Food, Fun and Flashlights Make ‘Nature by Night’ an Engaging Campus Feature

The Schisler Museum features many different exhibits. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen The Schisler Museum features many different exhibits. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
The Schisler Museum features many different exhibits. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
The Schisler Museum features many different exhibits.
Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen

By Yaasmeen Piper
Staff Writer

Enter a world where creatures roam at night, and explore the universe full of stars and planets interacting, and you can do it all in your jammies.

Tomorrow is the start of the “Nature by Night” tours in the Schisler Museum, as well as a film shown in the McMunn planetarium. Visitors are taken by a tour guide through the darkened museum with flashlights in hand as they focus on different animals in each exhibit.

“Visitors learn about animals from around the world that come out at night, how they interact with each other and their environment and their adaptations to life in the dark,” said Catherine Klingler, one of the creators of “Nature by Night.”

The “Nature by Night” tours began in November of last year.

“Flashlight tours are very popular in other museums, and we’re happy to be able to offer them here,” exclaimed Klingler in her email.

The tours are designed for families and or groups with children ages 4-13.

The Schisler Museum is located in Sci-Tech. Photo Credit / Lauren Shook
The Schisler Museum is located in Sci-Tech.
Photo Credit / Lauren Shook

As well as the museum tour and planetarium film, crafts and goody bags are also featured.

Klingler states that she and her co-workers are working with ESU’s education and science faculty to come up with more programs and activities that give people chances to learn and expand their scientific knowledge.

“We are very excited to be able to offer visitors another perspective on the world around them!”

The Schisler Museum is well-known for holding interesting tours and guides.

As stated in their mission statement, “The Schisler Museum of Wildlife & Natural History and McMunn Planetarium inspire wonder, exploration, understanding and stewardship of the natural world through engaging collections, educational programs and innovative relationships with a diverse community.”

Exhibits featured in the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History include “The Frozen North,” “The Cold Forest,” “Canyon Country,” “The Verdant East,” “Ducks and their Relatives,” “The African Bush,” “Deer and their Relatives” and “Insects of the World.”

The tours are available 6-8 p.m. Feb. 3, Mar. 3, Apr. 7 and May 5. Registration can be accessed on the ESU website. Hurry, attendance is limited, and don’t forget you PJs!

Email Yaasmeen at:
ypiper@live.esu.edu