TOMORROW IS A SPECIAL FREE ADMISSION DAY

Ears are amazing tools. They allow many species of animals to escape danger. They provide other animals with the ability to find and catch prey that is often very small, when visibility is low. Explorit's newest exhibition, "What an Animal! Fins and Feathers and Other Creature Features," explores animals' many different adaptations including an activity that allows guests to learn more about their ears and experiment with how they work.

Tomorrow Explorit will host a Family Explorations program focused on the amazing world of animals from 1-4:00p.m. The program is part of a special Free Admission Saturday, where admission to the event and the exhibition hall will be free. Tara Barbier, Explorit's public programs coordinator explained that the Family Exploration, "will focus primarily on local ecology."

Activities include a glimpse into the world of an entomologist, a how-to guide on tracking local animals and a local animals coloring book guests can create and take home. "My favorite part of these family programs is that I often experience the very contagious excitement that exudes from the visitors as they are making a discovery for the first time," explained Barbier while discussing Saturday's event.

The Mace Ranch Community Park, in which Explorit is situated, is also home to a wide range of animals and a great place for budding entomologists and animal-ologists of all types to explore. A burrowing owl preserve is located within the park. Guests are encouraged to pay a visit because, as Barbier suggested "being diurnal the owls can often be seen during the day."

The many owl boxes and the large valley oaks also provide important homes for animals of all types. The rose bushes, long grass and the undersides of rocks provide homes for smaller creatures. Guests to the Saturday event are encouraged to bring their own tools for observing these creatures. Explorit will also have binoculars, bug nets, magnifiers and insect aspirators (a little insect vacuum) on hand.

After exploring one of Davis's ecosystems, the Mace Ranch Park, visitors may want to examine another local ecosystem, pond water. Although the water may at first appear clear the many ponds throughout Davis are home to a wide range of creatures. When looked at through the lens of a microscope a whole world of living animals will become visible. 

Visitors should also make sure to stop by the exhibit hall tomorrow. Inside is a wide range of activities and experiments focused on many different amazing animal adaptations. Guests can learn how scientists examine teeth and skulls to determine what animals eat. They can also experiment with different bird beak designs to learn how different birds' beaks have adapted to the food they eat. There is also an activity that highlights the difference between blubber and fur. Throughout the museum there are fur samples, skin samples, claws, teeth, antlers and horns - all available for visitors to gently touch.

Anyone who is curious to observe some local wildlife or learn more about why that wildlife always seems to hear them coming should visit Explorit tomorrow. Admission to the museum and the event is free. 

The Free Admission Saturday is sponsored by First Northern Bank, and the "Amazing Animals" program is sponsored by Davis Waste Removal.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "What an Animal! Fins and Feathers and Other Creature Features" runs through June 11. 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.