CMU Museum receives Pinnacle Award for Virtual Field Trips

The Museum of Cultural and Natural History has received a 2023-2024 Pinnacle Award from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration for creating live virtual field trips that have high educational value, actively involve learners, and are professionally delivered.

The CILC is a leader in distance learning. The award recognizes field experts and educators from museums, zoos, aquariums, National Parks, Hall of Fames, science, historical and cultural centers from around the world.

The Pinnacle Awards are determined by evaluations received from educators and activity coordinators who participate in the live virtual field trips.

The CMU Museum has hosted virtual field trips by students from numerous disciplines at CMU. Available sessions include backyard birding, women in STEM, Rangoli, recess and the one-room schoolhouse, the secret life of rocks and minerals, and life of a college student.

Ron Bloomfield, interim director of the CMU Museum says our distance learning programs via CILC allow us to reach audiences on both the national and international level.

“Our programming not only enables museum studies students to gain familiarity with technology and experience engaging audiences in a virtual setting, but also helps to spread awareness of Central Michigan University."

The first Pinnacle Awards were given in 2008. They are announced at the start of each new academic year to ensure educators and directors are aware of the high-quality live virtual field trips that are available to help bring learning to life and open classroom doors to the world.