Wanna visit the museum...but just can't find the time?

No worries.  Thanks to Lemonade Stand, there is no need to look like those angry wolves we lovingly let hang out upstairs.  With their marketing expertise and newly completed virtual reality tour of the Monte. L Bean Science museum, which can be accessed at the end of this post, you don't even need to come in to see all of the cool stuff we have to offer! (Except...you do.  Because you can't touch anything through a computer screen.  Or interact with anyone.)  This 360 degree electronic adventure features an overhead "dollhouse" view as well as an on-foot zooming option, creating the effect that you are walking right through the museum from your own home!  It's pretty neat to check out the renovations if you haven't been for a while, and if you're honest with yourself, pretty tempting to come in...

But enough talk.  Check it out for yourself:

MONTE L. BEAN MUSEUM VIRTUAL TOUR

Or he'll be out to get you.

Monte L. Bean in Wildlife Adventures: Water Edition

Are your children a little on the bored side yet?  School's been out for a couple of weeks now, and their energy is slowly declining...  We'd love to help solve that problem.

Starting next week, the Bean Museum is proud to present the continuation of our very popular Wildlife Adventures!  The Wildlife Adventures education program is ran by our museum educators, targeting children ages 6-12 and their specific interests.  Each week, centralized around a theme, consists of a day of class in the museum (Tuesday 12-2) and a field trip (Thursday 12-4). Themes and field trips are as follows:

WEEK	DATES	THEME	FIELD TRIP
Week 1	June 14 and 16	Water Wildlife	Utah Lake
Week 2	June 21 and 23	Rock On	Rock Canyon
Week 3	June 28 and 30	The Bees Knees	Local beekeeper
Week 4	July 12 and 14	Feathered Friends	Tracy Aviary
Week 5	July 19 and 21	Reptile Retreat	Thanksgiving Point
Week 6	July 26 and 28	Animal Occupations	Hogle Zoo
Week 7	Aug 2 and 4	Cave Crawlers	Timp Cave

 You can fill out the form here to register your child, or call 801-422-6698 for more information.  Spots fill quickly, so register today!  Cost is $35 per child per week.  Refunds, excluding a $4.00 processing fee, are available prior to one week before the assigned starting date.

WHOOOO Can tell me what renovations have been happening with our birds?

So friends.  I don't know how long it's been since you've dropped into the museum, but if it's been a while, it's about time you plan a little trip.  Quite a bit of renovation has just been completed, and the Fred and Sue Morris Bird Gallery's recent makeover is looking good.  From this...

to....HA!  You'll just have to come in and take a look for yourself.

In honor of our exciting changes, this week's animal spotlight is the lesser flamingo, which is given a stunning central position in the restructured exhibit. Weighing in at about 4 pounds and a 36 inches, these animals are one of the smallest and brightest flamingos.  Interestingly, flamingos are not born with their beautiful pink plumage.  Their color comes from carotenoid pigments extracted from their diet (which, in fact, colors tree leaves as well.)  Both male and female flamingos "nurse" their young, in that both provide a type of milk called crop milk.  Lesser flamingos are thought to be the most numerous and live in the largest flocks.

For more information about this gorgeous animal, come check out the updated exhibit!  It won't leave you hanging, like I've so rudely done...

Summer fun!

Hey Museum-goers!  Summer has officially started, and the Bean Museum can't wait to help you kick it off right!
Help kick off the Junior Naturalist Program at this special partner camp between the Bean Life Science Museum and Thanksgiving Point Institute!  While the junior naturalist program is for everyone regardless of age, this summer camp is for 4th - 6th graders.  Join us as we explore nature around us and participate in collecting, recording, preparing, identifying and sharing.  Registration is limited.  You can sign up right now!
If if you're looking for something a little more close to home, we present you with our Wildlife Adventures! With classes designed for kids aged 6-12 (from noon to two on Tuesday without lunch, and noon to four on Thursday with a snack), Wildlife Adventures allows students a chance to discover the natural world specifically catered to different themes each week.  Themes range from Water Wildlife to Animal Occupations, and each week has its own field trip, such as Rock Canyon, Timp Cave, or Hogle Zoo.  If you're busily signing your kids up for summer fun, add to the list Wildlife Adventures here!  Our programs just won't be complete without your child.

Hey Parents...Let's Be Websmart!

Parents - you've been teaching your kids since they came out of the womb how to safely use the Internet.  Hopefully, you've also taught them about the fantastic resources available online.  The Bean Museum's website offers countless opportunities for you and your children to learn more about animals, the environment, and taking care of our Earth.
One of the most exciting features the museum has to offer are the daily live animal shows, a 30-40 minute presentation based on Utah's State Science Core curriculum and catered to all ages.  You can register for your own private animal show, in the museum or your own home, right here. Free in-house shows are offered Monday-Friday at 7:30 pm as well as Monday nights at 6:30 and Saturdays at 1:00 and 3:00.
Not only can you schedule live animal shows on our website, but you can access our online audio tour to play from your mobile device as you browse the museum.  The audio tour includes facts about our many exhibits and is recorded by Studio C's talented comedian Matt Meese.  After all, what's better than a free tour with Matt Meese?  (If you're sick of Scott Sterling and would prefer a free private tour on-site, you can register for that here.)
Teachers, if you can't find time in your schedule to visit the museum, we can bring the museum to school!  Our Bio Boxes offer mounted specimens from the museum's education collection, as well as "biofacts," or animal skin, feathers, eggs, antlers, bones, etc.  These serve as a useful teaching resource to supplement any biology-based lesson.
Additionally, the website provides opportunities to register for special summer programs such as Junior Naturalist Summer Camp (partnered with Thanksgiving Point), Nature Experiences, and Wildlife Adventures.
For you Den leaders out there, the website also provides a great resource for earning the Museum Patch.  The Museum Patch was designed to motivate scouts to gain a greater appreciation and knowledge of the life sciences. By completing the requirements for this patch, scouts can expand their minds, search their interests and gain a better understanding of the living world.
Hopefully, you've learned a little more about what the museum's website has to offer you and your families.  With the right teaching tools, we can make learning about biology fun!

I Bet You Didn't Know...

So guys.  I bet you didn't know blue whales' tongues weigh as much as adult elephants.  I bet you also didn't know scorpions glow in the dark under ultraviolet light!  But did you know that the museum has its own set of collectible bookmarks?

Every three months, the museum releases a new bookmark, collectible just for coming in! Each bookmark highlights something unique or interesting about our museum, be it microscopic fungi or gigantic Galapagos tortoises.  In order to take them all home, make sure to make the Bean Museum part of your monthly routine.   For you book worms (and for you not-so-book-worms who can use this as a great teaching tool or, you know, campfire fuel) - the hunt awaits!  We can't wait to see how many YOU can collect!

Discovery Reading

Who here likes to read?  I sure do.  And what's better than reading about animals (besides ice cream)?
If you're looking for an interactive, educational activity for your wiggly preschoolers, join us every Thursday at 11:00 in the education classroom for Discovery Reading! Featuring books such as Giraffes Can't Dance, Discovery Reading is a chance each week to inspire your children to discover their captivating world.

Giraffes Can't Dance

When reading, educators supplement engaging picture books with animals from the museum, sparking questions from all of our young readers. You'd be surprised by what they'll learn each week at Discovery Reading!  Not only will Discovery Reading help your children explore their senses and surroundings for an hour every week, it's a perfect platform to launch your own teaching.  Who knows what they'll come home wanting to know?

We can't wait to see you this Thursday at 11:00 in the education classroom!