By: Beth Bemis

Explorit Science Center announces its 1997 Pre-Holiday Science Adventure Drawing and Membership Drive! This year's grand prize is a "Pacific Northwest Science Adventure" which includes two round-trip tickets to Seattle, Washington, plus free admission to the Pacific Science Center.

The Pacific Science Center features robots, dinosaurs and a giant IMAX screen 3.5 stories tall. There are five buildings packed with hands-on exhibits for children of all ages. Explorit's grand prize winner will be able to explore Pacific Science Center's national traveling exhibits, view a show at the great IMAX theatre, don a virtual reality helmet and go hang gliding, and even play one-on-one basketball with a computer opponent in Virtual Hoops.

The grand prize winner can also discover science all over Seattle! The Woodland Park Zoo features a 92-acre botanical garden, home to over 300 animal species from nearly every corner of the globe. The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium brings you eye-to-eye with sea bears and sea sharks from icy beluga whales to playful polar bears. The Seattle Aquarium is your window to Puget Sound and beyond in their underwater Dome.

Other scientific adventures available in the Seattle area include the Museum of History and Industry, the Museum of Flight, and the Burke Museum where you can walk through a walk-through volcano. And, of course, you can visit the famous Space needle which has been newly remodeled.

Other prizes in this year's Science Adventure Drawing include an exciting simulated Olympic bobsled ride, and a tour of Lake Tahoe on the same boat used by President Clinton and UC Davis researchers to explore the lake's murky depths. You could also win a Tasco 4.5 inch telescope, a customized birthday party at Explorit for ages 3-10, and admission for two children to one of Explorit's spring or winter vacation classes. And don't forget dinner for 4 at Sudwerks, two tickets to see Eroica Trio on May 3, 1998, and a colorful iguana t-shirt.

And best of all, you get the benefits of Explorit Membership! You get free admission to Explorit for one year, as well as free admission to over 200 science museums worldwide. So wherever you go, you can delve into new sights, sounds, and scientific intrigues. You also get discounts in the Explorit store, discounts on Explorit classes and special events and the quarterly newsletter, Science Centered.

So join today, or renew your membership. Membership also makes a wonderful holiday gift for that special someone. And with every membership, you get more chances to win all of these fabulous prizes. The drawing will be held on December 22. For membership information, call Explorit at 756-0191. You can sign up over the phone with your Visa or Mastercard, or sign up in person and start using your membership today!

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What's a wetland and what lives there? You can get an answer to this question and a chance to see one of the region's newest attractions on Saturday, November 15, when Explorit sponsors a family field trip to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, located just off Interstate 80 near the causeway. From 9:00 a.m. - noon, families can enjoy an in-depth tour of the new 3,700 acre Wildlife Area. This will be a driving tour with several stops and short walks. Space is limited, so call Explorit at 756-0191 for more details and to reserve a spot. Also, look here next week for more information on this fun-filled nature and bird-watching tour!

Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is "Native Ways: Plant and Tool Use of Western Native People." Public hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $3; members, teachers, and children under 4 are free. For more information, call Explorit at 756-0191.