Friday, November 1, 2024

2024 Halloween Night Report

You’ve probably heard of Family Home Evening, but have you heard of Family Out Evening? At the Bean Life Science Museum, for Halloween Family Night? Held annually, this year’s event was once again a success.


The night’s activities featured creative balloon animal creations, story time, visiting with our live tarantulas, crafts, and collectable stamps to spin a wheel to win some neat prizes. 



Visitors could also help make a ‘potion’ in our elephant-foot-cauldron by selecting magic specimens from a wizard’s collection of potion ingredients, including newts and toads preserved in jars and bats and snake skins for extra ‘flavor.’



The highlight of the night may have been the Spooky Shows in our downstairs auditorium featuring halloween animal facts, howling along like wolves, lots of participation and laughter, and even a ‘missing’ live tarantula. 



It’s no hoax to say that both our museum educators and museum patrons all had a delightful, fun, and spooky evening!


Suzy, museum educator


Monday, October 21, 2024

2024 Fall Sketching Dead Things Report

On October 12th, 2024, the Bean Life Science Museum hosted their first ever drawing night, titled “Sketching Dead Things.” The night began with a brief introduction before the patrons were let loose to wander the Museum and sketch whatever specimens they would like. The educators provided helpful feedback and advice to those who asked for it and everyone had a great time. 

Throughout the event, guests had the opportunity to visit the classroom which had specimens on display from the education collection and a slideshow with simple sketching tips and ideas. The event ended with a gallery walk, where guests had the opportunity to show off what they sketched and to see what others drew as well. Many guests were very excited about the event and said they hope the Bean hosts another soon. 

Audrey Gordon, student educator














2024 Wild Edibles Report

A yellow flower in a landscaping bed. Red and blue berries on a hedge. Acorns fallen from the trees lining the campus sidewalks. These might just look like normal plants, but to participants in last Saturday’s Wild Edibles experienceship, they also look quite tasty! 


Led by foraging expert Tom Smith, our experienceship participants picked, gathered, tasted, cooked, ground, and sampled all kinds of food that you couldn’t find at a regular grocery store. After a brief introduction to the expansive field of foraging, our participants were led on a tour of campus, seeing familiar places through entirely new eyes. They learned what plants could be eaten fresh, what could be cooked into delicious sauces or jellies, and also which plants to avoid at all costs. They even collected their own bags of food to take home.

After the excursion, the team returned to the kitchen to sample some incredible dishes that Tom Smith had prepared. Acorn flour cookies, bread with Oregon grape jam, elderberry muffins, and homemade chocolate were all a huge hit, as well as a beef stew seasoned with juniper. Sage extract bubbled in a steam diffuser, and a casserole made of purslane baked in the oven. New tastes and smells were experienced by all, and participants had an unforgettable morning learning what wonderful things there are to eat all around us.

Photo credit: Ellie Lewis, Daily Universe


Leah, museum educator


Wednesday, October 2, 2024

2024 Insect Nature Experienceship Report

     On Saturday, September 21, 2024 the Bean Life Science Museum along with insect specialist Dr. Shawn Clark, hosted a hands-on insect catching experience. After a brief introduction of the event, patrons were taken on a tour of the insect collection located in the Bean Museum. Patrons were given the opportunity to see various insects from around the world, and hear facts about each specimen.

    After the tour guests loaded up into vans and the group drove to Lower Hobble Creek to explore the diverse riparian ecosystem. After a quick description of different nets and catching techniques, each participant was given a net and a vial of alcohol to preserve any insects they collected. With the guidance of Dr. Clark patrons quickly learned how to catch and preserve the various species of insects that they caught. Dr. Clark offered those interested the chance to mount their catches or even donate them to the Bean Museum’s collection. This event was a great success, and patrons were left with a greater appreciation for insect diversity and the planet they call home.

Courtney Thomas, educator

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Exclusive Bean Museum Stickers!

Our exclusive Fall 2024 Bean Museum sticker is available now at the museum! Ask an educator about the sticker to receive one along with a list of all our events happening this semester. Come back again in a month or two for our Halloween Night sticker, available only at the Bean Museum. Both sticker designs were printed by uprinting.com.




