Date: March 5, 2010

Forget March Madness, Explorit's new exhibition is going WILD!

Explorit Science Center's newest exhibition, "Wild Planet", will open on March 6. Anna Grace, Explorit's Exhibit coordinator explains, "I'm really excited about this exhibition because it's going to give us a chance to feature loots of our coolest specimens." The interactive display will continue through May 23 at the hands-on museum at 2801 Second St. in Davis.

Visitors can explore three themes in their upstairs exhibition: unusual plants and ecosystems, animals and their many adaptations, and geological phenomenon related to weather, volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes and human exploration of this wild planet.

A few highlights:

o Would a flea make a good high jumper? Find out the answer to this question and determine what animals would make the best Olympic athletes.

o Create your own animal and see how well you can camouflage this creature against its natural habitat.

o Get a feel for being a meteorologist as you create your own windsock and examine data in our outdoor weather station.

o Explore how sonar is used to map the ocean floor.

o Get an up-close view of weird and wild animals and plants from around the world and get face to face with a tarantula and scorpion.

Explorit has new visiting hours. Beginning March 6, their new hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Every third Tuesday of the month is "Free Tuesday" sponsored by the Kelly Foundation. For more information visit www.explorit.org for up-to-date information.

Special programs can be arranged for schools or groups; call (530) 756-0191 for more information.

Admission is $4 general, free for ages 3 and under. Teachers with ID and Explorit members are also admitted free of charge. Everyone can enter for free on the third Tuesday of every month.

The center fronts Interstate 80 in Davis. From Sacramento, take the Mace Boulevard exit north and turn west on Second Street.

More information is available by calling (530) 756-0191 or visiting www.explorit.org.

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