Abuzz with Creepy Crawlers at Charlotte Nature Museum
Saturday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
October 25, 2010Charlotte, NC – Bug off! Insects might make your skin crawl, but lots of bugs have important jobs as part of our natural environment. Many of them also have amazing talents and abilities that help them survive and thrive in their habitats. Join us as we celebrate the fall and learn about the creatures that many people find creepy at Charlotte Nature Museum’s October Creature Feature: Spinning Spiders and Creepy Crawlers on Saturday, October 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Fall into fun even more by dressing up in your favorite costume!
Spiders might seem haunting, but most species rarely bite people and there are only a few that are dangerously venomous. Did you know that tarantulas [Brachypelma albopilosum] flick hairs off their abdomen at the eyes of potential predators? Even insects are parents; the female Madagascar hissing cockroach [Gromphadorhina protentosa] creates a cocoon-like egg case called an ootheca and carries its eggs and neonatal nymphs inside its body, later bearing as many as 60 live nymph roaches at once.
Little ones will crawl with excitement as they get up close to real life species of fascinating insect friends including tarantulas, cockroaches, scorpions [Hadogenes troglodytes], giant millipedes [Archispirostreptus spp, Scaphiostreptus spp] and more. Take a stroll on the Paw Paw Nature Trail (weather permitting) and scout out live grubs as you visit interactive stations featuring pumpkins, spiders, graveyards and bats.
Spin a web of creativity in The Naturalist Lab where you can create pine cone spiders and don’t forget to peek in at the puppet show “The Unloveables”. Feed on a plethora of tales at a special story time, including “Spider Sisters” by John Trent, “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle and “Noises in the Woods” by Judi Friedman. Story time is offered with support from Joseph-Beth Booksellers, who will be on site with books on spiders and nocturnal animals including one of our featured stories. Trail’s End Store items for sale will include stretchy centipedes, fiesta cuddly spiders and items from the Wild Republic Insect collection.
Creature Features, presented by Earth Fare with support from The Guild of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum, are monthly special events and include crafts, puppet shows, storytelling and refreshments (while supplies last). Creature Feature activities are FREE with Museum admission. Admission: $6 ages two and older, younger-than-two and Members are free. Parking is free.
Charlotte Nature Museum is located at 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte. Hours are: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday noon – 5:00 p.m.; and closed on Monday.
Charlotte Nature Museum offers visitors the chance to get close to wildlife and walk among free-flying butterflies in Butterfly Pavilion, observe live animals in Creature Cavern, buzz by Insect Alley or just hang out in Our Big Backyard. Visitors can learn together during workshops, summer camps and more. Daily programming including hands-on activities provide the opportunity for structured learning and informal play for kids of all ages. Charlotte Nature Museum is operated by Discovery Place, Inc.
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