Treehouse

In keeping with our tree theme this week, I took the boys to the Children's Museum preview party for the new Treehouse Exhibit, sponsored by International Paper.

Ironically (?) the Treehouse Exhibit is where the recycling crafts area used to be. "Treehouse" is a bit of a misnomer, at least in my mind where the term conjures up a ladder leading to a clubhouse constructed high in the sky between tree limbs. I guess since the CMOM already has a skyscraper climbing structure, they opted to keep the Treehouse on the ground. It's basically a small room made completely of wood that's covered with netting and fake leaves to give you (assuming you have a very vivid imagination) the sensation of being inside a tree.

Satchel loved making paper airplanes and then shooting them through a little gizmo into a giant hole in the wall.


Satchel and Jiro both loved playing with the natural wood blocks.



Stump the Stump with Grandma Willow was also pretty cute. You pick an object from a picture on the wall and Grandma plays "20 Questions" with you until she gets it right. (Ok, it is more like "5 questions." Grandma gives up kind of easy, especially when the 3 year old doesn't always tell the truth when answering.)


There's also a cross section of a tree that you can look at and compare to a listing of important events in Memphis. The boys liked this, but it just reminded them of the Old Forest, meaning they immediately tried to stand on it and catapult themselves into the mosh pit of under fives.


The last section is a paper "mural" that kids can color. I believe Dick Hackett said that a local artist would be painting a real mural somewhere in the exhibit. I nearly keeled over when he announced this--how exciting to get some local artists, rather than just local corporations, involved in the museum! But I shouldn't give Dick too hard a time. I have to admit that I like seeing the museum clean and shiny rather than germy and dilapidated.

One thing is eating at me.

International Paper is a huge corporation that makes millions of dollars cutting down trees. Shouldn't I hate them?

I'm definitely impressed by the cardboard & paper curbside recycling program they initiated in Memphis. And their website makes them sound eco-friendly.

But so does the Zoo's!

I wonder if IP's CEO who said he "loves forests" at the ceremony tonight would like to put his money where his mouth is? The Old Forest sure could use some love these days.