Elderly individuals in area senior day centers or living facilities get a chance to visit the Peabody and learn about its collections -- such as the renowned dioramas -- as part of the museum's Senior Series outreach program.

Outreach program bringing seniors to the Peabody

In celebration of May as Senior Citizens Month, the Peabody Museum of Natural History has been offering free admission to all people over age 60 this month. Senior citizens have, in fact, become a fast-growing segment of visitors to the museum, thanks to the Peabody's outreach program for senior citizens. Established in July of 1999, the museum's Senior Series has reached more than 2,600 seniors and increased attendance among those above age 60 by 4% over the previous year. The program is designed to provide a learning experience in natural history and anthropology to New Haven's elderly population -- particularly, those living in centers run by the Department of Elderly Services, the Housing Authority, the Jewish Home for the Aged and Casa Otoñal. Volunteers visit senior day centers and living facilities to present a variety of programs based on the Peabody's most popular collections. A week later, the seniors visit the museum, where they take part in a tour and activity, and enjoy light refreshments. At the completion of the program, senior participants are given free admission passes to the museum. The program -- which is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the City of New Haven -- is being expanded to include all senior recreational facilities throughout the state and the region. For information, call (203) 432-6342. The Senior Series is just one of the programs that have contributed to the Peabody Museum's 8% increase in attendance this year. The others include the Dinosaur Days and Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and the Biodiversity Education Program. Richard L. Burger, director of the Peabody, says he is proud that the museum is becoming a truly regional resource for the state's citizens -- pointing out that, for the fifth year in a row, the Peabody has won the New Haven Advocate's Readers Poll for Best Museum/Art Gallery. In addition, it was selected by the editors of Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide as one of the outstanding reasons to visit New England. Other International Festival stories Festival to feature everything from opera to aerial dancers British Art Center hosting talks, trips, music during International Festival International Festival of Arts and Ideas: Events on Campus International Festival of Arts and Ideas: Tours T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Yale Celebrates 300th Commencement Festival to feature everything from opera to aerial dancers Alumni returning to campus for reunion weekends ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS Mahzarin Banaji appointed to Halleck chair Seyla Benhabib appointed to Meyer chair Peter Salovey appointed to Argyris chair Steven B. Smith appointed to Cowles chair Exhibit recalls Snowdon's 'irreverent' photographic visions British Art Center hosting talks, trips, music during International Festival International Festival of Arts and Ideas: Events on Campus International Festival of Arts and Ideas: Tours MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS Grant to boost medical students' knowledge of elder care Monitors usefulness in preventing SIDS questioned Study suggests revising guidelines for seniors' weight Depression's power to lower work productivity revealed Outreach program bringing seniors to the Peabody Campus Notes Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News|Bulletin Board Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page