MuseumMusings Fernbank Museum of Natural History http://www.fernbankmuseum.org Tue, 14 May 2013 09:22:00 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:22:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/14/volunteer-of-the-month-may/ We are pleased to honor Andy Plankenhorn as our May Volunteer of the Month. Andy Plankenhorn is a retired Researcher for Atlanta Public Schools and has been volunteering with Fernbank Museum for 18 years. He originally began volunteering due to his interest in nature studies and his admiration for the Museum. He has a love of the arts, history and culture and spends his spare time gardening and traveling in other countries with his wife. He is a book-lover and also volunteers with the Friends of Decatur Library Book Sale. Andy’s favorite thing about being part of Fernbank is when a child looks up and says, “thank you!” Thank you Andy, and to 300+ volunteers that donated more than 17,000 hours of service to Fernbank Museum. We appreciate your dedication and commitment! If you are interested in giving your time to the Museum, please contact us at volunteer@fernbankmuseum.org  or 404.929.6360. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/14/volunteer-of-the-month-may/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/14/volunteer-of-the-month-may/ Tue, 14 May 2013 09:22:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/09/earth-day-at-fernbank-museum/ As part of Fernbank Museum’s education department, I had the great pleasure of celebrating Earth Day Fernbank style!  Our Earth Day celebration featured guided explorations in Fernbank Forest and restoration in the Museum’s backyard. Our environmental educators shared passions and knowledge of Fernbank Forest’s unique character and ecology with visitors. Fernbank Forest is 65 acres of old-growth forest, featuring trees as much as 300 years old, a rich diversity of flora and fauna and a relaxing experience for all. During our forest explorations, guests learned about wildflowers, animals, tracks, the watershed and trees of Fernbank Forest at a variety of educational stations. At the pond station, guests saw mosquitofish up-close, looked at water samples for clarity and learned about the local watershed. Guests investigated trees at another station.  Actual tree slices showing growth rings helped us learn more about trees. Visitors identified the surrounding trees, with the help of leaf identification cards and quizzed their friends. At our station near the stream, visitors saw salamanders that live in the Forest, as well as salamanders native to Georgia. We learned about indicator species and their importance to the ecosystem. At the end of the day, we enjoyed the outdoors and had many opportunities to see exciting things in Fernbank Forest. We spotted Yellow trillium and Nodding trillium along the trail, enjoyed the lush green foliage of our native hardwood trees and saw a few local creatures along the way. We wrapped up the weekend with a restoration project in the woodland behind the Museum. Twenty five community volunteers joined Ferbank’s team to remove non-native invasive plant species, and then transplanted native wildflowers that had emerged in the middle of a trail to a safer location. We experienced some excitement with the discovery of a large female garter snake! All enjoyed the work and made a huge impact on the health of our woodland. A big shout out to Stacey, Robert, Pamela, Rocio, Isabel, Tim and the Georgia State Football team!  Without your help, we would not be able to make such strides in our forest restoration efforts. Celebrate Earth Day with us next year or become a restoration volunteer and make your own impact for Mother Earth. Public programs, including monthly activities in Fernbank Forest, can be viewed on our calendar of events . Lynn Anders, Education Program Manager—Animal Programs http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/09/earth-day-at-fernbank-museum/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/may/09/earth-day-at-fernbank-museum/ Thu, 09 May 2013 09:35:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/27/volunteer-of-the-month-april/ We are pleased to honor Olivia Wells as our April Volunteer of the Month. Olivia is a recent addition to our volunteer team who spends most of her volunteer hours at the A Walk Through Time in Georgia entrance desk. As a Geology Major at State University of New York at Oswego, Olivia shares her knowledge and passion of geology with visitors Fernbank Museum visitors. When she is not volunteering she spends her time reading, sewing and hiking. If you are interested in giving your time to the Museum, please contact us at volunteer@fernbankmuseum.org or 404.929.6360. