Sternberg’s Wildlife Explorer’s Camp
The education staff will offer an inaugural four-day Wildlife Explorer’s Camp for older elementary and middle-school age kids on August 10-13. For kids entering grades 3-5, camp will be held from 8 a.m. to noon; and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for kids entering grades 6-8.
Do your kids enjoy watching nature programs on The Discovery Channel or Animal Planet? Do they wonder what it takes to do something like that? It requires an understanding of the natural world. Why not start with what lives in Kansas? The Wildlife Explorer’s Camp will teach students about the plants and animals that make their home in Kansas. In addition to learning how to identify plants and animals, participants will get to:
• Make a plant/leaf collection
• Make an insect collection
• Learn the collecting techniques for plants, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and aquatic invertebrates. Participants also will take short field trips to surrounding habitats in Ellis County and practice their identification and collecting techniques. On hand to instruct the lessons and lead the trips are Fort Hays State University biology professors, Kansas Wildlife and Park biologists, and Sternberg Museum curators. This camp is designed to not only get kids interested in wildlife and the outdoors, but also introduce them to amazing organisms that live right in our own “backyard!” More details will be distributed to those interested in registering their kids. Fee: Museum Members – $60, Non-Members - $85; Maximum number of participants for each camp is 20.
2010 Summer Programs for Sternberg Kids
Don’t miss out this summer as kids age 4-11 have an opportunity to attend engaging educational programs. For kids age 4 to entering grade K there are two sessions, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. (each session will last approximately 45 minutes, max class size is 15 per session); one session for kids entering grades 1-2 at 1 p.m., and one session for kids entering grades 3 to 5 at 3 p.m. (sessions will last approximately 60 minutes, max class size is 30 per session). All participants must be accompanied by an adult. Program fees vary so please read each description carefully.
To register contact Brian Bartels at (785) 628-5502 or bcbartels@fhsu.edu
**Program specifics and registration for Monarch Mania is separate
Sculpting Dinosaurs! July 15, Registration Deadline July 12
Fee: Museum Members – Free, Non-members – $5 plus paid regular admission into Sternberg
How do scientists know what prehistoric creatures such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and dinosaurs really looked like? By combining science and art paleoartists can recreate animals by hand, molding clay over bone. Budding paleoartists will examine the science behind dinosaur’s shape and skin coloration while sculpting their own dinosaur out of clay to take home, paint, and display.
What are those swimming “dinosaurs” anyway? July 29, Registration Deadline July 26
Fee: Museum Members – Free, Non-members – Free with paid regular admission into Sternberg
What was life like during the Cretaceous in Kansas? It was WET…and teaming with humongous hungry sea creatures! We’ll investigate these sea creatures as well as determine a dinosaur’s life aquatic as a “Bloat ‘n Float” while examining the variety of fossils that are found in Kansas and where to find them. This program also will include a special visit into the belly of the museum that is off limits to regular museum visitors.
Sayonara SuperCroc! August 5, Registration Deadline August 2
Fee: Museum Members – Free, Non-members – Free with paid regular admission into Sternberg
Join our special guided good-bye tour of The Science of SuperCroc, as this will be the last day that museum visitors will have a chance to view this one-of-a-kind exhibition.
**Monarch Mania! August 28, Registration Deadline August 23
Fee: Museum Members – $20, Non-members – $40
The life of a monarch butterfly is a spectacular event of metamorphosis and migration. Join us as we learn about the life cycle of these magnificent creatures. In addition, participants will build their very own caterpillar house to take home, learn about monarch husbandry, and travel on monarch safari into the Ellis County countryside in search of a specific species of milkweed to collect their very own monarch caterpillar or egg to raise and release on its incredible journey. Monarch Mania is not just for kids; adults are welcome to participate. The program is from 9am to noon on Saturday, August 28. Maximum number of participants is 25. For questions and registration information, contact Thea Haugen at 628-5517 or thaugen@fhsu.edu
SuperCroc Sleepover!
Families interested in experiencing a night at the museum Sternberg style should set aside Friday and Saturday, July 30-31 to Slumber with SuperCroc! The event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday evening and conclude by 8 a.m. Saturday morning. The evening’s activities will include a guided flashlight tour of The Science of SuperCroc exhibition (as well as the “sea creatures” and diorama), a program starring our new baby alligators and other critters, and a showing of National Geographic’s, When Crocs ate Dinosaurs (with popcorn and drinks). Sweet rolls, coffee, tea, and juice will be available for breakfast.
Museum member fee is $25/person; non-member fee is $35/person. To register/questions contact Brian at bcbartels@fhsu.edu, (785) 628-5502
Say Good-Bye to SuperCroc Carnival!
Come one, come all, you’ll have a ball. Save this date, Sunday, August 1 from 1 to 6 p.m.
There will be plenty of good old fashioned family fun with a natural history spin put on your favorite family carnival games. Take a glimpse into some of the games. You will need to flip your frog and hope he flops safely on a boulder out of reach of the crafty crocodile. For a smashing good time, attend the crocodile egg hunt. Forget about the duck pond, we are having a shark pond, and the little ones will also get a chance to fish in ye ole’ Cretaceous Fishin’ Hole. There is a Hungry Spider just waiting to snag your moths and dragonflies as they try to fly through her web. Plenty of snakes will be on hand, or should we say in hand, at the petting booth. Rock Monster and many more games will be going on all afternoon. We didn’t forget about a cake walk either, except ours will be a butterfly walk. Did you know butterflies taste with their feet? Hmm, that could be interesting.
Our staff and volunteers have been hard at work since January building games and making unique prizes. Don’t miss out! The games will be held in the Sternberg’s Seibel Lobby and outside, if weather permits. There is no admission fee for the carnival. Chances to win at each carnival game will start at a quarter and not exceed $1. Membership or regular admission is required to visit the museum galleries. Refreshments will be available.