Naturally!
Virginia
Newsletter of the Virginia Museum of Natural History
Winter 2011
Next festival is January 22 The museum’s new family festival, Dog Days of Winter, will be held on Saturday, January 22. The festival is presented in conjunction with the special exhibit Animal Secrets, which will be open from January 22 to May 7, 2011. Dog Days of Winter will feature many of man’s best friends that will entertain and educate visitors on the many unique and important roles canines serve in people’s day-to-day lives.
Participating in this year’s event are Saint Francis Service Dogs, the Martinsville City Police Department’s K-9 unit, and the Martinsville-Henry County SPCA. Additionally, Dr. Joe May of the King’s Mountain Animal Clinic in Martinsville will be on hand to educate visitors on the micro-chipping process that can be used to track dogs and keep them safe. The museum’s other upcoming family festivals include Survivor: Living off the Land on June 4, and Oceans in Motion on July 30.
IN THIS ISSUE
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From the Director: AAM Accreditation Events and Openings Education Programs Upcoming Events
Join VMNH in Costa Rica! See exciting trip details on page 2... 1VMNHNLTRWinter11.indd 1
Animal Secrets, Living off the Land exhibits coming to VMNH The museum’s upcoming special exhibits will allow visitors to get up-close with animals’ habitats, while learning about how humans throughout history have interacted with nature. Where does a chipmunk sleep? What does an eagle feed its young? How do mother bats find their babies in a cave? In the special exhibit Animal Secrets, to be open at VMNH from January 22 to May 7, families will learn the answers to these questions and more as they explore the hidden habitats and secret lives of forest animals. Using imaginative role-play and hands-on activities, children will discover nature from an animal’s point of view in naturalistic environments, including a
stream, woodland, meadow, cave and naturalists tent. The special exhibit Living off the Land will be open at VMNH from June 4, 2011 to January 14, 2012. This exhibit, to be developed by VMNH staff, will highlight the many ways in which humans depend on nature for a wealth of resources, as well as economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits. The exhibit will include information about Virginia wildlife, modern and ancient hunting and fishing methods, and the evolution of the rifle. The exhibit will also include examples of Native American and prehistoric tools and pottery.
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