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/27/volunteer-of-the-month-april/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/27/volunteer-of-the-month-april/ Wed, 27 March 2013 10:04:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/12/volunteer-of-the-month-march/ We are pleased to honor Earl Johnson as our March Volunteer of the Month. Earl Johnson is a records manager for a company called Colonial Pipeline, and he paints, draws and sculpts in his spare time. He has been part of the Polaris volunteer guild at Fernbank Museum since 2011. His favorite part of being at Fernbank is seeing kids’ expressions and the way their faces light up when they first see the Giganotosaurus in the Great Hall. He also enjoys meeting international visitors. Earl said, “I travel a lot with business and always check to see if different cities have natural history museums; I’ve been to museums in many cities and this one is by far the best.” If you are interested in giving your time to the Museum, please contact us at volunteer@fernbankmuseum.org or 404.929.6360. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/12/volunteer-of-the-month-march/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/march/12/volunteer-of-the-month-march/ Tue, 12 March 2013 12:49:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/14/fernbank-hosts-“vik”/ On Saturday, February 2, 2013, Fernbank Museum hosted a "VIK" – a very important kid, Kenny Stewart. Kenny, age 12, visited the Museum along with his mom, Anna, and brother, Alex, age 7, as part of the Make A Wish Foundation. Everyone was excited to welcome Kenny to Fernbank. In fact, Kenny's visit began with a special welcome card delivered by the Museum's mascot, Giggy A. Dinosaur. Next, Kenny and his family began touring the Museum, starting with A Walk Through Time in Georgia and then to Fernbank NatureQuest . Our "VIK" also was given a behind-the-scenes tour of Fernbank's live animal collection and a private animal encounter with educator Charlee G. Following the animal encounter, education VP Christine B. gave the group a tour of collections – an area of the Museum that houses a number of artifacts which belong to the Museum, but aren't on display to the public. Kenny's visit concluded with a trip to Alaska through the powerful imagery of Fernbank's IMAX® Theatre. We really enjoyed getting to meet Kenny and his family. It was not only a great day for Kenny, but also for everyone at Fernbank. We were delighted to share the Museum with them in honor of Kenny's Wish Day. Thank you, Kenny, for making Fernbank Museum part of your Make A Wish-Georgia experience! —Deanna Smith, Director of Marketing http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/14/fernbank-hosts-“vik”/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/14/fernbank-hosts-“vik”/ Thu, 14 February 2013 11:13:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/08/fernbank-museum’s-volunteer-of-the-month/ Fernbank Museum is grateful for the support of its 250 strong Polaris volunteer guild . Please join us as we highlight one of those special volunteers each month! Beginning this month is Jack Bates. If you are interested in giving your time to the Museum, please contact us at volunteer@fernbankmuseum.org or 404.929.6360. We are pleased to honor Jack Bates as our February Volunteer of the Month. Jack Bates was born in northern Maine and moved to Georgia about 40 years ago. He formerly taught psychology at the University of South Carolina and at Perimeter College, and since retiring spends most of his spare time volunteering. He has been volunteering at Fernbank Museum since 2009. His favorite thing about being at Fernbank is seeing and chatting with people, especially the young people. Jack also volunteers at AID Atlanta, Jerusalem House, is a Stephen Minister, teaches Sunday school and works with Hospice. He says, “volunteering keeps me going and keeps me busy.” Thank you for all you do, Jack!  We love seeing your face every Friday. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/08/fernbank-museum’s-volunteer-of-the-month/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2013/february/08/fernbank-museum’s-volunteer-of-the-month/ Fri, 08 February 2013 12:51:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/december/13/coming-soon-2013-special-programming/ After a year-long celebration of Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s 20 th anniversary that included several family celebrations, major special exhibitions and the launch of a new mobile Museum App, visitors have more exciting programs to anticipate in 2013. Please note: this list is not final and all dates and events listed below are subject to change. Flight of the Butterflies A NEW giant screen adventure Opens January 4 Emperor & Empress Day Family fun inspired by Genghis Khan January 12 Genghis Khan Special exhibition Closes January 21 Butterfly Bash Celebrating the new film Flight of the Butterflies February 9 Extreme Mammals New special exhibition March 2 Extreme Mammals Opening Day Celebration A day of family fun celebrating Fernbank's new special exhibition March 2 Dinosaur Egg Hunt Fernbank’s annual spring event for families March 30 Lost Oasis 2013: Wild Safari Annual fundraising event hosted by Fernbank’s Artemis Guild June 8 Superhero Day Because super dads (and moms) deserve a SUPER day June 