Halloween Family Night - October 26th

Monday, October 26^th, was the Bean Museum’s Halloween Family Night. Patrons and employees alike dressed in their costumes and came to have fun. The night started out making “Creepy Crafts” where, under the direction of Becky, patrons could make fun Bat candy corn holders. The craft area was open all night, allowing everyone time to make one of the fun candy carriers. The special Halloween Live animal show was done downstairs several times, thanks to the hard work of Michael and Matt. With the lights in the auditorium dimmed, Matt showed the spooky specimens, while Michael provided the voice for the show’s Skull narrator. Due to high demand for repeat performances, the duo did several showings of the animals which included a Wolf, an Owl, and…. a PENGUIN. (It was terrifying.) They taught fun facts about the specimens including the idea that owls are believed to live where only ghosts live. The fun didn’t stop there though! Guests were able to take their picture with their choice of several specimens, such as a wolf, a raven, or a penguin. There was also a fun game to help search for Rosie! She left clues on several of the specimens, and patrons followed them (and the trail of spider webs…yuck!) in order to help find her. All-in-all, Halloween Night proved to be a great success. Everyone from families with young children, to families with grown kids came, and all smiled, laughed and learned together as we celebrated the spookiest season of the year!

Elise, Museum Educator

Saturday Safari Report - November 7, 2009

Did you know that Australia is the smallest continent? It is also the home to some unique animals like the Dingo, Koala Bear, Kangaroo, Monitor Lizards, Echidna, and Duck Billed Platypus. Did you know that Koalas aren’t actually bears? They are Marsupials! The name Koala actually means “doesn’t drink” and they get this name because they don’t drink. They get enough water and other fluids from the Eucalypts leaves they eat, which are actually toxic! We also learned about Australian Aborigine Dot Art. Every painting is made of individual dots! These paintings can be of Alligators, Turtles, or just intricate designs. These paintings depict daily life as an Aborigine.

Sterling, Museum Educator

Nature Experienceship - Conifers with Larry St. Clair

October 16, 2009

This Saturday we had an amazing Nature Experienceship with Dr. Larry St. Clair. He taught us about coniferous trees as we walked around BYU Campus and identified the plants. We had a group of 10 people and started by the Bean Museum and worked our way around campus, eventually ending up around the Joseph Smith Building. As we approached each tree we applied what we learned to identify it, and sometimes had to use our hand lenses to inspect the needles or branches.

One interesting story told by Dr. St. Clair was about an old BYU President and a Ginko tree. The fruit of the Ginko tree smells like rancid butter and the BYU President was walking one day and brought some into his office on his shoes. He was very displeased with the odor they emitted and ordered to have the Ginko trees removed from campus. Luckily, one BYU Professor convinced the President not to remove the trees, so the President ordered "Then keep those things off the sidewalk!

Becky, Museum Educator

Museum Date Night - Muder Mystery Dinner Theater

It was a night with murder! Our Halloween Date Night “Murder Mystery Dinner Theater” was a blast for all those involved. The couples in attendance had the opportunity to interrogate suspects and reveal who they thought was the murderer. Was it Professor Bunsen or was it Sir Hamish Hogwash. Perhaps it was Gigi Sparkle or Lading Fading. If you were in attendance you found out that it was the person you least suspected. We had pizza and pumpkin pie. Absolutely delicious! After the show we were delighted with yet another Scary show…this time it involved scary animals. We learned about wolves, owls, bats, and ravens along with the folkloric traditions behind each animal. For those couples who stuck around after both shows, we were delighted to be given a tour of the museum by Matt Meese. All in all, Date Night was a great success. If you missed out this time around, make sure you sign up earlier for the next date night during the winter semester!

Michael, museum educator

Saturday Safari Report - October 10, 2009

The Saturday Safari kids and I had a blast this past Saturday as we became pirates of the Caribbean! We set sail on our high seas adventure by starting the day talking about all the different varieties of fish you can in the Caribbean! We then let our imaginations run wild as we all designed our very own fish with water colors. No pirate is complete without eye patches and a pirate flag, so each of us made an eye patch and designed our very own flag. Now we looked like real pirates. As the day progressed, we did fun activities and games, all the time learning about the different types of animals that live in the Carribean. The highlight of our pirate day Saturday Safari was Black Beard’s treasure hunt. The kids worked together to solve animal clues that took them all over the museum. In order to be given some of their clues they had to give themselves pirate names and walk the plank. In the end, the kids found their treasure (lots of candy) and were ready to call it a day. There is always something happening at Saturday Safari, so what are you waiting for you scallywags come join us next time!!!

Katie, Museum Educator

Antelope Island and Farmington Bay with Merrill Webb

Saturday, September 19, 2009

We had a group of 13 people join us on this Nature Experienceship. We went to Antelope Island and then spent a few minutes at Farmington Bay on our way home. The detour was worth the stop as we saw some beautiful American White Pelicans and Snowy Egrets. We are always grateful for Mr. Webb's willingness and expertise.

We saw the following birds (29 total):

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Eared Grebe
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
White-faced Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Forster's Tern
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Common Raven
Barn Swallow
Western Meadowlark

Here are some pictures from the event:

Saturday Safari Report -August 8, 2009

On Saturday August 8th, those of us at Saturday had a fine time as Michael taught us about a bug we don't usually think about-- ants! We toured the underground world of an ant hill, and thought about lifting ten times our weight like an ant does. We ended the party with a viewing of A Bugs Life and treats. Thanks, Michael, for such a fun time with ants!



Lauren, Museum Educator