My kiddos and I just got to preview a very exciting exhibit over at the Arizona Science Center called Earth Explorers. The traveling exhibit is presented by National Geographic in association with GES. My family really enjoyed the exhibit because it had many hands-on activities and because of its focus on exploring the world around us. I liked it because there was a lot for the kids to do that required the use of their imagination. Here is my son taking a ride in a pretend submarine.
We toured the exhibit with a group (Blended Extended) and all the kids loved that the exhibit had a cool volcano experiment. The Arizona Science Center staff member did an amazing job.
Earth Explorers has a lot of fun elements and there is really something for everyone. The exhibit features six themed environments, each with areas to explore and various interactive activities to entertain and educate visitors. Here are the six areas (from the GES site):
- Base Camp: Visitors will start their “adventure” by climbing aboard an off-road vehicle used by filmmakers and scientists in the field. The vehicle will contain video monitors showing actual footage captured by explorers in the ecosystems featured in the exhibit.
- Polar Regions: Guests will enter an interactive Arctic cabin and learn what scientists need to survive harsh conditions while studying polar bears and other Arctic life. In the Antarctic section, guests will learn about penguins and other species native to this polar region.
- Oceans: Inside a replica deep-sea submersible, visitors will take a dive to study undersea life—and dive even further and discover thermal vents and bizarre creatures dwelling miles beneath the ocean’s surface. They will learn about great white sharks and their hunting habits through a dorsal-mounted “Crittercam.”
- Rain Forests: Guests will enter a themed outdoor lab to study the diverse ecosystems and the animals living within these complex environments.
- Mountains & Caves: Visitors will climb a mountain and learn about the animals that make their homes there, and explore a crystal cave featuring an interactive activity that will allow users to touch and illuminate a selection of crystals.
- African Savannah: Visitors will take a simulated balloon ride above the African savannah and see how ecologists use aerial surveys to study and document animal migrations. They will learn tracking methods used by scientists, and can take part in an interactive activity matching scat samples with the animals that produced them.
Take your family out to experience this exhibit and have fun exploring!
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