Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™
May 29 - September 12, 2010
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog™ is a 5,000 square foot exhibit that transports visitors to the homes of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and all of the residents of Birdwell Island where they engage in cooperative play activities that foster appropriate social and emotional development. Like tourists visiting Birdwell Island, visitors will start their journey to the exhibit aboard the Birdwell Island ferry, complete with seagull sounds and clanking ship bells. As visitors pass by the Lighthouse and enter Birdwell Island, they discover the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, and the people and places of Birdwell Island. All of the exhibit environments are based on locations found on the PBS Kids Clifford The Big Red Dog television series.
Inspired by Scholastic Entertainment's top-rated TV show Clifford The Big Red Dog on PBS KIDS, the exhibit offers numerous immersive "paws-on" adventures that reinforce "Clifford's Big Ideas" -- ten simple, tangible life lessons designed to help young children navigate their world: Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe in Yourself, Be a Good Friend and Help Others.
Kids can visit a colossal nine-foot tall Clifford with a tail to slide down, just like Emily Elizabeth does on the television show. Children can help fill Clifford's big dog bowl with bones using a conveyor belt and find "bone-ifide" treasures at T-Bone's Beach. Browse the Norman Bridwell Art Retrospective and see 40 years (that's 280 dog-years!) of artwork and stories by the creator and award-winning author of Clifford The Big Red Dog.
Exhibit Entrance
Welcome to Birdwell Island, the home of Clifford and his owner, Emily Elizabeth Howard. Clifford was the runt of the litter when Emily Elizabeth adopted him. Much to everyone's surprise, Clifford outgrew all the other dogs because of Emily Elizabeth's limitless love. So, Elizabeth and her family left the city and moved to Birdwell Island, where they made new friends, including Cleo, T-Bone and Mac.
Visitors enter
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog by passing between Birdwell Island's East and West lighthouses and board the ferry. Children and adults can join "Victor" and "Pedro" in the pilot house and try their hand at "steering" the ferry. Visitors hear the sounds of seagulls and ocean waves roaring as they navigate their way to Birdwell Island with the help of a three-dimensional map of the island. Children can move "tourists" around the map and visit Samuel's Restaurant, the Post Office, Cleo's Backyard, and all of Clifford's favorite places on the Island.
Samuel's Fish and Chips Shack
Say "hello!" to "Samuel" and his son "Charlie," pull up
a stool at Samuel's Fish and Chips Shack on the pier, and place your order (maybe Samuel's delicious fish and chips!). Children and adults can enter Samuel's Shack and role-play restaurant employees working together to restock the shelves, cook, clean, and serve. Kids can grab an order pad, take orders from their family and friends and total their bill at the cash register.
Musical Marina
As children and adults make their way along the pier, they encounter "Mary" at the Musical Marina. Kids can play a variety of instruments, including Clifford's giant Xylobone and drums from around the world. They can share instruments while they boogie to the music.
T-Bone's Beach
No island is complete without a beach! "T-Bone" welcomes children and adults to a bone-shaped "beach" where kids can hunt for buried treasures. Kids can follow Clifford's Big Ideas and "Play Fair" by taking turns hunting for seashells.
Clifford The Big Red Dog's Doghouse
A nine-foot Clifford greets visitors in his backyard outside his doghouse. Children can take a seat next to Emily Elizabeth on the giant paws of her big
red best friend and slide down Clifford's tail.
Emily Elizabeth's Backyard Theater and The Howards' House "Mac" invites visitors to take the stage with Clifford and his pals in Emily Elizabeth's Backyard Theater. Visitors can choose a Clifford The Big Red Dog video clip as a backdrop on a big screen. Dressed in Cleo, T-Bone, Mac or Clifford costumes, they can perform for family and friends sitting in the audience on bone-shaped benches.
Young Cleo's Backyard
Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog's youngest visitors will dig Cleo's Backyard, designed especially for tots with a soft floor and "stone" wall enclosure. "Cleo" encourages toddlers to crawl through a tunnel, or play a shape-sorting activity at Cleo's doghouse. At the "stone" wall, kids can enjoy activities as they open the doors to T-Bone's doghouse, and are greeted by their reflection in a mirror; turn a crank to make Clifford go in and out of his doghouse; and spin two tumblers to match Birdwell Island characters to their home.
Birdwell Island Post Office
Children can join Mr. Carson at the Birdwell Island Post Office, and help sort and mail letters. Then they can deliver mail and pictures to the Birdwell Island residents' mailboxes.
Birdwell Island Library and Norman Bridwell Art Retrospective
Take a break from all the action and cozy-up for a reading adventure. Ms. Lee welcomes visitors to the library, host to a collection of Clifford books. Children can practice believing in themselves and building confidence (just like Clifford!) as they share Clifford stories and play Clifford's Learning Adventures, an interactive computer game.
At the Norman Bridwell Art Retrospective, "Jetta" invites visitors to view clips from an interview with Norman Bridwell. Children and adults can also browse artwork and get an inside look at Clifford's character and story development during the past 40 years.
Developed by: Minnesota Children's Museum and Scholastic Entertainment