Saturday Safari - African Safari

Saturday October 9, 2010

We went on a wild African Safari in the museum. The kids learned about all of the different African animals that are on display in the museum, after they completed this Safari, they won a special prize. The kids were able to play charades as they acted out their favorite African animal. They even had the chance to meet the African Ball Python Monte, and the Spurred Tortoise Oatis. It was a day filled with facts and fun!

Emilie, museum educator

Nature Experienceship - Birding with Merrill Webb

We had another successful bird watching trip with Merrill Webb on Saturday, September 18th.

We saw the following birds:

American Kestrel

American White Pelican

American Wigeon

Black-billed Magpie

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Cattle Egret

Gadwall

Great Blue Heron

Killdeer

Mallard

Snowy Egret

Spotted Sandpiper

White-crowned Sparrow

Nature Experienceship - Birding with Merrill Webb

We saw the following birds on Saturday, July 17, 2010:

Osprey
Great-tailed Grackle
Barn Swallow
Yellow-headed blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Western Kingbird
Killdeer
Starlings
American Kestrel
American Pelican
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Ring-necked Pheasant
Caspian Tern
Tree Swallow
Green-winged Teal
Raven
Canada Goose
Franklin's Gull
White-faced Ibis
Wilson's Phalarope
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Common Yellowthroat
Long-billed Dowitcher
Cinnamon Teal
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Western Sandpiper
Goldfinch
Swainson's Hawk
Cattle Egret

Here are some photos:





American Avocet in flight

Pelicans, Stilts, Avocets, and a gull (either ring-billed or Franklin's)


Black-necked Stilt

Killdeer

Photos courtesy of Becky Witt

Family Feud Date Night

On Saturday, March 13 we had a Game Show Date Night at the museum. 13 couples met and had LOTS and LOTS of pizza, salad and drinks. We handed out popsicles as we started to play Family Feud. The museum surveyed over a hundred BYU students to answer 25 questions about life on campus and the surrounding area. One question was "What is the worst thing about being a BYU student?" with the number 1 answer being dating!! It was really fun too because the contestants had to grab a ball out of the tarantula cage to answer the question! Everyone got over their fear and did it too! It was really fun and hopefully there will be even more couples for the next date night :)

Becky, museum educator

Nature Experienceship - Reptiles & Amphibians with Jack Sites

We had the amazing opportunity to tour the Amphibian and Reptile Collection with Dr. Jack Sites. This collection contains about 45,000 specimen that were collected from places inside the United States, Latin America, Africa, Madagascar, South America, and other places. Dr. Sites explained that when these specimens are collected you have to have a special permit given by the government that says you know how to handle these creates and it is for educational purposes. This permit also restricts what specimens you can capture. Usually the animals that are found are road kill that have died very recently. They are then taken back to a laboratory where the animal in injected with one chemical that stiffens it up so it looks like it is alive and then it is preserved in another chemical. Dr. Sites also talked about Amphibian species that are threatened in Utah. When an ecosystem is being threatened by pollution the Amphibians are the first to go because their skin is very thin. Since their skin is so thin toxins, and other hazardous particles are absorbed right into the animal and cause it to die. He then talked about some ecosystems in Utah that are being restored and Amphibians are actually coming back to them, this is happening by Deer Creek Reservoir.

Sterling, museum educator

Nature Experienceship - Bald Eagles with Merrill Webb

What a fun time we had with Bird Expert Merrill Webb. We had the opportunity to see and learn about several birds that live in Utah. We visited Farmington Bay to watch these glorious animals in their natural habitat. Most people present would agree that seeing the Bald Eagles was the highlight of the trip. We had binoculars and scopes to get a close-up look at these magnificent creatures. If you didn't get the chance to join us, make sure you sign up for the next Nature Experienceship at the Bean Museum. You won't regret it!

Michael, museum educator

Museum Date Night - Muder Mystery Dinner Theater

Another great date night at the museum!!! A murder has taken place and it was up to all the date night guests to track down the killer. We had a fairy, a woman dressed as a man, and even a man dressed as a woman... We enjoyed pizza and salad for dinner and pound cake with hot cocoa and apple cider.

In the end, it was the politician who killed Prince Charmless... who would have guessed? All in all, everyone who attended this fun event left satisfied and a little grossed out by Tapioca (see attached photo)

Make sure you're on the list for the next date night activity, You will not regret it!

Michael, Museum educator