Barona Cultural Center & Museum to Launch Keyip! Kechuw! (Listen! Make!)

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 5, 2016) - The Barona Cultural Center & Museum is set to launch Keyip! Kechuw! (Listen! Make!), a free monthly story time and craft program designed to inspire young children to be excited about reading.

The events are open to the public and will be held on the last Saturday of each month in the Barona Community Center meeting room at the museum from 11 a.m. to noon starting April 30 through October 29, 2016. Each free event, geared towards grades K-2, will feature a cultural story reading and a hands-on art activity as well as raffle prizes, snacks, and drinks. A perfect attendance prize will be given to children who participate in the entire Keyip! Kechuw! series.

"Everyone at the Barona Museum is excited to share Native American-themed stories and traditions with local children through this fun new program," said Laurie Egan-Hedley, director and curator of the Barona Cultural Center & Museum. "We are thrilled to offer the events to attract kids from all over San Diego. It is designed to be a fun and creative way for local youth to learn about Native American culture and also to gain an appreciation for the joy of reading at a young age." 

The program will launch on Saturday, April 30 with the story Baby Rattlesnake by Te Ata, an internationally acclaimed Chickasaw Indian storyteller. This story explores why baby rattlesnakes do not have rattles and what happens if they get them too early. It is a teaching tale about the consequences of getting something before you are ready for it. Kids will have an opportunity to make their own rattle to shake along with the story and paint their own wooden snake to take home.

To reserve a spot for the following Keyip! Kechuw! classes, call 619-443-7003, ext. 219 or visit www.baronamuseum.org: April 30 - Baby Rattlesnake; May 28 - When Clay Sings; June 25 - Rainbow Bridge; July 30 - Ishi's Tale of Lizard; August 27 - Jingle Dancer; September 24 - Cowboy Small; and October 29 - Raven. A parent/adult chaperone is required for all child attendees.

About The Barona Cultural Center & Museum
The Barona Cultural Center & Museum is located on the Barona Indian Reservation at 1095 Barona Road in Lakeside just one mile north of the Barona Resort & Casino. It is open Tuesday through Friday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information or to schedule a group tour, call 619-443-1003 ext. 2 or visit the website at www.baronamuseum.org.