Down on the Farm at Charlotte Nature Museum
Saturday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
June 15, 2011Charlotte, NC –Have “ewe” been counting sheep at night? It’s time to wake up and discover the importance of farms and their animal residents when Charlotte Nature Museum hosts its June Creature Feature: Farm Day on Saturday, June 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Follow the leader! Sheep [Ovis aries] have a strong instinct to follow those in front of them and are usually found in flocks. These domesticated animals can each produce an average of 14 pounds of wool in a year, and one pound of wool can make 10 miles of yarn. Maybe you have heard that goats [Capra hircus] eat tin cans, but they actually have an extremely picky palate and have a “gum pad” instead of front teeth for chewing. Nibble on these fascinating facts as you meet farm friends up close including a lama [Lama glama], mini horses [Equus ferus caballus], chickens [Gallus sp], ducks [Anas sp.] and rabbits [Leporidae].
Grazing is important to both animals and humans, and many farms also cultivate fruits and vegetables. Learn how these important foods travel from the soil to your plate, tasty gardening secrets and why greens are good. Special exhibitors will bring chickens and veggies from their backyards and teach you how to grow your own garden in a small space!
Kids of both the human and goat variety can enjoy story time with a menagerie of tales that includes “Louella May, She’s Run Away” by Karen Beaumont Alarcon, “Baby Animals on the Farm” by Liza Alexander, “The Cow Who Clucked” by Denise Fleming, and “Big Red Barn” by Margaret Wise Brown. Don’t miss the puppet show “Growing Up Wild”, and make sure to stop by The Naturalist Lab to make a scarecrow from paper towel rolls and material scraps. Trail’s End Store will feature special gifts including soft and squishy farm animals.
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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