16 Reptile Day One of Fernbank’s longest-running and most popular events July 20 Dinosaur Birthday Bash Join a prehistoric party celebrating Giants of the Mesozoic August 24 Marco Polo A NEW special exhibition Opens September 2013 Winter Wonderland Featuring a festive holiday-inspired display and other special activities Opens November 2013 More programs to be announced including additional films in the IMAX® Theatre, Fernbank’s Summer Camp, Homeschool Days, an evening for educators, additional family events and more. Be sure to sign up for Fernbank’s e-newsletters , like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates and announcements! http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/december/13/coming-soon-2013-special-programming/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/december/13/coming-soon-2013-special-programming/ Thu, 13 December 2012 09:27:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/25/it's-the-reel-deal/ Not all IMAX ® Theatres are created equal. IMAX ® Theaters can be found throughout Georgia, but Fernbank Museum’s IMAX ® is not like the rest! So, what is it that sets us apart? Fernbank Museum houses the only genuine IMAX ® Theater in the city of Atlanta. Creating the IMAX ® experience is about much more than film format. The entire theatre, including the screen and seating, are designed specifically for showing IMAX ® movies. Below are some fun facts about Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre . The Experience Our films are incredibly realistic. Viewers are treated to a uniquely immersive experience, in which they are able to explore new places, creatures and cultures up-close. Two major considerations when choosing a new IMAX ® film are its storyline, and whether or not the film is relevant to Fernbank Museum’s mission. Fernbank often tries to choose films with storylines that mirror its special exhibitions. The Screen & Sound The screen in our IMAX ® Theater is 55 ft tall and 72 ft wide. That means that it’s as tall as a five story building, with a width comparable to the length of a tennis court. The screen has a unique concave shape, which helps to create a feeling of immersion when watching the film. Fernbank’s IMAX ® Theatre features state-of-the art surround sound. Viewers are treated to a film that tantalizes not only the eyes, but the ears as well. The Film Fernbank's Theatre continues to show movies shot in film, rather than digital format. Films are shot on 70 mm film, with a frame size of 15/70. To those that aren’t up on  film jargon, this basically means that the film is bigger and allows for a much higher resolution than standard film, which is generally 35 mm with a frame size of 5/70. Films are held on reels that weigh around 200 lbs. In order to move these reels, the IMAX ® staff uses a small fork lift! The Projector IMAX ® film requires a special projector that weighs over two tons and occupies the majority of the space in our projector room. Be sure to check out our Expereince IMAX ® page for a list of currently showing films and catch a flick on the biggest screen in town! Did you know? You can see the IMAX ® projector room for yourself! Located on the third floor of the Museum, across from Fernbank NatureQuest , there is a large window that allows guests to take a peek into the projector room. However, IMAX ® staff only opens the window’s curtain for the 15 minute period between film showings. So, be quick, or you’ll miss your chance! —Sam Marks, Communications and Marketing Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/25/it's-the-reel-deal/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/25/it's-the-reel-deal/ Tue, 25 September 2012 13:54:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/19/urbanwatch-not-your-average-internship!/ Since graduating from Clayton State University in May 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology focusing on Ecology, I have developed a new-found passion for environmental education. The UrbanWatch internship at Fernbank Museum has helped feed that passion and given me many opportunities to practice what I’ve learned and to educate guests about their surroundings. Throughout the summer, I’ve spent a lot of time in the successional forest behind Fernbank Museum, working with the F.U.N. teen volunteers to remove invasive plants such as English ivy and wisteria. Most importantly, I’ve been familiarizing myself with the forest species to lead guided Nature Walks and to develop ideas for ecology activities. I’ve had many opportunities to find and identify a ton of awesome plants and animals in the woods. On my first morning pulling English ivy, I actually came across a copperhead, one of Georgia’s native venomous snakes. Luckily, we left it alone and it left us alone. We have also observed tons of fish (minnows mostly), frogs (probably some species of tree frogs), lots of little crayfish and even a couple eastern box turtles near and around the creek. After learning about Fernbank Museum’s programs, I have also had opportunities