Bear Essential News June 2019, Phoenix Edition

Bear 40 YEARS!

Marvelous MUSEUMS!

essential news

See pages 8–11

®

June 2019 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

In This Picture: Find a paintbrush, scissors, a tube of paint, a museum pass, a pencil, a painter’s palette, an easel and canvas, a palette knife, a beret and the word ART.

FEATURE

NEWS

NEWS

FAMILIES

CONTEST

Marvelous Museums S nakes S aved from Fire! Mummies in P hoenix! Cool & Wild Time S urfin’ S ummer Win free museum passes! pages 8–11

Plus, Boomer’s summer fun maze News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 5, 6, 12 & 14

Evening Aquarium hours Page 16

Big Surf family 4-pack Page 15

2

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June 2019

For more info on ALL these programs, go to:

www.tempe.gov/summer

June 2019 •

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News Highlights

A blazing house fire wasn’t all that Phoenix firefighters encountered on May 16. The also faced snakes—hundreds of ’em!!!

The house was in Laveen near South Mountain, so both the Phoenix Fire Dept. and the Laveen Fire District responded to the blaze.

“The first units arrived on scene and found a pretty well-involved house—meaning a lot of the house was on fire—a lot of it was up in the attic,” recalls Capt. Greg Hawk, one of the responders. “Winds were pushing smoke down around access points, like where the doors were, so it was difficult. Once firefighters got in there, there was really no visibility and a lot of fire.”

Firefighters went in to make sure no one was still in the burning home. While they gave the all-clear that no one was inside, what they didn’t know was the house was full of snakes, lizards, a couple cats, some dogs and even really big tortoises!

“Once when we started getting water on the fire, we were able to get some of the heat and smoke pushed outside. Some of the firefighters saw the reptiles—some snakes had escaped and gotten out and some of them were on the ground. There were some still in cages,” Capt. Hawk shares.

About 40 firefighters were on hand with seven or eight trucks. To try and save as many creatures as possible, about a dozen bravely stayed inside to fight

A-Maze-ing

P LAN!

Make your way through the maze and gather all the items to make for a fun summer break!

START

the fire, some pulling down chunks of ceiling while others doused the flames. Others had their hands full picking up loose snakes and putting them into buckets to be taken to safety! None of these slithering serpents were venomous, but the firefighters didn’t know that, according to Capt. Hawk.

Hundreds of snakes were rescued, from babies to big boa constrictors and pythons. Sadly, not all the serpents survived the intense heat. The battalion chiefs at the fire called the Humane Society, which called the Phoenix Herpetological Society. Their workers rounded up the rest of the reptiles and gave emergency care to the ones that needed it.

Capt. Hawk says the large-scale reptile rescue made him proud. “All the trucks that were there from multiple departments did a great job,” he notes.

British Prime Minister Steps Down!

Theresa May, the United Kingdom Prime Minister, announced her resignation as head of the Conservative Party last month, effective June 7.

May, who has served as prime minister since July 2016, said she would continue serving as the prime minister until a new Conservative leader is selected—something the party hopes to do by the end of July.

During her resignation speech, May said she was leaving with “no ill will but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love.” She also pointed out that she was “the second female prime minister, but certainly not the last.”

While May was successful in some ways, she will unfortunately probably be most remembered for her inability to reach a deal on Brexit—the shorthand term for Britain leaving the European Union (EU) formed by merging the words Britain and exit.

Citizens of the United Kingdom voted back in June 2016 to leave the EU. The EU is an economic and

political partnership involving 28 European countries that was started after World War II. Votes to leave reached almost 52 percent. But the process of how to best separate from the EU has stirred up controversy.

The next leader of the Conservative Party, who will serve as the prime minister, will have to step into the Brexit mess quickly and try to reach a resolution by an Oct. 31 deadline.

Twelve members of parliament have already expressed their interest in the job and more people may still step forward.

In addition to attempting to reach a Brexit deal, the prime minister is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government. The role also involves overseeing the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies, appointing government representatives and serving as the principal government figure in the House of Commons.

3

Boomer’s

photo courtesy of Pho enix Fire Dept.

Fighting Fire in a House Full of Snakes!

BEAR 40 YEARS

Summer Fun!

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June 2019

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June 2019 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Get the Scoop!

Mummies of the World Visit Phoenix

by Reporter Evelyn Malone Arizona Virtual Academy This exhibit at the Arizona Science Center shows you the largest collection of mummies in the world. Mummies of the World has mummies from Africa, Europe and South America. It also shows artifacts that were buried with the mummies. It has a variety of different mummies, for example, shrunken heads, naturally formed mummies, mummy bundles, and sarcophagi.

