Like all public gathering places the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc has closed its’ doors .but they’re still connecting educationally through social media.
Abbie Diaz, the Director of Education & Programs said during this pandemic her museum department is “focused on reaching-out to teachers and parents during home-schooling to help kids stay engaged in virtual learning.”
Diaz explains one example is a live dissection of a Lake Michigan whitefish supplied by local fishermen and Susie-Q in Two Rivers. The presentation was recorded with closed captioning added in both English & Spanish, to go along with museum resource worksheets.
As for reaction to their outreach, Diaz said their online views are “way up, higher than they’ve ever been.”
Also gratifying, she says, are messages from teachers & parents thanking them for continuing to engage with students and community, despite not being open.
Diaz added they’ve begun a program called “Transcribe W-M-M”, where people can upload archives of historic letters from the U-S-S Lagarto submarine, which was found 14-years ago this summer in the Gulf of Thailand. Participants can transcribe those “never before read letters” from 75-years ago.
The museum spokesperson said they plan to commemorate what people compiled from those letters once the maritime museum reopens.
Find out about that effort and more by going to wisconsinmaritime.org.
