field trip!
A Walk in the Woods Been to the Chico Museum lately? Now’s a good time to “tree” what you’ve been missing!
www.growingupchico.com
By Paul Russell
What color is a tree’s bark? If you just said “brown,” you’re missing out! Check out all the colors and grains in this display
growing up chico magazine 18
ate the world of trees around us? The Museum’s current exhibit, A Walk in the Woods, does just that. This unique traveling exhibit, sponsored by The Forest Foundation, recreates a forest setting with its canopy treetops and features four different groves each focusing on a different forest topic, such as a history of California forestland, forest ecology and wildlife habitat, and forestry harvesting, restoration, management, and stewardship practices, providing visitors with the chance to learn about the forest landscape, the animals that live there, and the connections between this natural resource and our own everyday lives.
What kind of insects are “Killer Insects”? How many animals of the forest have you seen near your home? Take a look and see!.
Umm... what’s up with all the wooden snails? (There are over 100!)
Did you know that a tree’s rings can tell you what the weather was like 20 years ago? Find out how!
Trees are perhaps the world’s most remarkable plants, and the love and admiration of trees is almost universal—yet how many of us truly stop to think about and appreci-
This multi-media exhibit transports the visitor to a forest environment complete with wildlife images, bird and animal calls, babbling brooks, and the sound of wind and rain. Offering an exciting blend of photographs and large-scale graphics, sounds, and hands-on activities, A Walk in the Woods will engage your sense of wonder and curiosity while it educates you about California’s forests and their importance in our world. Children and adults alike will discover new things at every turn in the wonderfully interactive exhibit: come learn about the many uses of wood in manufacturing, everything from homes to clothing to toothpaste and medicine; find out how Native Americans first used fired to manage forests; listen to those who manage California forests, such as hydrologists, wildlife biologists, geologists, and professional foresters; look inside an actual Douglas-fir stump to discover the various layers of a tree; and “meet” the various animals of the forest and discover how wildlife uses the many stages of tree growth in the forest. Through it all comes the important story of our forests and how we truly are the stewards of our environment.
Visiting the Museum Founded in 1986, The Chico Museum is housed in one of Chico’s many landmarks! The former 1904 Carnegie Library is at the corner of Second and Salem streets, adjacent to CSU Chico. Visit the Chico Museum at 141 Salem Street. Entry is free, but donations are appreciated. Suggested donations: $2 Adult, $1 Children. Open Wednesday-Sunday, Noon-4 p.m. 141 Salem Street Chico, CA 95928 Phone: (530) 892-4336 Are you in junior high or high school? Consider volunteering at the Museum! Call them for more information.
Take a look at the changes that have taken place in Chico since 1859. Find out cool things like which mineral water was bottled in Chico!
When you first enter the Museum, you may feel like you have just entered a Chinese Temple. That’s because you’re looking at a recreation of a temple that existed here in Chico over 100 years ago, using authentic pieces from as many as three temples.
Complimenting this wonderful traveling exhibit, the Museum has filled the walls and cases with stories, photos, and artifacts gathered from the local community that highlight trees of Chico and Butte County—including historic and legendary trees such as the Hooker Oak, the Cork Oaks of Bidwell Park, the First Acorn Tree at Tadoiko, and the story of pitch and turpentine harvesting during the Civil War near historic Paradise. Other displays feature interesting woodcarvings (including snails carved from over 70 different woods), local woodland wildlife, and children’s areas dedicated to hands-on learning and discovery. The typical American uses the equivalent of a 100-foot tree, 16 inches in diameter, or wood products every year, and roughly a third of our state is covered in forestland. Through this exhibit and its exploration of California forests and their habitats, stewardship, and management, we truly come to appreciate the world of trees that surround us. This fascinating, fun-filled and educational exhibit is the perfect destination for your next family outing or school field trip and is not to be missed! So come to the Museum and join us in a Walk in the Woods.