Science : TRAVEL/FOOD

Giving You Butterflies!

Caving, Dollywood, Environmental, Family Excursions, Gulf Coast Alabama, Louisianna, Mobile, Nature, Outdoors, Regional & Ethnic, Resort, Resorts, Science, Seaside, Smoky Mountains

These Southern Destinations Welcome Guests of the Human and Insect Varieties

Now that fall has officially arrived, there’s plenty of chatter about the amazing hues of the season. But leaves aren’t the only colorful, fluttering signs of autumn; there are also plenty of migrating birds and butterflies in the air right now, and it’s that second group that we want to focus on today. Though National Butterfly Day is on March 14, we’re choosing to celebrate these fascinating creatures today, as many of them are making their way south toward Mexico. Here’s a roundup of places where you can see an abundance of butterflies right now … or even all year round. If any of this inspires YOU to migrate to any of the featured destinations, please check in with us for more information!

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Every fall, butterflies descend upon coastal Alabama as they fly from Canada down the East Coast and to the Gulf of Mexico. Though visitors to this region can see species that include the common buckeye, Gulf fritillary and viceroy, they’re especially drawn here by the prospect of seeing an astounding number of monarch butterflies. By mid-October, hundreds of the orange-and-black butterflies can be spotted along Pine Beach Trail, where they stop for a snack before they continue their flight to Mexico. But they’re not the only colorful critters in the refuge. Countless songbirds have been arriving during the past few weeks and their presence will likely peak in mid-October. As a bonus, the fall wildflowers ensure that while the winged creatures keep the skies and trees ablaze with color, the ground offers an equally dazzling display.

Grand Hotel in Point Clear near Mobile, Alabama

This luxury hotel in coastal Alabama has been welcoming human guests since 1847 … and butterflies since long before that. The hotel acts as an official waystation for the species, serving as a temporary home to hundreds of monarchs that pause on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay so they can rest and feed, building their strength for the final leg of their journey. Since the monarch has been placed on the endangered species list, the resort’s horticulture team is committed to helping butterflies survive and thrive. They’ve dedicated a portion of one of the hotel’s gardens to plants that are especially appealing to the species, including milkweed, verbena, lemongrass and oregano. The monarchs arrive in Alabama in great flocks during the month of October, and guests who stay at the Grand Hotel during this time report hearing the hum of thousands of tiny flapping wings. Besides watching the butterflies around the property, guests can buy monarch merchandise and butterfly-shaped cookies in the Oak & Azalea gift shop. New this year, during the month of October, registered guests can also head to the hotel’s daily “Grandeur, Grit and Glory” celebration at 3:45 p.m. to get a sip of “Monarch Nectar,” a mixture of fresh lemonade, orange juice and butterfly pea flower pollen.

Lockport Elevated Wetlands Boardwalk in Lousiana’s Cajun Bayou

Situated in southeastern Louisiana, right along the Gulf of Mexico, Lafourche Parish – aka “Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou” – is a haven for all kinds of migrating species, from birds to butterflies, and the best place to see them is by the elevated boardwalk in Lockport. It opened in 2015 as a way for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the parish by allowing them to literally enter a swamp for a safe and up-close look at flora and fauna. The 440-foot boardwalk is open daily from dawn to dusk and attracts birdwatchers and photographers from all over the world. Countless species of butterflies can be spotted here, too, from March through May and again from August until early October. As a bonus for visitors who come to see the butterflies on their fall migration, there’s also a chance to see bald eagles in October.

Northlake Nature Center in St. Tammany Parish

Popularly known as “The Northshore,” St. Tammany Parish is in the southeastern corner of Louisiana and just a short drive from New Orleans. But it feels worlds apart, especially in the parks and preserves and along the trails that remind you that Mother Nature reigns supreme here. Northlake Nature Center is a 400-acre preserve on Bayou Castine, in the town of Mandeville. Visitors come here to hike along trails that take them through forests and wetlands as they search for glimpses of interesting plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects … including several species of butterfly.

