The California African American Museum (CAAM) will host A Day of Learning II, Saturday, December 15, 2012, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a curated tour of Exposition Park venues. Starting and ending at CAAM, close to 1,000 children from select Boys and Girls Clubs in Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as various schools and organizations from L.A. City Council Districts 8 and 9 will tour CAAM, the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum (NHM) of Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

By groups of 200, the children will be led through Exposition Park and welcomed by melodic harmonies from the International Children’s Choir of Long Beach and ABC7’s General Assignment Reporter, Elex Michaelson, who will give a brief presentation.  The groups of children will get the opportunity to learn about the American Civil War as they tour CAAM’s exhibition “African American Military Portraits of the American Civil War,” and Los Angeles’ local history encompassed in two exhibitions “Coloring America” and “ The Legacy of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company: More Than a Business.”   

Then it is on to the California Science Center, where Time Warner Cable will sponsor the children’s Space Shuttle Endeavour experience, in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion.  The California Science Center is a family destination that inspires science learning through fun, memorable experiences. Interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and incredible films shown on an IMAX movie screen 7-stories high reveal the science found in everyday life. In addition to the permanent galleries – Ecosystems, SKETCH Foundation Air + Space, Creative World and World of Life, the newly opened Samuel Oschin Pavilion featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavour offers an up close and personal look at the rich legacy of human spaceflight.

After exploring the Science Center, it is off to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County where some of the world’s oldest fossils are stored and large dinosaur exhibits soar high and low in the galleries of Dinosaur Hall.  The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was the first dedicated museum building in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1913.  It has amassed one the world's 

most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history -- with more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years.   The completed renovation of the NHM's Beaux-Arts 1913 building sets the stage for a rollout of new visitor experiences, including the acclaimed new Dinosaur Hall, leading up to its centennial celebration next year.

The children will also get a glimpse into the stadium of the Los Angels Memorial Coliseum and learn the about the Coliseum’s Olympic history.  The Coliseum opened its doors to Los Angeles in June of 1923. Some 5 months later, on October 6, 1923, the first football game was played in the stadium, with the University of Southern California hosting Pomona College. It is the only facility in the world to play host to two Olympiads (X and XXIII), two Super Bowls (I and VII) and one World Series (1959).

In a gift giveaway, ABC7 will provide the children with 1,000 toys and youth items through the support of the ABC7 and Firefighters Spark of Love Toy Drive, who are celebrating their 20^th year of giving.  L.A. City Firefighters will also be present to help distribute the toys. The generosity of Time Warner Cable does not stop at the Space Shuttle Endeavour; the

company will also provide more than 1,000 shirts for the children and 50 Time Warner Cable employee volunteers.  Other Day of Learning II sponsors include the California Science Center, California Natural History Museum, Los Angeles Coliseum and Sports Arena, JP Morgan Chase, Inglewood U-Haul, Inglewood Home Deport, Art Rebel, U.S. Foods – Southern California Division, NESTLES, Coca Cola Refreshing and FRANCES COLEMAN CATERING.

EXHIBITIONS IN THE CAAM GALLERIES:

Coloring America: Selections from the California African American Museum’s Permanent History Collection through March 24, 2013

 Shared Thread in CAAM’s Courtyard through December 30, 2012

 African American Military Portraits from the American Civil War: Selected Images from the Library of Congress Collections through April 14, 2013

 Legacy of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company:  More Than a Business through March 3, 2013

 Go Tell it on the Mountain through April 7, 2013

 About the California African American Museum

The California African American Museum (CAAM) researches, collects, preserves and interprets for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans. Chartered by the California State Legislature in 1977, CAAM is a state supported institution and a partner with the 501(c)(3) non- profit organization Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. In  

addition to its permanent collection of over 3,000 objects of art, artifacts and historical documents, CAAM also houses a research library containing more than 20,000 volumes, employs and trains high school students through its Young Docents program, and hosts in-house curated exhibitions and traveling exhibitions on a regular basis.  The museum also tours CAAM exhibitions throughout California and the nation.

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