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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: January 23, 2004
Author: Kimberly Bernick

A WORLD OF PUZZLES AWAITS VISITORS TO EXPLORIT TOMORROW

The opportunities for discovery and fun are seemingly endless this weekend at Explorit Science Center. Visitors of all ages are invited to take advantage of Explorit's free Saturday and enter, admission free, into an exciting world of mysteries, forensic evidence, and mindbending puzzles.

Explorit Science Center's current exhibit, "Get a Clue! Solving Mysteries with Science," is guaranteed to bring out the detective in everyone. As visitors enter the exhibit hall, they are immediately surrounded by the exciting world of forensic science. Numerous stations, boasting everything from mystery bone identification to chromatography, provide visitors with a different bit of forensic knowledge. 

Tomorrow's hours are 11 to 4:30.

As visitors gradually make their way around the main museum floor they are "acquiring the forensic knowledge necessary to solve the final mystery in the kitchen," said Karen Cebra, exhibition coordinator. Cebra continued, "The mystery in the kitchen is actually quite realistic in that it has no stated specific answer. Each visitor must come to his or her own conclusions, based on individual interpretation of the evidence."

While visitors brush up on their mystery solving skills in the Exhibit Hall, Tara Barbier, Family Explorations coordinator, will have the West Wing immersed in "Puzzlemania" from 1-4:30 tomorrow. This Family Exploration features puzzles, games, and mindbenders for every level of puzzler. 

Besides the pure joy that comes from an afternoon immersed in a world full of games, "visitors will also have the option to bring home a bit of the fun in the form of a take-home Mancala game," explained Barbier. Mancala is a challenging game of skill and strategy that originated in Africa. It is also one of the many games that will be temptingly available to lure curious visitors into the "Puzzlemania" event on tomorrow. 

After a satisfying and mentally challenging afternoon of problem solving and discovery, visitors are always welcome and invited to take a nature walk in the animal filled fields behind Explorit. The leafless trees are perfect locations to spot hidden bird nests, generally hidden by the thick foliage. The burrowing owls, hiding in their cozy holes, are another intriguing example of the wildlife that makes its home near Explorit Science Center.

Whether driven by a love for games, the desire to know more about the intriguing and mysterious world of forensic science, or merely the simple urge to spend a fun-filled day learning side by side with other curious wonderers of all ages, Explorit Science Center is the place to be this weekend. And don't forget. Tomorrow is admission free!

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is "Get a Clue: Solving Mysteries With Science," which continues through March 7. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.