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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: February 3, 2006
Author: Tom Wickersham

EXPLORIT TAKES PART IN MUSEUM DAY

Tomorrow is Museum Day, and Explorit Science Center is taking part in the celebration.

As one of 24 museums participating in this annual event, Explorit's doors will be open from 10 am to 5 pm, with the last visitors being admitted at 4 pm. A variety of hands-on activities will be taking place throughout the day, giving visitors a nice sampling of Explorit's programs. Admission is free to this all-day event.

Mackenzie Tysell Yamamura, the center's program director, feels that Museum Day is a great opportunity to introduce Explorit to many new families in the area. "We're looking forward to showcasing our programs and our expansion plans," she said.

Museum Day is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums, of which Explorit is one of the newest members. The association is comprised of a wide range of museums that focus on such things as history, art, transportation, wildlife and science.

Tomorrow's Museum Day is the eighth annual event, which last year drew over 60,000 people through turnstiles.

As part of the festivities, Explorit staff and volunteers will bring out sample activities from many of the center's programs, like the popular "Science in Your World" traveling program. Additionally, many guest presenters and scientists will also provide activities and demonstrations.

"It's a great way for visitors to get a taste of what Explorit has to offer," Yamamura noted.

Sacramento Association of Museums chairwoman Evangeline Higginbotham says there's quite a diversity of museums in our area. "Most Sacramentans don't realize the scope of activities taking place every week at our region's museums," she said.

Because of the high volume of traffic, officials with the association suggest visitors limit the number of museums they see to two or three.

Among the guests appearing at Explorit tomorrow are Linda Fitz Gibbon and Lucy Wright Rivers, the artists behind the classes that developed the outdoor mosaic bench located in the front yard. Visitors will have a chance to learn about the project and the science and art classes currently underway.

Also presenting will be the Yolo Amateur Radio Society, which will have ham radios up and running so visitors will have the chance to chat with others around the world.

Visitors to Explorit will have the chance to get a closer look at the museum's expansion plans, through information, posters and models of some of the exhibits that will be featured in the new building once it's up and running.

Explorit's showcase of programs and presenters is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Museum Day is supported by Starbuck's Coffee Company. Some activities are subject to weather condition.

More details about Museum Day, including a list of participating museums, can be found at www.sacmuseums.org.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "Catch a Wave: The Science of Light and Sound" runs through Mar. 12. 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.