to develop my own ideas for programming and activities. I worked with Marissa (another UrbanWatch intern) to develop Nature Walk themes for the weekly walks we’ve been leading behind the museum. We’ve also been able to build on the work that had previously been developed for the UrbanWatch programs, like working on the Fernbank Museum plant herbarium and creating activities that can be use to educate guests. An herbarium is a collection of plant samples that have been identified, press, preserved and mounted for viewing. When the herbarium is finally completed, it’ll be a great tool to help identify plants around Fernbank Museum, as well as Fernbank Forest! I have really enjoyed the opportunities the UrbanWatch internship has presented because I have been able to practice my botanical research while interacting with guests in educational programs. I hope we’ll see you all at one of our future Nature Walks or forest programs! —Michael Hanft, Summer 2012 UrbanWatch Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/19/urbanwatch-not-your-average-internship!/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/19/urbanwatch-not-your-average-internship!/ Wed, 19 September 2012 10:44:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/06/a-toothy-adventure/ The alligator tank in Fernbank NatureQuest is cleaned once a week, usually on Sunday. During this process, the alligators are put into individual containers for safe-keeping. The tank is drained and scrubbed and refilled with fresh water, just in time for Museum guests to arrive. In anticipation of the upcoming " alligator swap ," Animal Programs Manager Lynn A., decided to use this opportunity to weigh and measure the alligators. Here are few photos of this process. Animal Programs Manager, Lynn A. places one of the alligators inside a different plastic container sitting on a scale. The lid is closed and staff waits for the alligator to settle down a bit to get a more accurate reading. (The weight of the plastic container is subtracted from the total.) And now, it's time to measure length! This is the smallest of the three. It measured 25" and weighed 1.5lbs. This one's the medium of the bunch. It measured 26" and weighed 1.6lbs. And finally, for the largest of the trio, measuring 26" and weighing 1.7lbs. One last look, then the alligators were put back in their tank. OH NO! One of them got loose! Just kidding… Be sure to visit these alligators before they leave on September 9. Want to have your own behind-the-scenes experience? Enter to win an Alligator Encounter !   —Deanna Smith, Director of Marketing http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/06/a-toothy-adventure/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/september/06/a-toothy-adventure/ Thu, 06 September 2012 09:37:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/21/educating—the-animal-way!/ My summer has been filled with snakes, lizards and turtles, Oh MY!  As an animal programs intern for the special exhibition The Scoop on Poop , I have been learning and educating every day!  At the beginning of the internship, I didn’t realize Fernbank Museum had so many live animals. I also didn’t really know ‘how’ to handle a snake or lizard. After training with Fernbank’s animal keeper staff, I’ve been able to lead presentations with the live animals and handle them as we educate guests about animal conservation. At Fernbank we have a live animal collection consisting of a mammal, some amphibians and mostly reptiles. During the first few weeks of the internship, I quickly warmed up to the smaller snakes in the animal collection. There are larger snakes I’m still getting to know such as the Ball python, Felix, who has a fierce look to him. Before becoming an intern I didn’t know much about snakes but after being around the animals I have learned a lot about them. For example, I now know that there are no python species native to North America. Education is crucial, especially with reptiles. There are many things people may not realize about reptiles that are important to understanding them. This is one of the many reasons I have loved my time as an intern. Not only do I get to educate guest about the great things these animals have to show us, but I also get to spend personal time with them, meaning…I get to scoop their poop! Although it can sometimes be a dirty job, I thoroughly enjoy performing daily animal care tasks such as preparing salads for the lizards and turtles, collecting shed skin from an enclosure and feeding the amphibians their favorite food--bugs. While animal care is an important part of my day, I always look forward to taking the animals out for a program. Despite my initial reaction to his menacing looks, I have quickly formed a bond with Felix and I always enjoy sharing him with guests. He is my go-to guy for animal encounters and he always puts on a good show!  When you next visit the Museum, you may even see Felix during a Live Animal Encounter!    