Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Halloween Family Night - October 26th

Monday, October 26th, was the Bean Museum’s Halloween Family Night. Patrons and employees alike dressed in their costumes and came to have fun. The night started out making “Creepy Crafts” where, under the direction of Becky, patrons could make fun Bat candy corn holders. The craft area was open all night, allowing everyone time to make one of the fun candy carriers. The special Halloween Live animal show was done downstairs several times, thanks to the hard work of Michael and Matt. With the lights in the auditorium dimmed, Matt showed the spooky specimens, while Michael provided the voice for the show’s Skull narrator. Due to high demand for repeat performances, the duo did several showings of the animals which included a Wolf, an Owl, and…. a PENGUIN. (It was terrifying.) They taught fun facts about the specimens including the idea that owls are believed to live where only ghosts live. The fun didn’t stop there though! Guests were able to take their picture with their choice of several specimens, such as a wolf, a raven, or a penguin. There was also a fun game to help search for Rosie! She left clues on several of the specimens, and patrons followed them (and the trail of spider webs…yuck!) in order to help find her. All-in-all, Halloween Night proved to be a great success. Everyone from families with young children, to families with grown kids came, and all smiled, laughed and learned together as we celebrated the spookiest season of the year!



Elise, Museum Educator

Saturday Safari Report - November 7, 2009

Did you know that Australia is the smallest continent? It is also the home to some unique animals like the Dingo, Koala Bear, Kangaroo, Monitor Lizards, Echidna, and Duck Billed Platypus. Did you know that Koalas aren’t actually bears? They are Marsupials! The name Koala actually means “doesn’t drink” and they get this name because they don’t drink. They get enough water and other fluids from the Eucalypts leaves they eat, which are actually toxic! We also learned about Australian Aborigine Dot Art. Every painting is made of individual dots! These paintings can be of Alligators, Turtles, or just intricate designs. These paintings depict daily life as an Aborigine.

Sterling, Museum Educator

Friday, November 13, 2009

Nature Experienceship - Conifers with Larry St. Clair

October 16, 2009

This Saturday we had an amazing Nature Experienceship with Dr. Larry St. Clair. He taught us about coniferous trees as we walked around BYU Campus and identified the plants. We had a group of 10 people and started by the Bean Museum and worked our way around campus, eventually ending up around the Joseph Smith Building. As we approached each tree we applied what we learned to identify it, and sometimes had to use our hand lenses to inspect the needles or branches.

One interesting story told by Dr. St. Clair was about an old BYU President and a Ginko tree. The fruit of the Ginko tree smells like rancid butter and the BYU President was walking one day and brought some into his office on his shoes. He was very displeased with the odor they emitted and ordered to have the Ginko trees removed from campus. Luckily, one BYU Professor convinced the President not to remove the trees, so the President ordered "Then keep those things off the sidewalk!







Becky, Museum Educator