Education

MAC’s mission of historic preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment extends into the classroom and beyond.

MAC’s Museum Education Programs
MAC's educational programs, either in person or by distance learning, are all presented by Museum Educators who are experienced interpreters specially trained to work with students and community groups. Many are also Living History Interpreters who are trained to perform in character, as costumed Victorian personages.

MAC's programs are coordinated with many of New Jersey's Core Curriculum Standards, particularly in the areas of Social Studies, Language Arts and visual and performing arts. A detailed correlation of each program with these standards is available.

MAC programs include field trips, classroom, assembly or community center visits and distance learning presentations. If you require a more specialized program on the Victorian Era, MAC will try to customize one to fit your needs. All MAC programs come with pre and post lesson materials. MAC encourages schools and districts to plan a series of coordinated experiences for their students for maximum educational impact.

Minimum Expense for Maximum Education
MAC's high quality educational programs are available at a minimum expense. Live and distance-learning lessons are $50 generally within Cape May County and $75 beyond it. All lessons beyond 50 miles must be by distance learning. Most tours are $5 and below per pupil and several are free to Cape May County schools. A detailed price list is available.

Benefits of MAC's Educational Programs
MAC is a member of the American Association of Museums and follows professional museum standards in all its programming. Museum professionals provide yearly training sessions for interpreters and museum educators in Social History, Architecture and Decorative Arts of the Victorian era, and all tours and exhibits are rigorously researched. The performing arts programs that MAC presents are also resources for teachers. MAC has been certified by the New Jersey Department of Education as a professional development provider.

MAC's museums, tours and arts programming can be a valuable teaching tool by:

• Providing supplementary information on the history and environment of Cape May and its surrounding areas;
  
• Providing information on a unique era in American history;
  
• Stimulating cognitive and critical thinking skills;
  
• Furnishing information in a non-textual manner and in a non-traditional venue, making history come alive;
  
• Providing topics for enrichment activities across the curriculum.
  
• Providing NJ Core Contents Standards-based programming, support materials and staff development opportunities;

MAC's public history programs are funded in part by an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, in the Department of State. The Cape May Music Festival is funded in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
A correlation of MAC's educational programs with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards is available upon request.

For additional general information contact MAC at:
1048 Washington Street, PO Box 340, Cape May, NJ 08204
609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278

For specific information and to schedule live and distance learning lessons, contact:
Museum Education Coordinator
Dr. Robert E. Heinly
609-884-5404, Ext. 134
rheinly@capemaymac.org

To schedule a visit or tour, contact MAC's Group Tour Office:
Becky Rolfe
609-884-5404, Ext. 139
bkennedy@capemaymac.org

Free Bus Transportation
Your school may be eligible for FREE BUS transportation! To apply, please call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, extension 139, ask about the tour/event you would like to attend and ask about the Bus Fund Program.

The Bus Fund Program is sponsored by the South Jersey Cultural Alliance, with grant funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. It is a needs-based program to help schools not able to afford transportation costs to attend a cultural event during the school year.