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

Halloween Family Night - October 26th

Monday, October 26^th, 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

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