In the beginning, you watch a video introducing you to mummies and the exhibit.

They tell you not to use your camera because you can damage the mummies with your flash.

However, you can take a picture with their skull backdrop. After the video, you walk through a hallway and see a mummy of a noble Egyptian woman and there is a short video about her, too. You can view her sarcophagus lid and learn a little about her.

In the next room you can see some shrunken heads from South America and naturally preserved mummies from many areas including Chile and Eastern European Moors. There are plaques that tell you about how the mummies were preserved and how they shrunk the heads and why.

The third room has another sarcophagus with an Egyptian priest. You can view artifacts that were buried with him, like ankhs, statues of Bast and other Egyptian gods. In another hallway, you can see prepared skeletons of people that were used to study the human body. These skeletons are from Europe.

In the skeletons you can see all of the nerves that were in that person’s body. In one body, you can see a preserved heart of a 5-year-old.

In the final room you can see mummies of a family from Europe that suffered from pneumonia.

They were a husband, wife, and child who all had pneumonia. The wife died in her 20s and the child was only 3 or 4.

At the end of the exhibit, there is a gift shop where you can buy games, hourglasses, T-shirts and magnets. They have scarab necklaces and a lot more. This was a very educational experience because I got to learn about mummies from other continents and how they were formed. It’s a selfguided tour, so you can stay there until they close at 5 p.m. I highly encourage you to come and visit because it is a fun activity.

Bodies Exhibit Teaches, Inspires

by Reporter Katherine Burns, St. John XXIII Catholic School Recently my mom and I went to a traveling exhibit at OdySea in the Desert, Bodies Revealed. This exhibit was very fun and helpful. It had lots of different facts about the human body and they were interesting.

There were also models of the muscle and bone structures in the body. But, the bodies were real! They were real people! I know, crazy.

I did have a favorite part of the exhibit and that was the part about the lungs. As you walk into the room, you see a sign. The sign says that smoking is very dangerous for you. Underneath the sign, there is a clear bucket. And in that bucket, you can throw away your lighters and cigarettes. This was important to me because I had family members who smoked and I wanted them to stop. They’ve stopped, and I’m happy.

All in all, this was a very fun experience. The Bodies Revealed exhibit ended in April. To learn about the current exhibit, visit odyseainthedesert.com.

BEAR 40 YEARS

5

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Enjoy a Musical Instrument Adventure!

by Reporter Hope Wadkins BASIS Just a few days ago I went to MIM! The Musical Instrument Museum is all about music and you guessed it…instruments!

First we went to the African and Middle Eastern Instruments exhibit! We listened to

music and

instruments from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Russia and Latin America.

Then we went to the “Artist and the instruments they used” exibit. We listened to Elvis Presley and much more!

Then we went to the gift shop! The gift shop had a bunch of cool things! From Mozart socks to record book notebooks! It was so fun!

At the “play the Instrument” exhibit we got to play drums and other instruments! When we were at the beginning of our musical journey we were given headphones and tiny machines to listen to the music on the screens! So if you stepped up to a screen the music would play in your headphones! There were so many different musical cultures to see and listen to!

Nary a one was alike. Some were weird, some cool, and some were awesome!

There’s my MIM adventure! It was one of the most fun experiences ever!

MORE SCOOPS, page 6 ➧

REPORT FOR BEAR! Call toll free:

1-866-NEWS KID sponsors

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June 2019

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 5

Governor Dedicates Tucson Shelter

by Reporter Lizzy Barrett, Old Vail Middle School On May 17, I attended the dedication ceremony for the new H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, to be run by Gospel Rescue Mission.

It will be a one-stop source of shelter and services for the homeless and needy of Tucson. The idea behind the center is to provide the needy with all services they will need to get back on their feet while they are “home.”

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, and Humberto and Czarina Lopez were some of the guest speakers at the ceremony. I had a chance to interview some of them, including the governor.

This new center is critical for local children in need. According to Gov. Ducey, “Centers like this are critical because there’s people in need. Often times they have children and a place like this not only provides shelter, but it’s safe and provides nutrition and allows Lizzy and Gov. Ducey their parents to find the right way to get the help they need and deserve.” He mentioned that the center will provide individuals with physical, mental, and spiritual resources all in one building. He hopes that the center will be a model for others going forward to help the needy in our community and in our country.

