09/13/12 ema
HAYS, Kan. -- Butterflies, rattlesnakes and endangered
species are all a part of the fall season at Fort Hays State University's
Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
"Rattlerssss! From Fear to Fascination," an
educational temporary exhibit featuring live specimens of the 22 species of
rattlesnakes found in the United States, is currently the featured exhibit. It
is on exhibit through the end of winter.
From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, children at the
Sternberg's Monarch Mania can capture, tag and release Monarch butterflies as
they make their migration to Mexico. Children ages 5 to 12 are welcome.
Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The cost for the
migration activities is $12.50 for non-members and $10 for members. The maximum
number of participants is 25.
"American Icons: Threatened and Endangered" will
be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Stories of decline and recovery
will be told. Live animals will include a peregrine falcon, gray wolves, an
American alligator and more. The event is free for elementary schools. Schools
must register to attend.
Eco-meet, a chance for high school students to show what
they know and win scholarships, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27.
Events are interpretive, require focus, and include habitat tests and a scavenger
hunt. The event is limited to high school and eighth-grade teams who have
pre-registered.
The Girl Scout Campout will be from 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28,
to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Participants will spend a night at the museum
with hiking, a campfire, astronomy and more. The event is open to all Girl
Scout age groups. Scouts under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult or older
sibling. Registration is $15 per person. Snacks and breakfast will be provided.
October events include:
Digging It Fossil Camp from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2,
and Wednesday, Oct. 3.
From 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, is Friday Evening at the
Museum.
Fossil Day is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17.
Bats, Snakes, Spiders and Creepy Things is from 1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, and Monday, Oct. 29, the
Sternberg Museum will put on the Haunted Museum in time for the Halloween
holiday.
Ongoing events include Sternberg After School from 3:30 to 5
p.m. on Tuesdays for grades two and three and Wednesdays for grades four and
five. Students will receive hands-on science enrichment a the museum and do
art, music and group activities. Pre-registration is required.
Junior Naturalists, a monthly program, will meet from 9:30
to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Participants will earn badges as they explore
different fields of science, such as biology, geology and paleontology with the
experts. This is open to ages 8-15 and costs $12 per person per program for
members and $15 per person for non-members. The series costs $100 per person
for members and $125 per person for non-members.
For more information on any events in September and October,
contact James Leiker, education director at the museum, at 785-639-5249 or
jaleiker4@fhsu.edu.