5 Things to do Outside!

1. Rollerblade the Katy Trail. Find maps and info about the Katy Trail here.
2. Plant a tree. Find out what kids of trees grow best in your city, check out www.arborday.org.
3. Visit White Rock Lake. The 1,015 acre city lake offers hiking and biking trails, a bird watching area, picnic areas, fishing piers, and much more. For details, visit the Dallas Parks website.
4. Have a picnic. Make sack lunches, grab a blanket and head to the park, or even your own backyard, and to enjoy a meal outside.
5. Fly a kite. Make or buy a kite and head out to a large open area free of trees and power lines and let it soar. Get kite flying tips here! 

5 Ways to Support Big Thought

1. Volunteer - We can't thank our volunteers enough for all that they do! We have immediate opportunities for enthusiastic, caring volunteers in our Thriving Minds After-School program. Volunteers are needed on Fridays from 3-5 pm for our Read Out Progam & from 3-6pm Mon-Fri. to assist with various projects. Interested? Call 469-916-9835 for more info or fill out a volunteer application today! 
2. Interact with us - Follow us on Twitter, fan us on Facebook, read the Think Big Blog.  Vote for Big Thought every day between April 11-May 9 in the Cadillac Cares Challenge & cast your vote for Mark Melton in the One Man Dallas event running April 12-May 19. 
3. Advocate for creative learning & education - Be an advocate for arts, culture, creative learning & education in your community! Attend city council meetings, write letters to your representatives, volunteer or spread the word among friends & colleagues. Email us to learn more about how you can help make imagination & creativity a part of everyday learning.
4. Educate yourself - For more than 10 years, Big Thought has been doing research on the supply, demand, quality and effect of an education enriched by creative learning. Read our research and learn how ohters across the nation see our work. 
5. Donate Now - All of our programs and partnerships operate under the assumption that, when given the resources that they need, children can accomplish great things. As we know, kids can and will work hard, learn more & exceed expectations but they can't do it alone. They need mentors, volunteers, advisors, advocates, donors and more who believe that they are worth championing. When you give to Big Thought, you’re investing in a brighter future for thousands of children and their families. In return, we promise to be excellent stewards of your gift, using your investment wisely and efficiently.

7 Museums we love to visit in Dallas!

1. Meadows Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Spanish art outside of Spain and includes is showcasing the the Six-Man Football: Photographs by Laura Wilson through April 23, 2011. Learn more.
2. Frontiers of Flight. Learn about the history of aviation and aerospace innovation right here in the Aviation Capital of the World. Learn more.
   
3. Nasher Sculpture Center is home of the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection of modern and contemporary sculpture, which features more than 300 pieces. Check out their special exhibitions and programs here.
4. Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance  helps its visitors learn from the past to promote unity and acceptance. Learn more.
5. Latino Cultural Center hosts visual, musical, performing and literary arts that celebrate Latino culture. Learn more.
6. Dallas Museum of Art is located in downtown Dallas and features more than 23,000 works of art. Check out their programs Jazz in the Atrium and Late Nights. Learn more.
   
7. 6th Floor Museum. Ever wondered about all those conspiracies surrounding the assassination of JFK? Learn more about the mystery and legacy at this historical lanmark.

Looking for more ideas? Visit our 5 Things Archive!

5 Things... You Can Do to Celebrate American Art!
August is American Artist Appreciation Month, and the best way (in our opinion!) to appreciate an artist is to study them and then become one yourself! So, accordingly, we've gathered together some activities that will help you discover more about American art and artists and get started creating your very own artwork!

1. Faces & Places - This children's education site for the National Gallery of Art features a really great two-part online interactive activity called Faces & Places, inspired by the Gallery's extensive collection of American native artists. Mix and match elements of more than 100 portrait and landscape paintings to create your own masterpiece. And don't forget to check out the rest of the activities at NGA Kids - you won't be sorry!
2. Cappy the Giraffe - Cappy leads kids on an adventure through American art on the Smithsonian Institution's education site. Take a closer look at the works of famous American artists, and do the activities to make your own. Just like the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian has TONS of great games and activities for children of all ages - featuring artists, works and activities from every single one of the Institutions's museums and covering a huge range of topics.  
3. The Whit Blog - Teens can explore the online activities offered by the Whitney Museum in NYC. They have a great blog  that highlights some of the behind-the-scenes activities at the museum. See what the teen group at the Whitney is up to as they visit galleries and museums, learn about art conservation and see how a museum is run. There's also a fantastic Teen Gallery  featuring art made by teens at the museum - the Visual Poetry and Interpreting War collections really resonated with us! Last but not least, the Whitney highlights some of teens' favorite pieces from the collection in Raid the Museum - make sure you click the link and find your own faves!
4. Coloring Pages - Younger kiddos will appreciate the American art coloring pages on this site. Print out the coloring pages or paint them online!  It's got everything from the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial to Native American pottery to Mary Cassatt - something for everyone!
5. Hands-on Art - 3rd through 7th graders will enjoy Great American Artists for kids! This book features hands-on art activities based on the works and processes of famous American artists. If you can't find the book at your local library, scroll on down the page for free activity pages like "Grow a Silly Self" and "Meaningful Collage."

To really get a taste of American Art in North Texas, plan a visit the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. The Carter has an incredible collection of American art - with works from the early 1800s through contemporary photography. 

And, as always, other lists of fun things to do and try can be found in our 5 Things Archive!