Gospel Rescue Mission, which will operate the Center of Opportunity, is a Christian ministry for the homeless founded in 1953. According to incoming Executive Director for the Center of Opportunity Lisa Chastain (granddaughter of original GRM founder Ray Chastain), “We are in the business of changing lives... this is a solution to the community.”

The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation bought the 70,000-square foot former Holiday Inn building and is leasing it to Gospel Rescue Mission for $1 a year for 99 years. I toured the facility and it was impressive.

Lizzy interviews Lopez.

The Lopez family has been longtime supporters of Gospel Rescue Mission and felt they were an obvious partner in this new project to help Tucson’s homeless. Humberto Lopez is the founder of the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation, which is owned by him and his wife, Czarina. Lopez was very poor as a child and was aided by welfare.

When he was young, he worked really hard but had trouble until people helped him and his family. Now, he feels an obligation to help care for people in need. According to Lopez, “I had a vision...pay it forward by helping others as I was once helped.” Mrs. Lopez also feels proud about helping and was happy for this opportunity to aid so many people in need.

When the Center of Opportunity is complete, it will have 300 shelter beds, 51 rooms to house GRM’s Men’s Addiction Recovery Center, an emergency shelter for women and children, access to many service programs, and a full kitchen capable of cooking 1,000 meals per day! It will be a big help in getting people in need back on their feet. The center is scheduled to open June 3.

MORE SCOOPS, page 12 ➧

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

June 2019 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

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Page 8

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

June 2019

Marvelous Museums Have you ever thought about how great museums are?

Well, here are a few that will make you say, WOW!

Shutterstock.com

Heard Museum Have you heard about the Heard Museum? You can learn about American Indian arts and culture, see amazing collections of pottery, weavings, jewelry, rugs and more.

You can tour the museum with a tour guide or explore on your own. A family guide is handed out at the front desk and you can look for various animals on baskets, pottery, canteens, rugs and other works of art throughout the museum.

A popular display in the museum is called “HOME: Native People in the Southwest.” You can see katsina dolls, jewelry, beadwork, and pottery. There are interactive displays that have a video to show you how some of these Hands-on items were fun awaits created. kids at the A fun stop Heard Museum. for kids is called “It’s Your Turn–Color!”

This colorful and interactive gallery has many fun projects for kids to work on.

Kids get to spin a color wheel and follow their color throughout the room. They can make a sheep, play a matching game, color a postcard, learn to weave and explore lights and shadow.

Outside the museum is a ball court where Native American dances and performances are held. There are also many statues and the American Indian Veterans National Memorial. On the memorial wall are names of American Indians that fought as soldiers. Among the names is Ira Hayes who was born in Sacaton, AZ. He was one of the six Marines photographed while raising the American flag at Iwo Jima.

The Heard Museum has a gift shop and restaurant. It is located at 2301 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. Visit www.heard.org for hours and more information.

Credit: Children’s Museum Tucson / Oro Valley

T

hese days, museums are not only great places to see awesome artwork and interesting exhibits. Many museums offer interactive displays, handson activities and special events with something for everyone. During the hot summer months, keep cool with a fun visit to a museum!

June 2019

imagine,” says Teresa Truelsen, director of marketing for Children’s Museum Tucson.

Imagine It! will have an entire wall that kids can paint, KEVA Planks for building projects, Rigamajig gears and parts, and newer tools and supplies to allow kids to make their imaginings take shape.

“It’s going to be this big, brightly-colored space that will draw kids in to create something,” explains Truelsen.

The Children’s Museum Tucson is located at 200 S. 6 Ave. Check out www.childrensmuseumtucson.org for the schedule of guests and other information.

Tucson Museum of Art Families can enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art for just $30 all summer! The SUMMERpass! will allow two adults and two kids under age 18 access to the museum and to special events through Labor Day. Young artists get creative at TMA. Artful kids can get creative at TMA! Pass the exhibit “Learning to See: Josef Albers” holders will get a discount for the will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. summer youth programs Little Tykes@ Second SundAZe on July 14 will TMA and Teens@TMA. Little Tykes is for coincide with the opening of the new exhibit preschoolers, ages 3–5, while Teens@TMA “Harold Joe Waldrum: Las Sombras.” Art will appeal to teens with its wide range of activities will be inspired by Waldrum’s weeklong workshops, including painting, prints and paintings—he is known for printmaking, comics & anime, makerspace, his depictions of Southwest buildings, zines, fiber arts and more. especially adobe churches. Second Everyone can enjoy the museum and SundAZe is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. special activities on Second SundAZe. This Tucson Museum of Art is located at free monthly event features hands-on art 140 N. Main Ave. Parking will be affected activities and education programs for kids. by construction this summer, so check On June 9 participants will explore the the website or call 520-624-2333 for geometric shapes, color and minimalism of updates. For more information, visit artist Josef Albers. Family-focused tours of tucsonmuseumofart.org.

