Rainforest Field Trip

Today we ventured out to the NC Natural Science Museum downtown.  This was my first time driving downtown by myself.  In fact, my apprehension over driving myself had kept me from checking out the any of the museums downtown.  What got me to conquer my fear today was a friend organizing a field trip to see their new "Rainforest" exhibit.  As it turned out, the drive was easy, parking a breeze and the downtown safe and clean.

We gathered as a large group in the main lobby (probably about 30).  The museum itself is free so the kids immediately started to explore the exhibits on the first floor while we waited.  It is a first class museum rivaling the natural science museum in other large cities I've seen.  The museum comprises two buildings one with four floors and other with three, connected by a walk way on the second floor.  We were only able to see the first building today.

The special exhibit on the Rainforest was up a couple floors up.  The kids were anxious to stop and explore each floor but we needed to stay with the group till we were done with the exhibit. The exhibit itself was a simple maze designed to teach kids about the Rainforest.  For the most part it was below the age of my oldest and above the learning interest of my youngest.  However, the hands on activities kept Amber and her cohort Lily quite happy and busy; such as the "web", rope forest and spinning the wheel of life.  Lily's mom, Lauren, and I were kept busy keeping track of them.  Lily and Amber are a great rough and tumble duo.  When the pumped heads at one point this was the conversation "You O.K?" "Yeah I OK, You OK?" "Yeah" and off they went again.  

After the group had had its fill of the special exhibit we went off to explore the museum.

On the fourth floor was a beautiful dry forest exhibit with beautiful butterflies from Costa Rica.  They had hanging between the floors skeletons of various whales which led to a discussion about Jonah and which whales/ sharks we thought most probable to have swallowed him.  Another favorite part of the museum was the dinosaur models.  Lauren and I particularly like this one because it was behind a glass door with only one way in and out.  So when Amber and Lily went in we could relax for a moment and talk, without worrying about where they had teleported to next.

We ended up staying longer than I expected about three hours.  By the time we left everyone was exhausted.  In fact, Amber fell asleep on the way home.  I look forward to returning and seeing all that we missed.  Why not? It's FREE!