July 15, 2020 (Columbia, SC)
Following guidance from the CDC, SCDHEC as well as the newly formed EdVenture Health and Safety Advisory Council, EdVenture developed a reopening plan and began welcoming guests into the museum on Tuesday, July 14. New safety, cleaning, and social distancing protocols are part of what guests can expect when visiting any of EdVenture’s three locations.
While closed, EdVenture formed a new
Health and Safety Advisory Council
comprised of community members, health professionals, museum board and executive staff, and museum liaison Health and Safety Advisor, Dr. Kathie Williams to develop the museum’s cleaning protocol, strategies as well as assess the health and safety of all museum employees and guests. The Health and Safety Advisory Council is led by the following:
- Jamelle Ellis, Ph.D.: EdVenture Board of Trustees and Founder and CEO of Empowerment Strategies, LLC
- Dwayne E. Porter, Ph.D.: EdVenture Board of Trustees and Professor and Associate Chair, Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences, ASPH
- Janet Place, MPH: Director of Public Health Practice and Workforce Development, ASPH
- Jennifer O'Neill, MPH, Ph.D.: Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Exercise Science, ASPH
- Kelli Kennison, Ph.D.: Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Health Services Policy and Management, ASPH
- Fran Marshall, MSPH, JD: Director of Applied Science and Community Engagement, SCDHEC
- Kathy Asbury, MSN, ARNP-BC: Coastal Southeastern United Care Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Agency
- Emilio Perez-Jorge, MD, FACP: Lexington Infectious Diseases
“Our top priority is to create the safest environment possible for our staff and visitors—ensuring the highest level of comfort for all who step through our doors,” said Lisa Hailey, President, and CEO of EdVenture. “We worked closely with our Health and Safety Advisory Council, other cultural organizations as well other children’s museums across the country to develop our new protocols and will continue to evaluate those to ensure we are following best practices and the recommendations of SC DHEC and the CDC.
Per the recommendations of the above-mentioned Health and Safety Advisory Council, the CDC and SC DHEC, all EdVenture staff, interns, and museum guests (over the age of 3) will be required to wear a face-covering or mask while on the museum floor as well as in administrative areas. This requirement is intended to protect our guests, staff, and interns from the spread of COVID-19.
EdVenture’s three locations are operating on a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. EdVenture Columbia’s location is open 9:30am-5pm and offers timed tickets which must be purchased or reserved (for members) in advance through the museum’s website.
EdVenture
Hartsville and EdVenture Myrtle Beach are open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm without a time ticketing requirement. However, social distancing and museum capacity will be monitored. It is advised to call ahead of your visit.
All locations will remain closed on Sundays and Mondays for a deep clean and reset.
“We understand that families may not be ready to visit the museum just yet. We will continue to provide at-home resources and digital educational programming through our “Today’s Play” digital content,” said Matt Wicker, EdVenture’s Director of Education. “But when they do return, we will have a variety of educational stations throughout the museum to enhance the fun, learning experiences that our guests have to come to expect.”
For more information about the safety protocol, the museum will be implementing or to register to attend, visitors are encouraged to visit EdVenture’s website at edventure.org.
________
About EdVenture
EdVenture is a 501c3 registered non-profit educational institution dedicated to creating new generations of lifelong learners through museum experiences, after-school programming, and camps. Helping shape a new generation of people who love to learn is at the core of all we do. In fact, our mission is to inspire children, youth, and the adults who care about them to experience the joy of learning as individuals, as families, and as a community.
