Let’s say you haven’t experienced the cultural offerings of the Chippewa Valley – maybe you’re financially strapped, are debating whether it’s worth the cost, or are new to the area. Well a new program developed by Clear Vision Eau Claire provides you with a much-needed shot in the arm.

“The idea is to expose people to the different cultural opportunities in the Valley,” said L.E. Phillips Public Library Associate Jill Patchin. “The hope is that they realize we have some great stuff and they go again, maybe with friends or family.”

Ticket to Adventure is a program hosted by the library that involves free or reduced-price passes to Chippewa Valley cultural establishments (eight, so far), and is open to absolutely everyone. It was enacted in October by Clear Vision Eau Claire, a county-wide organization that aims to be the catalyst for citizen involvement in the community

“The thrust of the idea seemed to be that we simply needed to do a better job of promoting the many quality activities already available in the Valley,” said Mary Mickel, a member of Clear Vision’s Activities Council.

Even though the program is relatively new, those organizations involved have already experienced the value firsthand.

“You’d be surprised by the number of people that walk in here for the first time and say, ‘This is great. I didn’t even know this existed.’ They aren’t aware of the great things here and throughout the Chippewa Valley,” said Darcy Way, executive director of the Children’s Museum.

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Essentially you’re giving free admission, but Way says, “It’s an investment, and most of our business travels by word of mouth so, from our side, they come in and it might lead to a membership or holding a birthday party or they just tell people about us.”

Ann Sessions of the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild said they’ve likewise seen several new faces come to their productions because of Ticket to Adventure, and they’re very happy to have joined up.

Ticket to Adventure is based on Museum Adventure Pass in the Twin Cities, which offers a pass to 17 cultural organizations/venues and is available at more than 100 libraries in the surrounding area. In our version, you start at the Youth Services desk at the library, look through a book of options, and they give you tickets or passes for that endeavor.

The tickets are limited but will be refreshed regularly, so long as venues continue to see value in the program.

A family of four recently used their passes to explore the Children’s Museum over winter break, and the excursion was a memorable one. “Our creative kids director was making a craft with the young boys when they told her Santa didn’t come to their house this year,” Way began. “They couldn’t afford a Christmas tree, so they didn’t get any gifts. The dad is unemployed, and things are pretty tough for the family… the parents really appreciated the passes because visiting the Children’s Museum was their only outing while the boys were out of school.”

Besides word-of-mouth advocacy, Mickel said another key to long-term success is new places coming aboard. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a once-a-year thing, like the Air Show, or something regular like UWEC Athletics,” she said. “This is flexible program. … And so long as groups are willing to provide us with tickets, and the library willing to give us time, there isn’t a reason in the world this shouldn’t continue to go and grow.”

For more info, visit ecpubliclibrary.info or ClearVisionEauClaire.org. To become involved as an organization, contact Mickel at 832-9705 or the library at 839-5007.