During school holiday camps students explore science through interactive activities as well as the museum’s own collections and exhibits.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Just because school is out doesn’t mean students can’t dive into science and investigate natural history at one of two school holiday camps at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The camps Dec. 20-21 allow students enrolled in grades K-5 for the 2012-2013 school year to explore natural science with interactive activities and museum exhibits.

“Learning is fun,” said Catherine Carey, Florida Museum public programs coordinator. “Learning about natural history is more fun and learning at the museum is the most fun.”

A “Science in Comics” camp Dec. 20 teaches students about various aspects of the natural world through comics like “Peanuts.” Students will visit the “Peanuts…Naturally: Charlie Brown and Friends Explore Nature” temporary exhibit and explore questions like “How do scientists test ideas?”

“Alien Invaders” Dec. 21 will teach students about invasive plants and animals found in their backyards. Students attending this camp will have the opportunity to explore the “Water: Discovering and Sharing Solutions” temporary exhibit. Both exhibits are on display through Jan. 2, 2013.

The camps are offered as full- or half-day programs. The full-day program is $50 per student and the half-day cost is $30 for non-members. A special rate for museum members also is available.

Preregistration is available on the Florida Museum’s website at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/events/camps/school-holiday/. Students should wear clothes appropriate for outdoor activities, and full-day participants should bring a sack lunch.

For the full day, drop-off is between 8 to 8:30 a.m. and pickup is 4:30 to 5 p.m. The half-day camps can either be for the morning, with pickup from noon to 12:30 p.m. or for the afternoon, with drop-off from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

For questions or more information call 352-273-2061.

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Writer: Kate Schofield, kschofield@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact:  Paul Ramey, APR, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Enroll your children today in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s “Amazing Migrations” Playful Escape, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2.

Registration is available online at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm or by phone at 352-273-2061.

“Playful Escapes is a fun, educational and informal day at the museum,” said Florida Museum education assistant Tiffany Ireland. “Children will learn about the migratory patterns of different birds, fish and sharks that migrate through Florida.”

Students in grades K-5 may observe the Earth’s magnetic field using compasses and learn how it plays a significant role in animal migrations. Students will also participate in outdoor activities designed to teach them about mapping, topography and ways to observe the Earth’s surface from a bird’s-eye view.

Students should dress for the outdoor weather and bring a sack lunch if enrolled in the full-day session. Pre-registration is required for morning, afternoon or all-day sessions.

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Source: Tiffany Ireland, 352-273-2061, tireland@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Alyssa Wang
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Participants will discover African oral traditions about monkeys and how the animals inspired these stories.

The class is $18 for Florida Museum members and $24 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information call (352) 273-2061 or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

This program complements the Florida Museum’s current temporary exhibit, Inside Africa, on display through Sept. 7. Based on a permanent exhibit at the Field Museum of Chicago, “Inside Africa” engages visitors through many hands-on activities, three-dimensional settings, multimedia presentations and an exceptional collection of artifacts. The exhibit offers a deeper understanding of the vitality, richness and significance of Africa’s many cultures from historical and contemporary perspectives.

Admission to “Inside Africa” is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for Florida residents, seniors age 62 and above and students, and $4 for children ages 3-12. For more information, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.

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Writer: Marcel Raphael
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

The Florida Museum of Natural History invites kindergarten through fifth-grade students on an outdoor expedition to be held during the Alachua County spring break week, April 3-7. Students will explore the Amazon on a 3,000-mile caravan from the Andes to the sea, learn to be an expert animal tracker and uncover the varied cultures of the Amazon — all without leaving Gainesville.

“The topics of Florida Museum spring break camps are designed to encourage campers to explore the natural wonders found in our own backyards and on the other side of the world,” said Susan Duvenhage, Florida Museum associate director for exhibits and public programs. “Camp classes combine imagination and science to give campers a spring break that is not only fun but also educational.”

The Florida Museum will offer two hands-on camp classes, morning and afternoon, led by museum docents and staff. Campers can participate in both classes or select just morning or afternoon.

The morning class, “Nature Detectives,” will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will teach students to identify a variety of animals found in the University of Florida Natural Area Teaching Lab, as well as animals often found in their own backyards. Campers also will learn how to use animal tracks, scat, skulls and other natural clues to reveal the many species of wildlife living in the Gainesville area.

The afternoon class, “Amazon Adventure,” runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and ventures into the depths of the Amazon rainforest to explore the diverse array of plants, animals and cultures that inhabit the Amazon region, as well as revealing new discoveries of science and culture.

“These classes will really open students’ eyes to the exploration of science, different cultures and the outdoors,” Duvenhage said. “Florida Museum campers get a break from being students and become pioneers and detectives.”

Registration for Florida Museum members is $90 for one class and $180 for both classes. For non-members, registration is $110 for one class and $200 for both classes. Pre-registration is required. Students who participate in both morning and afternoon classes must bring a sack lunch.

For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

Participants will explore the “Glow: Living Lights” traveling exhibit. “Glow,” which is on display at the Florida Museum through May 29, is the first museum exhibition to explore the scientific marvel of bioluminescence — the ability of an organism to produce its own light.

Florida Museum docents and staff will lead students in a glowing hands-on exploration of unusual creatures such as vomiting shrimp, vampire squid and cookie cutter sharks to discover how bioluminescence works, the varied reasons some organisms have natural light-producing abilities and why bioluminescence is important to humans.

“Most children have chased fireflies on a summer night, but until now, few people have had the opportunity to discover the science behind this magical phenomenon,” said Susan Duvenhage, Florida Museum associate director for exhibits and public programs. “‘Glow’ explains what puts the fire in fireflies and the glow in glowworms.”

Cost is $60 for Florida Museum members and $72 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. Students must bring a sack lunch. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277.

Media contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

The cost is $15 per class for Florida Museum members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media Contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

“Chorus of Birds” participants will explore the lifestyles of aquatic birds, including calls, migration and habitats.

The cost is $15 for Florida Museum members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media Contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

“Flying Dragons” participants will explore the lifestyles of water-world insects, such as dragonflies, from larva to adult.

The cost is $15 for Florida Museum members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media Contact: Paul Ramey,  (352) 846-2000,  pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

The cost is $15 for Florida Museum members and $20 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media Contact: Paul Ramey,  (352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks

Students will learn where giant squid live, hear tales of ancient mariners and study the science of diverse invertebrates. The class complements the Florida Museum’s current temporary exhibit “In Search of Giant Squid,” on display through Jan. 2, 2006.

Cost is $60 for Florida Museum members and $72 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. Students must bring a sack lunch. For more information, call (352) 846-2000, ext. 277 or visit http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/childrens_classes.htm.

Media Contact: Paul Ramey,  (352) 846-2000,  pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Emily Banks