•

BEAR 40 YEARS

Page 9

Crayola Experience, Chandler Are you ready for a colorful explosion of fun? The new Crayola Experience has just opened and has 65,000 square feet of hands-on activities that the whole family will enjoy.

You can name and wrap your own crayon, mold a wax souvenir, sculpt a fun creation and even scribble on the floor in the special Scribble Square. You will not want to miss seeing “Big Blue,” a giant crayon that weighs 1,500 pounds and is made of 123,000 blue crayons that were collected from all over the world.

Have you ever wanted to be in a coloring book? You can visit the coloring page photo booth and create a picture of yourself or your family with a Crayola character. Once it prints you can color it. You can also take silly selfies in a special interactive room. You create your selfie and watch it come to life as you project it on the wall.

Other fun activities are dancing in virtual wax rain, making a melted wax spin art picture or making a melted wax masterpiece. In the Color Playground you can climb a tower, cross a bridge and slide out of a giant crayon box. There is Toddler Town for smaller kids, a Stomp and Play area and you can cruise your crayon boat down an 85-foot water table. All of the attractions are ADA certified.

There’s a café if you get hungry, a souvenir shop and meet and greets with Crayola characters. The Crayola Experience is located at 3111 W. Chandler Rd., Suite 2154. Visit www.crayolaexperience.com for more information.

Kids try the Crayola Meltdown station.

Rewriting History: Far Out Fun at The Thing?

Children’s Museum Tucson

The Children’s Museum Tucson will be open until 5 p.m. every day during summer. Make It Mondays! happen every Monday MOCA will be at CMT on July 22 and Aug. 26. through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The museum will have special pricing and special guests for Mondays during the summer months, too.

Regular admission is $9 for everyone 1 year and older. On Mondays admission is $3. Special guests—such as Arizona Project WET, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society and Brain STEM—will be at the museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday this summer.

In mid June, look for a brand new creative space at the museum. Imagine It! will be a maker space/artist space that will let kids “make whatever they can

?? ? ??? ? ??? ???

??????

The Thing? roadside attraction has used dozens of bright yellow billboards along I-10 since the 1960s to entice curious travelers.

Kids and families can be wowed by a dramatically revamped and expanded The Thing? It’s a walk through history, weaving a farfetched conspiracy theory—that rival groups of aliens altered the natural progression of the planet since the time of the dinosaurs!

The aggressive aliens used mind-control to rule dinosaurs until the dinos evolved and revolted. These aliens were at war with more peaceful aliens.

It’s Aliens vs. Dinosaurs, and kids will be amazed!

Guests learn of many other alien-related conspiracies.

The improvements to The Thing? have been in the works for years. Once Bowlin’s creative department came up with a storyline, a Dallas company designed the new museum as a Tucson company expanded and improved the old building.

“We more than doubled the size of the retail area. In addition, the new museum is about 11,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. as well,” says Kit Johnson, director of operations for Bowlin. Now the climate, life-size dinos and aliens, graphics and lighting are great. If your parents and grandparents are worried that The Thing? is a thing of the past, tell them that it remains the same—it’s just part of the story!

Johnson says the changes are a hit, and that The Thing? has become more of a destination for guests. Bowlin still promotes The Thing? with bright billboards but also has expanded its marketing with print and social media.

“We get a huge amount of families and children coming in there,” Johnson notes. The Thing? costs $5 per person, but it’s just $10 for families, no matter how many are in your family! There’s a group rate for schools, which includes discounts at the Dairy Queen right next to the curio area.

“I really enjoyed it—it was really, really cool,” says Diego, a fourth-grader visiting from New Mexico. “They made everything seem so real because they backed it up with things that actually (happened).” Still, he remains skeptical “because they don’t have that much proof.”

The Thing? is 45 minutes east of Tucson, right off of Exit 322.

More Museums on page 10

Page 8

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

June 2019

Marvelous Museums Have you ever thought about how great museums are?

Well, here are a few that will make you say, WOW!

Shutterstock.com

Heard Museum Have you heard about the Heard Museum? You can learn about American Indian arts and culture, see amazing collections of pottery, weavings, jewelry, rugs and more.

