Educators provide visitors with customized, interactive experience

Jim Tomasek tells young visitors to the New England Air Museum a story about a daring sea plane rescue that took place in the 1940s.

"What kind of animal is a frog?"  The question is directed to a small group of children gathered around a plane, an RC-3 Seabee, at the New England Air Museum.

The responses are varied and quick.  "A reptile!  A bug!  An amphibian!"

"Right!  It's an amphibian.  And what does that mean?  Where does a frog live?"

"In the water!"

"Right!  So, if this is an amphibious plane, what does that mean it can do?"

"Go in the water!"

Mike Wikosz, a museum educator, looks up at the adults in the group and explains that, in the early 1940s, the plane was sold for thousands less than it cost to build because the manufacturer expected that every driveway in America would have a Seabee parked next to the family sedan.  Profits would be made on maintenance and additional purchases.

Mike Wikosz provides information about the aircraft and artifacts, and gives hands-on demonstrations.

Mike is a student at Central Connecticut State University, as is his colleague at the museum, Aaron Czarnecki, both studying to be technology educators.  They and their supervisor, Jim Tomasek, were hired by the museum as part of its new Scientific Literacy Program, with support from the Hartford Foundation.

"We have a lot of great ideas about how to engage our visitors in the stories and science behind the aircraft and artifacts," said Jim, who was a long-time volunteer before being hired to coordinate the program.  "We have something for visitors of every age and interest." 

Programs include Art with Aaron, where kids learn to draw the planes they see, and Mechanics with Mike, where visitors learn how the planes and equipment actually work.

At least one of the educators is on hand every day to provide information on the development of aviation technology and scientific principles used in flight, and give hands-on demonstrations, often in parts of the exhibits that are not generally accessible to the public.

"Mike, Aaron and Jim make the museum's collection come to life, especially for our younger visitors," said museum director, Michael P. Speciale.  "They help our visitors experience the museum in a customized, interactive and exciting way."

For more information about the New England Air Museum, visit www.neam.org or call 860-623-3305.