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Exhibit Information

Our new 2009-2010 exhibit has many exciting, fun and educational features:

• Broaden your natural knowledge in Nature Joe's Nature Station.
• Set sail for the deep sea in our ship/underwater adventure.
• Channel your inner artist in our Arts and Crafts Zone.
• Purchase, prepare, and serve a healthy meal in our Discovery Market/Kids Kitchen and Dining area.
• Immerse yourself in Nature Joe's Awesome Aquatic Adventure. This beautiful aquarium features Pink Belly Side Neck turtles, Neon Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras, and Panda Corydora.
• Our Infant and Toddler Area is a fenced off, safe area for our youngest visitors. You can lose yourself on an African Safari and seek shelter from the hot sun under the lush green plants, or purchase a safari tour from a zebra or giraffe. Age-appropriate toys and puzzles are available. A fun and colorful three-dimensional mural provided by the LeMasters family surrounds this bright environment!

Semi-Permanent Exhibits

Some exhibits travel in and out of the museum because they have permanent, established sponsors who donate materials or underwrite the cost. These exhibits are not usually in the museum all at once.

• Robotics: build and expand your own robot.
• Observation Deck: look through a periscope, microscope, telescopes, kaleidoscope, and binoculars into the outside world.
• Grocery Store: shop using kid-sized carts and bag it up at the real checkout belt and counter.
• Light and Dark: make light patterns on the Light Board, watch laser patterns, and make lightning on the Lightning Table.
• Wood Shop: build something using hammers, drills, saws, and other tools.
• Take-aparts: take apart computers and household appliances, and try to figure out how they work.
• Creative Space: make craft and art projects with a variety of materials.

Past Exhibits

Destination Mars
This exhibit offered a MarScape, photos from Mars and Earth, a weighing-on-Mars activity, a space library, interaction with live weather reports of Martian weather conditions, a volcano-making activity, a Martian Meteorite, virtual tours and touchable terrains.

Nature and Me
This exhibit allowed visitors to explore nature that surrounds us and learn about the impact we have on one another. Visitors explored trees, insects, and mammals, visited a forest campsite, and examined the effect of fire in nature.

Great Explorations
Featured lightning, magnets, a grocery store and diner, robotics, and a construction zone. Filming and toddler growth areas were also included. Lots of science and creative exploration highlighted this exhibit!

The Secret Life of Trees
"The Secret Life of Trees" exhibit provided children with an understanding of and appreciation for the natural history of trees, especially those in and around the Four Corners area. It allowed children to view trees in ways that they never had before, by being able to walk "inside" a tree, play a game in which they were "trees" trying to live through adversity, and becoming "beavers" that built dams out of trees. There were many hands-on activities and weekend workshops that extended children's learning about trees and their value to our community.

This exhibit won an award from the Colorado Tree Coalition, which is a state-wide, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people plant and properly care for trees in their community.

Kokopelli's World
Children were able to grind corn using ancient manos and metates, discover artifacts in an archaeological dig, climb down a ladder into a pit house, and explore a canyon maze.<

Seeds, Shovels, and Sun: A Garden's Life
Children learned about gardens by using gardening tools, exploring the miracle of seeds growing into plants, and shopping in a mini Farmers Market.

Goin' Batty
Kids learned about the natural history of bats through various hands-on activities. They could flap like a bat by wearing a harness with bat wings and being hoisted in the air; eat what bats eat at the Bat Café; and learn how baby bats find their mothers in a dark cave.

Trash Terminators
In this exhibit, children learned about the three R's - reduce, reuse, recycle - and the natural resources used in producing medicines and products.

Museum Hours:
Wed - Fri
10:00 - 5:00
Sat - Sun 1 - 5

Closed
Monday & Tuesday

Available for Scheduled Parties by Appointment

Admission:
Adults: $4.00
Age 3 & up: $5.00
Under 3: FREE
Grandparents: FREE
Family of 4 or more: $15
Donations appreciated

802 E. 2nd Ave
Upstairs in the
Durango Arts Center
970-259-9234
970-259-6320 fax
Email us!

Museum Manager :
Ashley Hein

Museum Facilities Manager :
Dawn Jose

Floor/Administrative Assistant:
Tiffani Waters

DDK Committee :
Libby Baumchen
Amber Belvin
Dana Burns
Kelly DiGiacomo
Joe Duckett
Emily Korce
Sara Tippie
Elise Wilson



DDK Board Area