Editor’s note: Check the “Today at Fernbank” sign when you arrive to see a schedule of events like Animal Encounters.) Claire Brummeler—The Scoop on Poop Animal Programs Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/21/educating—the-animal-way!/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/21/educating—the-animal-way!/ Tue, 21 August 2012 16:20:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/07/the-scoop-on-interning/ This summer has been the most exciting summer of my life. Why? Because I am an intern at Fernbank Museum of Natural History! The Museum offers a variety of diverse internship opportunities . Interns can gain valuable experience in everything from marketing to botany and even animal husbandry. As an animal programs intern I help care for the animal collection at the Museum. Tasks such as giving a boa a bath, feeding a skink a salad and cleaning up after a slippery salamander are all in a day’s work at Fernbank. But my favorite part of my internship is sharing the animals with the public through daily Animal Encounters. Currently the museum is home to the special exhibit The Scoop on Poop . I never imagined the word “poop” would be present on my resume. But there it is sandwiched between the words scoop and intern! When working with animals there is always plenty of it to deal with. But don’t worry, you won’t have to clean up any when you visit the exhibit, that’s my job!  As an intern. my knowledge of this sometimes icky but always interesting topic has improved considerably. Did you know that petrified ancient poop is called a coprolite? This is just one of many interesting facts you will learn when you visit this summer. The Museum is a great place to escape the heat. Make sure to check out a schedule of the daily activities so you can plan to stop by an animal encounter to meet a furry, scaly or slimy new friend. Hope to see you soon at the Museum! —Kate Donlon, Education Programs Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/07/the-scoop-on-interning/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/august/07/the-scoop-on-interning/ Tue, 07 August 2012 08:58:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/19/fernbank-museum’s-great-outdoors!/ There’s more to Fernbank Museum than you see inside the building. As one of Fernbank Museum’s summer UrbanWatch interns, I have been a part of restoring the woodlands behind the Museum, extracting invasive species and identifying plant species while improving Fernbank’s herbarium. Before I started this internship, I could barely identify a hydrangea, but after training with the museum’s biologists and educators I now lead Nature Walks , pointing out vines, shrubs, trees and grasses. My biggest accomplishment of the UrbanWatch internship has been learning about the native and invasive plants in the Piedmont region of Georgia and their effects on our environment. By getting my hands dirty, and actively removing invasive plants from the forest, I have been able to see areas where native plants have recovered into healthy plants after an invasive plant was removed from its space. At one point, a patch of monkey grass was consuming one of our native Trillium plants. After we removed the invasive monkey grass, the Trillium rebounded and we could really see how the invasive plant has been harmful to the native species. This project has shown me that even the little weeding I have done has made a difference in the forest! Once I understood how important this is for our environment, I started telling my friends and neighbors about the effects of invasive species, and I know this is how to make a difference. It’s great to finally feel like what I’m doing is helping protect our planet. Nature Walks are also very interesting parts of my experience as an UrbanWatch intern. While guiding children and their parents through the forest, and explaining the importance of it to them, I know I am sharing some outlook on environmental conservation, which has been one of the top goals for my environmental career. During the walks, I feel like it’s so exciting to see families interested in nature and learning new things about their own environment. The guests leave the walks with new understanding of what they could be doing at their own home and why it’s truly necessary. As an Environmental Science major in college, I know that leading these walks and touching on aspects of environmental education is one of the best ways I can promote conservation. Learn more about Fernbank Museum’s Nature Walks and other outdoor activities.   —Marissa Carvalho, Summer 2012 UrbanWatch Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/19/fernbank-museum’s-great-outdoors!/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/19/fernbank-museum’s-great-outdoors!