied sources. Everyone who attended had fun, and also felt they learned new things and got new insights. We are eager to continue offering the Mouse Experience more widely.