The Butterfly Palace in Branson, Missouri

The Butterfly Palace in Branson, Mo. on Sept. 16, 2017. Photo by Brad Zweerink

If you can’t make it to the Gulf Coast this fall, no worries …we know a place where you can see butterflies all year round. Families who visit the Ozark Mountain town of Branson can find plenty of fun and adventure in the Great Outdoors, from ziplining to riding roller coasters. But for those days when it’s rainy or chilly, The Butterfly Palace brings nature inside a large dome that offers a rainforest-style adventure you wouldn’t expect to find in a mountain town. The Butterly Palace is home to more than 1,000 live butterflies imported from locales around the world.

Time your visit right and you can even help release a newly emerged butterfly into the makeshift rainforest. Guests are encouraged to dress in red – the color that most attracts the 40 to 60 species of butterfly – and everyone receives a bright red silk flower with a nectar tube in it as they enter the aviary. Walk through and just wait for the butterflies to land on the flower … or you (they tickle!). Guests are issued wrist bands that are good for three days, allowing them to come and go each day for a truly uplifting adventure.

Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky

This unique cave is toured via boat, but a visit to the site doesn’t just include time underground. There’s plenty of nature to explore aboveground, too … including the Charlie Miller Butterfly Habitat. But you’ll have to put this on your to-do list for 2024, as the habitat only operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This indoor garden is filled with native nectar plants and is home to butterfly species like monarchs, painted ladies and giant swallowtails. As a special treat, visitors can learn how to create their own butterfly gardens at home so they can enjoy butterflies in their backyard.

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

We’d be remiss to talk about butterflies and not mention one of the creatures’ biggest fans, Dolly Parton. She’s loved them since she was a little girl growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, and she tells stories of how she used to get in trouble because she wandered off while chasing them. She’s on record as saying that she feels drawn to butterflies because she admires their gentle nature and incredible beauty.

Atmosphere of the Great Pumpkin LumiNights held at Dollywood on October 28, 2019 in Pigeon Forge, TN. © Curtis Hilbun / AFF-USA.com

They have the freedom of flight but – unlike many other flying insects – don’t sting or bite, and she sees a lot of herself in those characteristics. In short, Dolly has claimed butterflies as her spirit animal, and fans can find them represented throughout Dollywood and its resorts. A butterfly appears as the “W” in the Dollywood logo, and the insect is incorporated into the décor of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, in everything from the weave of the hallway carpet to ornaments on the property’s signature Christmas tree each holiday season. As the park celebrates its Harvest Festival, you can even find a giant butterfly made of carved pumpkins.

This Summer Discover 12 Great Chicago’s Exhibitions

Art Institute, Chicago History Museum, Chicagoland Area, Design, Entertainment, Family Excursions, Field Museum, Magnificent Mile, Museum of Science and Industry, Science, Water Tower Place

The Art Institute of Chicago has a full slate of spring/summer programming. (Neighborhood: The Loop)

The Arranged Flower: Ikebana and Flora in Japanese Prints (until July 9, 2023) – Ikebana is considered a form of Japanese high art, reflecting the principles of minimalism, asymmetry, and the appreciation of space. The arrangements are designed to create a sense of balance and harmony between the flowers and the environment in which they are displayed. Today, Ikebana is practiced by people of all ages and backgrounds in Japan and around the world. There are many different schools and styles of ikebana, each with its own unique techniques and aesthetic principles. Several works on display are surimono—privately commissioned prints circulated among members of poetry circles on special occasions—featuring representations of this practice.

Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape (May 14 – September 4, 2023) – Between 1882 and 1890, five artists—Vincent van Gogh, along with Georges Seurat, Paul Signac, Emile Bernard, and Charles Angrand—flocked to villages on the fringes of Paris. Each artist explored the use of discrete brushstrokes and strong colors in innovative ways, and in turn developed novel styles of painting: Divisionism, Pointillism, and Cloisonnism. More than 75 paintings and drawings from this intensely creative period—many from private collections and rarely publicly displayed—come together for this insightful presentation.

Ellsworth Kelly: Portrait Drawings (July 1 – October 23, 2023) – It is not surprising that an artist’s work reflects their artistic influences and friendships. In the case of Ellsworth Kelly, his drawings show the impact of the artists he encountered during his travels to Europe in the 1940s, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. This exhibition spans most of Kelly’s 70-year career, showcasing his evolving and wide-ranging approach to both portraiture and drawing.

