Animals! Animals! Animals! at the County Museum
The San Bernardino County Museum will host a celebration of animals on Saturday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to participate in activities, see demonstrations, gather information, and meet the live animals in the museum’s Exploration Station. Many of the day’s activities are included with paid museum admission; a few require an additional activity fee. All funds raised will benefit Exploration Station’s programs and animals.
“Visitors will enjoy a day filled with animals, and, at the same time, make a difference for the Museum’s live animals,” said Jolene Redvale, curator of education. “Each year, thousands of people visit our Exploration Station for personal encounters available nowhere else, experiencing live reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders and more, learning for more about them than they could ever learn from a book.”
Free animal activities include Animal Olympics, animal sing-alongs, animal crafts, meeting animals up-close, playing animal games, • animal rescue groups, Humane Society, farm animals, assistance and therapy dogs, demonstrations and exhibits, cockroach races, animal origami, and photo opportunities galore
Fee activities include decorating canvas tote bags, making balloon animals, and creating a bedazzling beaded bug. Activity fees range from $1 to $4. Food will be available in the museum courtyard for visitors’ lunches and snacks.
“Our animals depend on us for food, water, habitat, grooming, medical care and equipment. This year we are seeking outside funding for the care and feeding of our animals and to continue popular programs, such as Reptilemania, Insectival, and many popular Family Fun Days,” said Redvale. “We’ll even have a “Change for the Critters” contest. Museum guests can use pocket change to vote for their favorite Exploration Station animals—we’ll declare a winner, but in fact all the animals that live at the museum will be winners, since the results from the voting will go directly to support the live animal collection.”
The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 am to 5pm. General admission is $8 (adult), $6 (military or senior), $5 (student), and $4 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.