Thursday, July 25, 2024

2024 Biology Bootcamp Report

Both sessions of Biology Bootcamp this summer flew by as our campers explored and learned about all the different kinds of organisms found on our planet! 

Monday - Fish/Reptiles/Amphibians


On the first day of camp we kicked things off by learning about the different kinds of fish (bony, cartilaginous, and jawless) in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Campers designed and built their own fish, then took a mini field trip down to the museum’s wet collections to take a look at the real deal. Afterwards we talked about the different adaptations of especially interesting fish and how their unique traits help them to survive in each of their habitats. After lunch, it was herpetology time! Campers learned how to distinguish between reptiles and amphibians, and solidified their knowledge with a relay race. Then we met a bearded dragon, learned about translucence, made frog skin slime, and then made our very own salamanders out of beads and string.



Tuesday - Birds


Campers started day two of camp by racing around the museum to find all the different kinds of birds we have. They identified characteristics of each and then competed with different “beaks” (tweezers, straws, spoons, clothespins) and “food sources” (m&ms, beads, cotton balls, rice) to see which one was the best fit! The campers made eco-friendly bird feeders out of pinecones, sunflower butter, and birdseed, and then it was time for lunch. After lunch we rode two stops on the bus down to the campus duck pond to observe how the mallard babies, adolescents, and adults interacted with each other. Campers fed the ducks a healthy lunch of oats and peas, then went to the adjacent field to play water balloon Capture the Flag and talk about how birds protect their nests. Once everyone dried off in the sun, we bussed back up to the museum to paint birdhouses to go with our bird feeders!



Wednesday - Mammals


Who would win in a fight? A lion, leopard, gazelle, or zebra? Just ask our biology bootcamp kids, who know that out in the wild it’s survival of the fittest! For our day on mammals, the kids took on the roles of these animals and fought for points by avoiding poachers with water guns, predatory animals, finding food and water, and completing dares. Not only did we create the African Savanna on BYU campus, but we learned about the adaptations and skills of mammals. After lunch, campers searched around the museum for different mammals and then came back to our classroom to camouflage their own. After educators worked against the clock to find them all, we talked about what makes a mammal and our campers designed and combined different mammals to make the ultimate crossbreed!




Thursday - Plants/Insects


We started day four by packing up our hats and sunscreen into our field trip vans and driving up the canyon to Big Springs park! Along the hiking trail campers completed an insect and plant scavenger hunt, including pollinators, lobed leaves, and moss. After our group hike along the trail, we ate lunch and then split up into groups to explore. Campers climbed logs, waded in streams, and found cool wildlife including beetles, snakes, and birds! Then we packed up the vans and headed back to the museum to learn about what we found. In the afternoon we learned about what makes a bug an insect, how plants help support entire ecosystems, and how different insects have different jobs. We enjoyed some strawberries while learning about pollination, then designed our own specialized insects.



Friday - Zoo!


On our last day of camp we packed up the vans again and headed to Hogle Zoo! Campers put all of their biology knowledge together to explore the different exhibits and discuss each animal with their fellow campers. Snacks were eaten, organisms were explained, and most importantly, sunscreen was applied.



Amy Stevenson, Student Educator


Wednesday, July 3, 2024

2024 Junior Naturalist Report

This year, Junior Naturalist at the Bean Museum taught campers to think like scientists, create collections, and present their research.


Day 1 -

On our first day we covered how to make and record observations. This day also included a visit to the Museum of Paleontology and the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, where we learned how those museums obtain, handle, and present their collections.



Day 2 -

Collection day! Campers were instructed on correct collection practices, then went out into the field to gather specimens! We went to the Provo River Delta and Aspen Grove, and campers collected both plants and insects.



Day 3 -

This day focused on preparing the campers’ collected specimens. We also had tours of the Bean herbarium and insect collection to see how those collections are used.





Day 4 -

On our penultimate day campers continued working on preparing their specimens, and learned key features of plant and insect identification. They were able to identify their collected plants to the species level, and insects to the family level.





Day 5 -

For the final day campers researched specimens in their collection, and created presentations to share their findings. Campers set up their presentation in our Utah’s Diversity exhibit, where family, friends, and museum visitors had an opportunity to learn more about the work the campers had done all week.



 

Sylvia, museum educator