Earth Day Festival 2010

Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18

Meet the Academy's Environmental Scientists

The Academy of Natural Sciences will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with a weekend of activities aimed at helping people better understand their environment, what they can do to protect it, and how to get involved.

Shock Value

Check out our electrofishing boat. Learn how scientist use this boat and electorshocking to collect fish. Try on a backpack shocker.
(outside, in front of the Academy's parkway entrance)

Environmental Fable (Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm)

Watch this classic by a beloved children's author starring a mossy bossy creature who speaks for the trees. Performed by the College Settlement Outdoor School. (in the Auditorium)

The Doctor Is In

Have an Earth Day question? Ask one of our environmental scientists.
(next to Butterflies!, 11 am to 3 pm)

Testing for Toxins

Try your hand at some Academy chemistry and discover how fish, crabs, and sediments are tested for toxins. (in North American Hall)

Eco-Action Expo

Meet local groups committed to the environment, including Alaska Wilderness League, Bartram's Garden, Bennett Compost, Camden Children's Garden, Companion Pets, Leave No Trace, Philadelphia Water Department, Philly Recycling, Riverbend Environmental Education Center, and Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (times for particular groups may vary). (in the Commons on the Ground Floor)

Bat Lady (Sunday at 12 noon)

Go batty with Brenda Malinics from the Schulykill Center for Environmental Education. Learn about the mysteries and benefits of bats, examine bat models and skeletons, and see a basket of food made possible by these creatures of the night.
(in Dinosaur Classroom)

Bucket O’ Cores

Dig your own sediment core and learn how to read the history of pollution and climate change that's written in the mud from a salt marsh. (in North American Hall)

Laser Surveyor

Use a laser level to accurately measure tiny changes in elevation.
(in Bird Classroom, next to Outside In)

Tools of the Trade

Check out field equipment used by our environmental scientists.
(in North American Hall)

Backyard Habitat

Play games and learn how you can help keep habitats healthy including the one in your own backyard! (in Outside In)

Plants in Glass Houses

Peer into microscopes to check out soft algae and diatoms from local waterways and across the country. Win a prize by guessing how many diatoms are in the jar. (in Art of Science)

The Life Aquatic

Watch live caddisflies building their portable cases out of beads. Examine some interesting aquatic insects. 
(in Bird Classroom, next to Outside In)

Recycling Relay Race (every hour and half-hour)

How fast can you put all the recyclables in the right place?
(in Serengeti Classroom, Africa Hall)

Earth Day Crafts

Make an Earth-friendly craft to take home by using recycled material.
(next to the Panda on the Second Floor)

Live Animal Show

Meet some of the inhabitants of our Live Animal Center, 11:00 am and 2:30 pm (in the Auditorium)

Global Warming Simulator

See how carbon dioxide can lead to rising temperatures.
(in North American Hall)

Arctic Refuge (Saturday at 12 noon)

Watch video showcasing some of the animals of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, musk oxen, polar bears, snowy owl, tundra swan, and wolves. Stay afterward to have your questions answered by Monica Sherer of the Alaska Wilderness League. (in Dinosaur Classroom)

Shiners and More

Check out a some live bridle shiners, an endangered fish in Pennsylvania. Age a fish by examining its otolith (ear bone). Guess how many (preserved) fishes there are in a jar.
(at the Science Live Station in front of the Auditorium)

Strange Invaders

Meet the invasive—and infamous—snakehead fish.
(at the Science Live Station in front of the Auditorium)