Remedios Varo: Science Fictions (July 29 – November 27, 2023) – The exhibition brings together more than 20 paintings created by Varo during her time in Mexico from 1955 until her death in 1963. These paintings offer a glimpse into Varo’s distinct and diverse practice and are supplemented by additional materials from the artist’s archive, including large-scale cartoons, notebooks, sketches, detailed studies, ephemera, and personal possessions. Varo was a key figure in the Surrealist movement, and her work reflects many of the movement’s core values and beliefs. Furthermore, the exhibition marks a milestone in the museum’s efforts to expand the borders of the global Surrealist movement, as it is the Art Institute’s first solo exhibition dedicated to a woman Surrealist painter and to a woman artist working in Mexico.

Chicago History Museum’s exhibit Millions of Moments: The Chicago Sun-Times Photo Collection (until December 31, 2023) features 150 images from the Chicago History Museum’s Chicago Sun-Times. It is a first look at highlights from five million negatives spanning the 1940s-early 2000s, one of the largest newspaper photograph collections ever acquired by an American museum. As the Museum continues to process negatives from this extraordinary collection, new images will be shared through their online portal, CHM Images. (Neighborhood: Lincoln Park)

Back Home: Polish Chicago – Opening May 20, 2023, the exhibition features more than 90 artifacts and documents as well as more than 100 reproduced photographs to help tell the story of the Chicago area’s vibrant Polish communities from the mid-1800s to today. Explore personal narratives, music, community involvement, as well as art installations from five local Polish artists. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more.

Cleve Carney Museum of Art and the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at the College of DuPage will present Warhol: Featuring Andy Warhol Portfolios: A Life in Pop / Works from the Bank of America from June 3 – September 10, 2023. The Warhol exhibition will feature 94 works from “Andy Warhol Portfolios: A Life in Pop / Works from the Bank of America Collection” on loan through Bank of America’s Art in our Communities® program. Aside from the Bank of America collection, which will be on display in a dedicated space in the exhibition, there will also be over 100 works from the College of DuPage Permanent Art Collection. Educational and interactive elements will include a biographical exhibition highlighting key points in Warhol’s life and career, video installation, a Children’s Print Factory area, Studio 54 and Silver Cloud Room experiences, and Central Park-inspired outdoor space, creating an immersive, multifaceted exhibition focused on the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the past century. (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

The Field Museum’s newest exhibition First Kings of Europe (open through January 28, 2024) explores how ancient farming villages led to the earliest tribal kingdoms in Europe, gathering together more than 700 exquisite objects from the Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages. The countries represented (and collaborating in this exhibition) include Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. Highlights include some of the oldest gold treasures in the world from the cemetery of Varna, the gold crown of a Thracian prince, masterpieces of swordmaking and armor, weapons, jewelry, and more. (Neighborhood: South Loop / Museum Campus)

Harry Potter: Magic At Play extends its worldwide debut run in Chicago through September 4, 2023 at Chicago’s iconic Water Tower Place. The first-of-its-kind experience allows fans of all ages to engage with the Wizarding World like never before through 30,000 square feet of hands-on magical interactivity including games, exploration, sensory activations, and more that celebrate Harry’s own journey in discovering the wizarding world. Guests can explore the Dursley’s living room, step onto a boat and prepare to cross the Great Lake, attend some of Hogwarts’ most beloved classes, practice Quidditch fundamentals, and more. (Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile)

The Hyde Park Art Center’s new exhibit, Destination/El Destino: a decade of GRAFT, the largest exhibition to date of the Puerto Rican artist, educator, and community organizer Edra Soto, will be on display through August 6, 2023. The exhibition features a new large-scale commission of the artist’s GRAFT series with porous sculptures, documentary photographs, drawings, and games that activate the Art Center’s indoor/outdoor main gallery. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)

The Illinois Holocaust Museum presents The Girl in the Diary: Searching for Rywka from the Łódz Ghetto (May 18 – September 24, 2023). In I945, a diary was discovered in the liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp written by Rywka Lipszyc, a 14-year-old Jewish girl documenting her life in the Łódz Ghetto between October 1943 and April 1944. More than 60 years after its discovery, the diary traveled to the United States, where it was translated to English, supplemented with commentaries, and published. Rywka Lipszyc’s diary, a moving memoir of life and adolescence in the Łódz Ghetto, is the focal point of this exhibition. Selected excerpts of the diary are supplemented by expert commentary from historians, doctors, psychologists, and rabbis. Blended with original artifacts and fleeting candid photographs of others’ lives in the ghetto, these commentaries help us understand the experiences Rywka describes in her diary. Through historical artifacts and documents, interactive touch screens, documentary videos, and exceptionally rare photographs, The Girl in the Diary explores the story of a young girl’s fight for survival in the Łódz Ghetto and reconstructs what might have happened to Rywka after her deportation to Auschwitz and beyond. There are no known photographs of Rywka. She exists for us only through words she wrote. (Skokie, Illinois)

Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago’s current exhibition Mozart Immersive: The Soul of a Genius (running through the end of May 2023), has Massimiliano Siccardi, immersive art installation pioneer, using state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence as inspiration to craft astonishing visuals inspired by the 18th-century destinations of Mozart’s world. With video direction by Vittorio Guidotti, legendary dancer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov’s tortured portrayal of Leopold, Mozart’s father, will enthrall audiences. Luca Longobardi re-arranged and recomposed 17 selected works from Mozart’s repertoire for the eclectic soundtrack, which also features exclusive music from the Italian composer and was recorded by a 45-piece symphonic orchestra and conducted by four-time Grammy®-nominated Constantine Orbelian. (Neighborhood: Lincoln Park)

Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) welcomes Gary Simmons: Public Enemy (June 13 – October 1, 2023), the first comprehensive career survey of the work of multidisciplinary artist Gary Simmons. Since the late 1980s Simmons has played a key role in situating questions of race, class, and gender identity at the center of contemporary art discourse. Notable for his early application of conceptual artistic strategies, Simmons exposes and analyzes histories of racism inscribed in U.S. visual culture. This exhibition covers thirty years of the artist’s career, encompassing approximately seventy works. (Neighborhood: Streeterville)

This summer, visitors can also enjoy “Tuesdays on the Terrace” when it returns from June 13 – August 29, 2023. This annual, free summer concert series on the MCA’s Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden highlights artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned music community. For the first time, this year’s roster of performers extends beyond a purely jazz focus to include more diverse genres and styles that have unique Chicago roots, incorporating hip-hop, house, blues, bomba, and more.

The Museum of Science and Industry is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a series of exciting events including the museum’s first Meet Her! (Katya Echazarreta) event on May 13, 2023, which celebrates the first Mexican-born woman to go to space. Katya Echazarreta is featured in “Mission Unstoppable” on CBS, hosted the YouTube series “Netflix IRL,” and recently was honored with her own Barbie. She’s also an accomplished electrical engineer who worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)

Stage 773’s new immersive walk-thru experience, WHIM, blends carefully curated cocktails and a world where every art form comes together – paintings, music, sculpture, street art, and live performance – all by Chicago artists. The experience includes the “Lobby of Second Chances,” the “Second Shots Bar,” and the “Enchanted Forest,” featuring a live performance stage and a giant enchanted tree towering over it all. (Neighborhood: Lakeview)

WNDR Museum, Chicago’s original immersive art and technology experience will, starting May 12, 2023, debut a three story immersive infinity installation by the globally iconic Yayoi Kusam. Featuring a series of floating yellow and black polka dots alongside walk-in and peep-in installations, Dots Obsession will fill WNDR’s atrium and transport visitors into Kusama’s obsession with polka dots, repetition, celestial bodies, and the experience of the infinite. (Neighborhood: West Loop / Fulton Market)

About Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.

GREAT SCIENCE ACTIVITIES AT THE ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER THIS SPRING

Arizona Science Center, Arizona Science Museum, Science

March Is Packed With STEM Activities For All Ages

Spring is here at Arizona Science Center. There are events and happenings available for every audience throughout March. From Dogs!, to Science that looks a lot like magic – guests will have access to all the standard Science Center exhibits, and the opportunity to experience exciting new additions and special events. This month will inspire every inner scientist and create experiences attendees are sure to remember.

Activities For All Ages

Dogs! A Science Tail – Dogs! A Science Tail is a fun, interactive glimpse into the world of our canine friends. Guests can discover life from a dog’s point of view in the Science Center’s newest exhibition.

APS Solar Month – March 1-31 – Investigate the Sun during APS Solar Month! During the entire month of March, experience solar science in a whole new light. Guests can enjoy dazzling demonstrations and hands-on activities, from constructing solar houses to creating solar art!