You can tour the museum with a tour guide or explore on your own. A family guide is handed out at the front desk and you can look for various animals on baskets, pottery, canteens, rugs and other works of art throughout the museum.

A popular display in the museum is called “HOME: Native People in the Southwest.” You can see katsina dolls, jewelry, beadwork, and pottery. There are interactive displays that have a video to show you how some of these Hands-on items were fun awaits created. kids at the A fun stop Heard Museum. for kids is called “It’s Your Turn–Color!”

This colorful and interactive gallery has many fun projects for kids to work on.

Kids get to spin a color wheel and follow their color throughout the room. They can make a sheep, play a matching game, color a postcard, learn to weave and explore lights and shadow.

Outside the museum is a ball court where Native American dances and performances are held. There are also many statues and the American Indian Veterans National Memorial. On the memorial wall are names of American Indians that fought as soldiers. Among the names is Ira Hayes who was born in Sacaton, AZ. He was one of the six Marines photographed while raising the American flag at Iwo Jima.

The Heard Museum has a gift shop and restaurant. It is located at 2301 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. Visit www.heard.org for hours and more information.

Credit: Children’s Museum Tucson / Oro Valley

T

hese days, museums are not only great places to see awesome artwork and interesting exhibits. Many museums offer interactive displays, handson activities and special events with something for everyone. During the hot summer months, keep cool with a fun visit to a museum!

June 2019

imagine,” says Teresa Truelsen, director of marketing for Children’s Museum Tucson.

Imagine It! will have an entire wall that kids can paint, KEVA Planks for building projects, Rigamajig gears and parts, and newer tools and supplies to allow kids to make their imaginings take shape.

“It’s going to be this big, brightly-colored space that will draw kids in to create something,” explains Truelsen.

The Children’s Museum Tucson is located at 200 S. 6 Ave. Check out www.childrensmuseumtucson.org for the schedule of guests and other information.

Tucson Museum of Art Families can enjoy the Tucson Museum of Art for just $30 all summer! The SUMMERpass! will allow two adults and two kids under age 18 access to the museum and to special events through Labor Day. Young artists get creative at TMA. Artful kids can get creative at TMA! Pass the exhibit “Learning to See: Josef Albers” holders will get a discount for the will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. summer youth programs Little Tykes@ Second SundAZe on July 14 will TMA and Teens@TMA. Little Tykes is for coincide with the opening of the new exhibit preschoolers, ages 3–5, while Teens@TMA “Harold Joe Waldrum: Las Sombras.” Art will appeal to teens with its wide range of activities will be inspired by Waldrum’s weeklong workshops, including painting, prints and paintings—he is known for printmaking, comics & anime, makerspace, his depictions of Southwest buildings, zines, fiber arts and more. especially adobe churches. Second Everyone can enjoy the museum and SundAZe is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. special activities on Second SundAZe. This Tucson Museum of Art is located at free monthly event features hands-on art 140 N. Main Ave. Parking will be affected activities and education programs for kids. by construction this summer, so check On June 9 participants will explore the the website or call 520-624-2333 for geometric shapes, color and minimalism of updates. For more information, visit artist Josef Albers. Family-focused tours of tucsonmuseumofart.org.

•

BEAR 40 YEARS

Page 9

Crayola Experience, Chandler Are you ready for a colorful explosion of fun? The new Crayola Experience has just opened and has 65,000 square feet of hands-on activities that the whole family will enjoy.

You can name and wrap your own crayon, mold a wax souvenir, sculpt a fun creation and even scribble on the floor in the special Scribble Square. You will not want to miss seeing “Big Blue,” a giant crayon that weighs 1,500 pounds and is made of 123,000 blue crayons that were collected from all over the world.

Have you ever wanted to be in a coloring book? You can visit the coloring page photo booth and create a picture of yourself or your family with a Crayola character. Once it prints you can color it. You can also take silly selfies in a special interactive room. You create your selfie and watch it come to life as you project it on the wall.

Other fun activities are dancing in virtual wax rain, making a melted wax spin art picture or making a melted wax masterpiece. In the Color Playground you can climb a tower, cross a bridge and slide out of a giant crayon box. There is Toddler Town for smaller kids, a Stomp and Play area and you can cruise your crayon boat down an 85-foot water table. All of the attractions are ADA certified.

There’s a café if you get hungry, a souvenir shop and meet and greets with Crayola characters. The Crayola Experience is located at 3111 W. Chandler Rd., Suite 2154. Visit www.crayolaexperience.com for more information.

