It’s official, during Charlotte’s only live shadow check, resident Groundhog, Queen Charlotte saw her shadow, dooming us all to another six weeks of winter. Given our current balmy winter weather I think we will survive.
Is spring around the corner? Find out when Queen Charlotte, our resident Groundhog, makes her annual weather prediction on Thursday, February 2 during a 4:30pm shadow check. Our local prognosticator will let us know if we are going to have six more weeks of winter weather or an early spring.
The Queen serves as an ambassador species, here to educate all about groundhogs (also known as woodchucks). She has lived at the Museum for several years after being rescued by an animal rehabber who found her malnourished, with overgrown teeth. It was later discovered that she was removed from the wild as a pup (baby groundhog) and was given all the wrong foods to eat. In the great outdoors groundhogs feast on sprouts, seeds, grasses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, weeds, dandelion greens and... Keep reading.
Pal around in Peetie’s Place , an indoor exhibit where kids can explore the world of nature through puppets, puzzles, nature-inspired- toys and more.
Piece together puzzles of insects that go buzz and bears that roar, or leaf through our ever-changing library of books that line the walls. Explore our Wonder Bins packed full with costumes and tools for the imagination. Build with natural blocks, or put on your own puppet show in the tree-themed stage. Peetie’s Place is your place!
Who says holiday fun has to end? Once the gifts are unwrapped, discover a host of daily programming guaranteed to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. From close-up animal encounters to story time, celebrate the natural world with holiday happenings perfect for the entire family.
Think it’s too cold to journey outside? The weather is just fine! Bundle up and explore the outdoors with a Museum Naturalist on the Paw Paw Nature Trail. Keep an eye out for seasonal plants, animals and fungi while learning how to spot them in your own backyard.
If you had the chance to meet a talking tree, what would you say? Join Grandpa Tree, Keep reading.
Dive in and see us for some splish splash learning at our water table in Our Big Backyard.
Don a cutie-pie apron to keep clothes dry then have fun with our nature-inspired toys including frogs and turtles (also available for purchase in our Trail’s End Store).
From Our Big Backyard travel to Creature Cavern and observe up-close our friends who also love water year round including red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
It’s the perfect time of year to escape the hustle and bustle by bringing your family to the Museum for a relaxing hike on our Paw Paw Nature Trail or a meeting with one of our many animal friends.
During your visit, make sure to stop by Trail's End Store for stress-free holiday shopping and one-of-a-kind gifts.
With an array of items that promote education and exploring the outdoors, you’ll find unique gifts that are perfect for the entire family -- especially little ones.
Shop an assortment of collectable singing Audubon birds, enlightening insect and reptile guides and some wildly colorful snakes. For the youngest family members, take a look at our collection of... Keep reading.