Impossible Science – March 4-19 | 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. Daily – Take a journey with Jason Latimer, World Champion of Magic and the Curator of Impossible Science, Jason Latimer makes the impossible possible through STEM!

Astronomy Week – March 20-26 – Explore the universe at Arizona Science Center’s Spring Astronomy Week! Celebrate the Spring Equinox with out-of-this-world activations all week long. On Friday, March 24 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., bring the whole family to our FREE Family Astronomy Night in front of Arizona Science Center in Heritage Square.

Inspiring Curious Minds Through Science

CAMP INNOVATION – March 13-17 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – CAMP INNOVATION is back for Spring Break and many grades are already sold out! Campers in grades 1-2 will be attending Dogs! A Science Camp, while campers in grades 3-6 will be exploring Impossible Science!

CREATE at Arizona Science Center® – Kids ages 8 – 12 can join weekly rotating mini workshops throughout March. Using different laser-cut designs, they’ll be able to assemble a bark-worthy bookend inspired by Dogs! A Science Tail!

21+ Only

Science With a Twist – March 17 | 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Magic and dogs come together to make for a paws-itively magical evening! Guests 21 and over can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Impossible Science LIVE, Dogs! A Science Tail and themed cocktails.

Playing in the Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater and the Dorrance Planetarium

Fixed: The Science/Fiction Of Human Enhancement – Complimentary Film Screening included with general admission – March 26 | 1:00 p.m. From botox to bionic limbs, the human body is more “upgradeable” than ever! The award-winning documentary, Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement, explores the social impact of human biotechnologies. Haunting and humorous, Fixed rethinks “disability” and “normalcy” by exploring technologies that promise to change our bodies and minds forever.

Expedition: Solar System – Daily showings at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Grab your space helmets, Arizona—It’s time for the ultimate road trip, across all of space, and to the outer edges of our solar system. Journey with us as we go out into the far reaches of our Solar System. During this 45-minute presentation, we’ll explore volcanoes and craters, ice and storms, hundreds of billions of stars, and so much more. Seated under the 60-foot NanoSeam dome, Expedition: Solar System is the ultimate cosmic exploration experience.

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About Arizona Science Center Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona Science Center features more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, a five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, traveling exhibitions, and exciting science programs. The Center offers programs for all ages, including Science on Wheels, CAMP INNOVATION, Teen programs, Professional Development, and adults’ night out: Science With A Twist. Whether onsite or at your location–get ready to embark on a hands-on STEM learning journey you’ll never forget. To learn more or to reserve tickets, visit azscience.org or call 602.716.2000.

GOING PLACES: THE TECHNOLOGY OF TRANSPORTATION TAKES OFF AT ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER

Science, Uncategorized

Ride a mini hovercraft, guide a blimp through sky hoops, and land an airplane on a flight simulator!

Arizona Science Center presents Going Places from Friday, September 2, 2022 – Monday, January 2, 2023. Fasten your seatbelts; Going Places – the Technology of Transport has arrived!

Created by the renowned Scitech in Perth, Australia, Going Places is an interactive science exhibition that explores the technology humans have developed for travel. If you have ever wanted to pilot an airship, ride on a hovercraft, or control traffic in a city, now is your big chance!

“This exhibition is packed with innovation,” said Guy Labine, The Hazel A. Hare President and CEO of Arizona Science Center. “It demonstrates the way mankind has developed new technology to overcome obstacles such as gravity and distance while providing great fun for children, parents, and students.”

Tom Zaller, President, and CEO of Imagine Exhibitions states, “Imagine Exhibitions is proud to partner with Scitech to bring Going Places to Arizona Science Center. Human modes of transportation have changed so much in just the past 150 years. It is exciting to present an exhibition that allows visitors to dive deep into these innovations, get behind the wheel (literally!), and speculate on where we will go in the next 150 years.”

Explore!

Explore how different modes of transportation have shaped society and get hands-on with a multitude of challenging interactives. Fly a plane, ride a hovercraft, race your friend on a recumbent bicycle, or learn to fly an airship! YOU are the driver in Going Places’ interactive exhibits—providing the chance to experience transportation in ways you never dreamed possible!

As well as exploring the technology that gets us around every day, visitors will also explore the way that travel has shaped the social fabric of our time. Visitors will even see new technology and get a glimpse of where our future is headed.