Kids try the Crayola Meltdown station.

Rewriting History: Far Out Fun at The Thing?

Children’s Museum Tucson

The Children’s Museum Tucson will be open until 5 p.m. every day during summer. Make It Mondays! happen every Monday MOCA will be at CMT on July 22 and Aug. 26. through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The museum will have special pricing and special guests for Mondays during the summer months, too.

Regular admission is $9 for everyone 1 year and older. On Mondays admission is $3. Special guests—such as Arizona Project WET, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society and Brain STEM—will be at the museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday this summer.

In mid June, look for a brand new creative space at the museum. Imagine It! will be a maker space/artist space that will let kids “make whatever they can

?? ? ??? ? ??? ???

??????

The Thing? roadside attraction has used dozens of bright yellow billboards along I-10 since the 1960s to entice curious travelers.

Kids and families can be wowed by a dramatically revamped and expanded The Thing? It’s a walk through history, weaving a farfetched conspiracy theory—that rival groups of aliens altered the natural progression of the planet since the time of the dinosaurs!

The aggressive aliens used mind-control to rule dinosaurs until the dinos evolved and revolted. These aliens were at war with more peaceful aliens.

It’s Aliens vs. Dinosaurs, and kids will be amazed!

Guests learn of many other alien-related conspiracies.

The improvements to The Thing? have been in the works for years. Once Bowlin’s creative department came up with a storyline, a Dallas company designed the new museum as a Tucson company expanded and improved the old building.

“We more than doubled the size of the retail area. In addition, the new museum is about 11,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. as well,” says Kit Johnson, director of operations for Bowlin. Now the climate, life-size dinos and aliens, graphics and lighting are great. If your parents and grandparents are worried that The Thing? is a thing of the past, tell them that it remains the same—it’s just part of the story!

Johnson says the changes are a hit, and that The Thing? has become more of a destination for guests. Bowlin still promotes The Thing? with bright billboards but also has expanded its marketing with print and social media.

“We get a huge amount of families and children coming in there,” Johnson notes. The Thing? costs $5 per person, but it’s just $10 for families, no matter how many are in your family! There’s a group rate for schools, which includes discounts at the Dairy Queen right next to the curio area.

“I really enjoyed it—it was really, really cool,” says Diego, a fourth-grader visiting from New Mexico. “They made everything seem so real because they backed it up with things that actually (happened).” Still, he remains skeptical “because they don’t have that much proof.”

The Thing? is 45 minutes east of Tucson, right off of Exit 322.

More Museums on page 10

10

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

June 2019

Marvelous Museums

Continued Feature from page 9

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Worth the drive, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the top nature museums in the country, if not the world!

Bring your curiosity about our desert to this 98-acre wonder, covering everything from the nearby sky islands (isolated mountain habitat) down to the desert floor and the Sea of Cortez.

This combination zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history and mineral museum is home to more than 230 native species and 1,200 plant varieties! There are indoor and outdoor displays, two miles of paths, restaurants and an art gallery.

This summer, check out Packrat Playhouse: Hidden in the Midden and ASDM’s special offering: Cool Summer Nights.

Packrat Playhouse is 4,000 square feet of air-conditioned fun, where kids learn about the desert by pretending to be packrats! They can climb through a tower of prickly pear pads, slide down a gila monster tail and even crawl through a giant rattlesnake. Plus there are all sorts of items for them to discover. It’s open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Cool Summer Nights are every Saturday through Aug. 31, offering thematic special evening events to beat the summer heat while learning something neat! The desert comes alive at night as nocturnal animals awake. Regular admission applies, but ASDM members get in for free. The Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch stay open for Cool Summer Nights, too!

ASDM is west of Tucson at 2021 N. Kinney Rd. For more information, visit www.desertmuseum.org.

The Mini Time Machine When you visit The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures your imagination will take over as you explore different time eras, fairies, dragons and other creatures from fantasy worlds.

As you enter the Enchanted Realm, you will notice the enchanted willow tree. The tree has three faces and each face looks in the direction of particular displays. The spooky face looks in the direction of the Halloween display with haunted mansions and witches’ cauldrons. The smiling face looks in the direction of Kewpie dolls, playful mice and fairy tales. The winter face has a long flowing beard and looks in the direction of snowy villages and Christmas decorations.

A section of the floor in the Enchanted

Realm is made of glass and under the glass is a miniature village. Both children and adults can sit or stretch out on the floor to get a better view.