/ Thu, 19 July 2012 15:47:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/16/lessons-from-a-five-year-old/ Children can teach you a lot about life. This is something I’ve often heard, but it wasn’t until recently that I witnessed first-hand the truth of this statement. Two weeks ago, I was given the task of going to Fernbank’s Summer Camp, in order to get some ideas for possible blog posts. I was excited for the opportunity to hang out with the kids and experience the Museum from their point of view. I arrived at camp prepared to face the random questions and non-stop energy that typically accompanies 20 rowdy five-year-olds. I was scheduled to join the campers as they were taking a Nature Walk . I had never been on a walk, so I stopped to ask a member of the staff how I should go about finding my group. He smiled, pointed me towards the entrance and said, “Just follow the trail. I’m sure you’ll hear them before you see them.” He couldn’t have been more correct. Within minutes of passing through the gate, my ears picked up on the symphony of tiny voices that were waiting for me around the corner. I approached my group of fellow campers, and before introductions were even made, I had a new friend at my side. She grasped my hand, stated her name, and began her interrogation. I was asked if I liked boys, how old I was and why I was there. When she was satisfied with my answers, she smiled and began telling me about herself in return. As we continued on our Nature Walk , the other children soon realized there was a newcomer in their presence. Knowing that I had arrived late, they each took it upon themselves to catch me up on all that I’d missed. They told me about what they had done earlier in the day, and all of the things they had learned on the Nature Walk prior to my arrival. The kids spent the remainder of the day learning about the natural world through various games and activities. Each new activity was met with genuine excitement from the gaggle of small children. It wasn’t until blood-sugars dropped and lunchtime approached that their enthusiasm declined. As I sat with the kids at lunch, I began to re-evaluate my initial belief about the behavior of five-year-olds. The day had gone exactly as I had predicted. The barrage of questions from the campers was never ending, their attention spans didn’t lengthen, and their energy levels never declined. Yet, I found myself realizing something had occurred that I didn’t expect. I had learned a lot from these kids in the short time that I had been with them. The children at summer camp questioned everything, because they had a never-ending desire to learn. They wanted answers to the things they didn’t understand. I then compared myself to these kids. At 22, I still ask questions and wish to learn new things, but not nearly as often or as passionately as my fellow campers. It took a group of brilliant five-year-olds to knock some sense into me. Since camp, I’ve decided to approach life more like my young comrades. They welcomed me warmly, trusted me as a friend, and reminded me that imagination and learning do not end with youth. —Sam Marks, Communications and Marketing Intern http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/16/lessons-from-a-five-year-old/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/16/lessons-from-a-five-year-old/ Mon, 16 July 2012 16:26:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/13/forest-update-for-fernbank-museum-friends-and-supporters/ Dear Fernbank Museum Friends and Supporters: As you may know, Fernbank Museum of Natural History celebrates its 20 th anniversary in October . As we celebrate this milestone, we are also going back to our roots—Fernbank Forest. The Museum has begun developing a stewardship and master plan for the entire Museum campus, including this 65-acre preserve that was the inspiration for the museum itself. While Fernbank Museum’s team of ecologists, biologists, landscape architects and other experts assess the Forest and develop a plan for its future, self-guided tours will be temporarily suspended. However, we will offer a number of guided opportunities to explore the beauty of Fernbank Forest during this time—all free for Members. As always, I thank you for supporting Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s educational mission. Sincerely, Susan E. Neugent President and CEO http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/13/forest-update-for-fernbank-museum-friends-and-supporters/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/13/forest-update-for-fernbank-museum-friends-and-supporters/ Fri, 13 July 2012 12:19:00 http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/10/check,-check…is-this-thing-on/ Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the new home of Museum Musings, the official blog of Fernbank Museum of Natural History. You can continue to visit our former blog for archived posts . As always, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at marketing@fernbankmuseum.org or visit our “Get Social” page for ways to connect with us around the web.     Thanks for reading! http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/10/check,-check…is-this-thing-on/ http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/connect-with-us/get-social/museum-musings/posts/2012/july/10/check,-check…is-this-thing-on/ Tue, 10 July 2012 12:03:00