Exhibits and Kiosks

With 18 exhibits and eight information kiosks detailing the incredible technology pioneered by humans to make the farthest reaches of our planet accessible, Going Places is a wild ride!

This exhibition invites guests to observe, understand and use an incredible range of travel technology to see how it makes our lives easier and better. It also highlights how we’ve leveraged design and innovation to respond to Earth’s awesome size and natural processes, like gravity, wind, currents, waves, friction, and changing landscapes..

With so many hands-on exhibits, Going Places promises to be a wild ride.

Information

Going Places is open daily to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a limited engagement through January 2, 2023. Pricing for the exhibition is $6.95 for Members and $8.95 for Non-Members. General admission tickets are required. Children under 3 are always FREE. Tickets are available to purchase at Arizona Science Center and azscience.org

Going Places: The Technology of Transportation is created by SciTech and produced by Imagine Exhibitions and is generously supported by Waymo & Amtrak

About Arizona Science Center

The mission of Arizona Science Center is to inspire, educate, and engage curious minds through science. The Center, located at 600 E. Washington Street in downtown Phoenix, features more than 300 hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, a range of interactive online science content, the state-of-the-art Dorrance Planetarium, and the five-story Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater, and exciting science programs for people of all ages. CREATE at Arizona Science Center®, adjacent to the main building, is a 6,500-square-foot community maker space that provides workshops, including 3D printing, laser cutting, woodworking, and sewing. Arizona Science Center offers programs for all ages, including CAMP INNOVATION, Teen programs, Professional Development and Learning for Educators, and so much more. To learn more or to reserve tickets, visit azscience.org or call 602.716.2000.

About Imagine Exhibitions

Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.

Sash the Two-Toed Sloth Celebrates Her First Birthday at the Arizona Science Center

Science

The Arizona Science Center recently celebrated the birthday of Sash, their newest sloth. Sash is a recent arrival the center’s Survival of the Slowest exhibit which runs until August 7, 2022 at the Sybil B. Harrington Gallery, Level 3, and for her birthday she was offered a cupcake with a candle as part of the celebration. Was she overly enthusiastic? Well, remember she’s a sloth. But don’t take our word. Watch the video of the party below.

We’re not too sure if Sash got the whole birthday thing but she did finally open her eyes to take a look. But Sash didn’t grab or gobble the cupcake in a hurry like most of us would have. After all, Sash, a female Linnaeus two-toed Sloth (Choloepus didactylus), like her counterparts, mainly eats leaves. Maybe that’s how she keeps her weight down, something we all should consider. Could we be looking at the latest diet trend? Eat like a sloth? But, on second thought, in the wild sloths occasionally jazz up their dinner menu by adding fruit and the occasional bird’s egg, lizard, and insect. That sounds less than appetizing.

Like other non-super charged animals in the exhibit including a Red-Footed Tortoise , Green Iguana, Four-Toed Hedgehog, Bearded Dragon, and Ball Python, at times being slow, small or weak can have its advantages. The Survival of the Slowest showcases how certain species use their disadvantages to survive—and even thrive—in a world where large, strong and fast animals are often at the top of the food chain

Meet the Animals

The exhibit lets guests get an up-close look at wildlife and daily presentations and meet animals that have survived for millions of years despite their slowness as well as learn about the puzzling sides of evolution and adaptation. It’s also a way to learn the difference between warm- and cold-blooded species, discover why some animals need less food than others, and see the unique ways they hide from predators.

The daily presentations take place at 12:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. and offer an up-close look at the center’s newest residents during daily presentations featuring a Boa Constrictor, Red-footed Tortoise, Common Leopard Gecko and more. Featured animals will vary by day and presentation.

Animal Care Specialist

A specialist is on site during business hours to monitor the animals, as well as answer questions from guests. Specialists also provide information on backyard conservation and local issues related to wildlife.

Educator Guide

The Aligned Arizona Science Standards, the Survival of the Slowest Educator Guide, is great for educators and parents to use with students during field trips or at home. Click Here

Pricing

Member Admission: $6.95* | General Admission: $8.95* | Children under 3 are always FREE. Purchase here.

*General admission ticket required. Additional tickets are required for the Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater, Dorrance Planetarium, and featured exhibition.