The Exploring the World Gallery features miniatures of Japanese, European, Mexican and other cultures from around the world.

The History Gallery has miniatures from the 18th–20th century depicting what life was like during those time periods.

The museum offers summer camps, summer movies, tinker workshops and a family summer pass that allows you to visit the museum all summer long. The museum is located at 4455 E. Camp Lowell Dr. in Tucson. For more information visit www.theminitimemachine.org.

Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs Go back in time and walk among giants at Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs at OdySea in the Desert. Kids will be in awe of the larger-than-life exhibits featuring 80 animatronic dinosaurs! They can climb through the inflatable T-Rex obstacle course, do the fossil dig, make their own dinosaur park on the magnet wall and more.

Pangaea offers upgrade activities for an additional fee—kids can etch, sift or excavate for fossil finds, get a glitter tattoo or go on a dinosaur ride. Birthdays are great at Pangaea, too.

Party packages include all of the upgrade activities, a guided tour through the Land of the Dinosaurs, soft drinks, invitations and dino-themed tableware.

Pangaea is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. It is located at 9500 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale. Visit pangaealandofthedinosaurs.com for more information.

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DS MUSEUM of Your Choice!

June 2019 •

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KI

take your family to a cool museum this summer and everyone is sure to have fun, and maybe learn something new , too!

After you have marked your museum choices (1 thru 8) and colored the artwork, mail the page ASAP! Or scan it or take a picture and email it to:

Info@bearessentialnews.com

BEAR 40 YEARS

Win a Family 4-Pack of Tickets to the Mark your 2 favorite choices of museum from the list below, then color the artwork.

Send this completed page and entry form to the address given in the form.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Children’s Museum Tucson Crayola Experience

Pangaea The Thing?

Tucson Museum of Art

Heard Museum The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

Color the Artwork!

Entry Form Name:__________________ Address: ________________ Age: ______ Grade: _______ School: __________________ Tel: _____________________ Parent’s Email: ________________________ ________________________ Kids ages 14 and under eligible for contest.

Entry deadline: 6/30/19 Send your completed entry to

Bear Essential News/Museums 2525 E. Broadway Blvd. #102 Tucson, AZ 85716

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Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 6

Arizona Museum of Natural History Has Cool, Fun Exhibits

by Reporter Aiden Molony Homeschool The Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa has a lot of fun things do to. When you go there, you’ll see some cool galleries. One of those galleries is about the early Spanish settlers in Arizona. It also has a dinosaur exhibit, and I liked the cowboy exhibit.

In the early Spanish settlers exhibit, there is a set of Conquistador armor and a replica of an old Catholic Church. In display cases there are weapons like a sword and musket.

The dinosaur gallery is full of fossils that you can touch, but they are not real. There are robotic dinosaurs that move and make noises. You can help build a dinosaur skeleton or build a made-up creature. The dinosaur gallery is so big it takes up two floors.

In the cowboy exhibit you can see display cases with Rough Rider weapons and some of the clothing the Rough Riders wore. There is also a beautiful sword from post-Civil War times. There are Native American artifacts as well. My favorite section was the historic jail because you get to go inside the jail and lay on the bed and sit on the toilet.

I don’t want to miss the new dinosaur exhibit that they are making. You should plan to be there for four hours or maybe even the whole day because there is so much to see and do. This museum is fun for all ages.

Visit arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org for more information.

Stay Safe This Summer

by Reporter Daisy Ruiz, Arizona Desert Elementary It’s coming! Warmer weather and summer vacation! What will you do to stay safe and have fun this summer?

Officer Chris Medaglia, Tolleson School Resource officer with the Tolleson Police Department, has been helping student for 10 of his 31 years as a police officer. In the summer when school is out, Medaglia patrols and helps other officers with their work.

Medaglia helps protect students when on patrol.

Medaglia has several safety tips for kids, including the following.

Summer safety tips: • Always let your parents know where you are.

• Make sure you drink lots of water when outside.

• Don’t go swimming without adult supervision.

• Avoid being out past dark.

• Stay away from strangers.

• Use the playground safely.

• Don’t forget the sun screen.

Travel tips: • Listen to your parents.

• Don’t wander away from trusted adults.

• Know your parent’s name and phone number.

• Know how or when to get help.

Pool safety tips: • Never go swimming alone.

• Use “floaties” if you cannot swim.

• Know where the steps in the pool are.

• Know where the safety equipment is (life jacket and rescue ring).

When you are home alone with a sitter: • Always know how to contact an adult.

• Stay out of areas where you are not allowed in the house.

