Spring Break Means Live Animal Science At WonderLab

The critters are coming to WonderLab! Lizards! Dogs! Snakes! Raptors! WonderLab has you covered this Spring Break. During the week of March 12, the Monroe County  Community School System Spring Break, individuals and families alike can learn about some of their favorite critters during one of three Science Live! Programs.

“We know that these programs will spark wonder about the natural world,” said Nick Whites, WonderLab’s Outreach and Elementary Education Specialist.

The week starts off with Indiana Jim’s Reptile Experience on Tuesday, March 13, with two shows – the first at 1:30pm and then again at 3pm. In these interactive shows Indiana Jim, amature herpetologist, and his wife Python Pam, will help audience members feed and touch a variety of reptiles from Indiana and around the world. These animals include Flash the red foot tortoise, Bart the basilisk lizard, and Yoda the prehensile tail skink.

Then on Thursday, March, 15 at 1:30 Wildcare Inc., a Bloomington based animal sanctuary for injured wild animals, will introduce visitors to critters from the Hoosier wild.  

Rehabilitation and release is the goal for all injured animals brought to Wildcare however, for a variety of reasons this does not work for some animals. These animals then become Animal Ambassadors, featured at educational events to teach conservation and animal science. During the WonderLab Program visitors might meet Tortuga the box turtle, Alastor the american crow, Todd the red fox, River the Wood Duck, or Valentino the barn owl.

“WildCare Inc. promotes a better understanding of our wildlife,” Whites said. “What role does an animal play in the natural ecosystem? Is an animal prey or a predator? What’s it’s diet? Does it live in a den or a nest? What animal questions can Wildcare answer for you?”

Finally, on Saturday, March 17 watch in wonder as Animal Trainer Sarah DeLone’s special pups perform Dog Tricks and More. Two separate shows will be presented. The first show begins at 1pm. The second showing is at 3pm. The dogs will show off skills they’ve worked to master including duck herding, agility and jumps, and weaving.

Sponsors for the Science Live events are Beth and Rudy Rand, the Keaton Eric Piper Endowment Fund, and the Frank Nelson Jr. Endowment Fund.

Tickets for the Indiana Jim’s Reptile Experience and WildCare Inc. shows are $2 dollars for members and $3 for non members, plus museum admission. The program, Dog Tricks and More with Sarah DeLone, is ticketed, but free with museum admission.  Tickets for all the Science Live programs will be available at the front desk on the day of the shows. These programs are sponsored by the Frank Nelson Young, Jr. Fund, the Keaton Eric Piper Memorial Fund, and Beth and Rudy Raff.