"Animal Secrets" Revealed! at the Delaware Museum of Natural History, Starting May 24, 200

Wilmington, Delaware – If your kids ask questions like, "Where do chipmunks sleep?" or "How do mother bats find their babies in a cave?" the Delaware Museum of Natural History (DMNH) can provide the answers in a new special exhibit, Animal Secrets, on view May 24 through September 1, 2008.

Using role-play and hands-on activities, families can discover nature from an animal’s point of view in five different environments: stream, woodland, meadow, cave, and naturalists’ tent. See the world from an eagle’s nest…pretend to be a chipmunk gathering food for the winter…help a raccoon family escape from a hungry fox. Then act out the role of a naturalist and examine tracks, skulls, fur, bones, and other specimens to find out more about woodland animals.

“Animal Secrets builds on children’s inherent curiosity about the world around them and helps foster a sense of wonder about nature,” said Teresa Messmore, the museum’s manager of marketing and communications. “The exhibit is designed to encourage family learning and has both English and Spanish text panels to reach a broad audience. Animal Secrets helps young children develop science skills through play and exploration, and also offers parents tips on how to support their children’s interest in science.”

A stream table, chipmunk’s den, woodland cave, tree root system, and naturalist's area offer hands-on activities that engage the mind and body. Puzzles, crafts, scientific tools, and items for role play provide a fun, educational way to examine the natural world.

Animal Secrets will be on display from May 24 through Sept. 1, 2008. The exhibit was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon. Animal Secrets was made possible with funds provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Additional support provided by the Collins Foundation and Meyer Memorial Trust. The exhibit is presented locally by DuPont.

About the Delaware Museum of Natural History
As the only natural history museum in Delaware, DMNH opened its doors in 1972 to excite and inform people about the natural world through exploration and discovery.

May 7, 2008   Posted in: United States East