Medaglia also suggests CPR classes. “Always call 911 in case of emergency,” he says.

Adviser: Karen Golden

MORE SCOOPS, page 14 ➧

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June 2019 •

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Three Reasons Why Girl Scout Summer Camp Is the Best!

Where can girls have fun while growing confidence and leadership skills? Girl Scout camp! Beyond the s’mores, games, and songs, our camps provide a variety of experiences that help girls develop invaluable life skills.

With summer camp in session, here’s why our summer camp is the best place for girls to unleash their inner G.I.R.L (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™.

1. It’s an all-girl space. Research shows that girls feel more confident and learn better when they’re surrounded by other girls and that in coed environments, boys receive more praise, which makes girls question their abilities. When boys aren’t around, girls take more risks because they don’t have to prove anything.

Girl Scout camp provides a safe, all-girl space for girls to feel free to be their true selves, speak openly, and make lasting friendships.

2. It’s girl-led. At Girl Scout camp, girls at every age have plenty of opportunities to develop their leadership skills.

For starters, they get to create their own adventures—right down to the what, when, where, how, and why. Having ownership of their experiences empowers girls to take the lead in all areas of their lives.

3. She learns by doing. By trying different activities, such as canoeing, archery, hiking, and crafting, girls stretch their potential and develop abilities at camp. Girls build confidence to handle anything life throws out by tackling challenges and overcoming self-doubt—the PERFECT place for this practice is at summer camp.

Camp helps girls grow into strong, capable and confident leaders. Want to join the fun? There’s still time to find a day or overnight camp this summer! Download the camp brochure and check out all of this summer’s great camp offerings at girlscoutsaz.org/camp. But hurry! There’s space available, but not for long!

Paddle your way into summer fun at Girl Scout camp!

Join Girl Scouts today!

Visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, email join@girlscoutsaz.org or call 602-452-7000.

ANY GIRL can go to Girl Scout Camp!

Learn more at girlscoutsaz.org/camp

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Celebrating the Chocolate Chip

by Reporter Natalia Garcia Servin, Arizona Desert Elementary Did you celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day? It happened last month, May 15 to be exact!

According to National Day Calendar, Ruth Graves Wakefield of Whitman, Massachusetts, was probably curious about what a little bit of chocolate would be like added to her cookies. In 1937, while working at the Toll House Inn, Wakefield added cut-up chunks of a semi-sweet Nestle chocolate bar to her cookie recipe.

The cookies were a huge success!

In 1939 Wakefield signed an agreement with the Nestle Company to add her recipe to the chocolate bar’s packaging. Her recipe is now on the back of Nestle Chocolate Chip bags. Wakefield received a lifetime supply of chocolate in exchange for her recipe. Nestle Toll House cookies were named for the inn where Wakefield worked.

Adviser: Karen Golden

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Entry Deadline: June 30, 2019

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Reader’s Digest

named Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park

Best zoo in the state of Arizona!

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Join us for special aquarium evening hours at Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium in Litchfield Park

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium & Safari Park presents:

Check out fish, mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles at the Wildlife World Aquarium. Explore four aquarium buildings: The Diversity of Life in Water, The Wild and Wonderful, Predators and River Monsters as you wander through more than 75 exhibits.

• Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals.

• Arizona’s first public aquarium

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• 225,000 gallons of fresh & salt water in 75 exciting exhibits including Sharks, Stingrays, Penguins, Seahorses, and much much more

Make your way throughout the Aquarium Maze!

• Sea Lions; Arizona’s first Marine Mammals

• Tram Ride through the Safari Park • Log Flume Ride around Monkey Islands past Tropical Birds and through a South Pacific Reef Aquarium • Safari Train Ride through Animal Exhibits

• Wildlife Skyride and Australian Boat Ride

• Dragon World - Saltwater Crocodile, plus 15 Dragon Exhibits • It’s A Small World Small Mammal Exhibit

• Tropics of the World Reptile Exhibit • Giraffe Feeding Station

• Arizona’s First White Tiger • Children's Petting Area and Merry Go Round

• Wildlife Encounter Shows • Soaring Eagle Zip Line • Vertigo Swing Ride

• Family Coaster Ride • Flying Scooter Ride

• New Mining Experience

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For more information: 623-935-WILD (9453) or visit us on facebook, Instagram or Twitter @zoowildlife, and wildlifeworld.com

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Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ (SE corner of State Route 303 and Northern Ave.) We’re open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last zoo admission is at 4:30 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park.

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