Crawl, climb and fly with “Amazing Butterflies” at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Opening Weekend September 17 – 18; exhibit runs thru Jan. 8
San Antonio, TX--- This fall, the San Antonio Botanical Garden invites visitors to journey through one of the planet’s most amazing lifecycles and transform from butterflies into caterpillars at its Amazing Butterflies interactive maze exhibit from September 17, 2011 through January 8, 2012. Amazing Butterflies was created by the Natural History Museum in London in collaboration with Minotaur Mazes.
In Amazing Butterflies, visitors experience the challenges of being a caterpillar as it morphs into a beautiful butterfly through a hands-on maze of larger-than-life leaves, grass and trees. Along the way, they discover the ways caterpillars move, what they eat and how other creatures help them achieve their transformation.
Opening weekend (September 17-18) activities include butterfly workshops for children and adults; children’s arts and craft activities; live butterfly tent; music; food; and more. The Austin Bike Zoo will entertain with four amazing butterfly bicycles, offering rides and fun.
“The timing of Amazing Butterflies couldn’t be better, since fall is when our local butterflies are most active and people can watch their magical life cycle unfold in their own backyards,” said Bob Brackman, executive director of theSan AntonioBotanical Garden. “And what a bonus that the fall is when the Monarch butterflies are migrating throughSan Antonio.”
The Amazing Butterflies adventure begins as visitors look through eggs to see caterpillar friends climbing on leaves and beginning to feed. Families can learn to crawl like a caterpillar by slipping into a set of caterpillar legs and use teamwork and locomotion to sprint for the finish line. Visitors will discover why carpenter ants inPanama defend metalmark caterpillars from parasitic wasps and other predators; they can also feed a caterpillar its lunch through team games and contests.
Once the transformation from pupa to butterfly is complete, kids can practice flapping giant butterfly wings while avoiding spider webs that lurk around every turn. The “Nectar Food Path Puzzle” and “Squeeze and Sniff” stations explain how butterflies find food by sight and smell. Children and adults can find a butterfly mate by creating a wacky dance and then learn how butterflies select a specific plant on which to lay their eggs.
Visitors can mark their progress as a butterfly by stamping a souvenir garden card at eight stations before zooming out of the maze as a butterfly on “The Monarch Monorail!” Those who turn cards stamped at all locations will earn a prize.
Why a maze? “A maze exhibit provides a physical and mental challenge that is both entertaining and educational for children and adults,” said Sasha Kodet, Botanical Garden education director. “Unlike some traditional exhibits, the visitor for Amazing Butterflies will be immersed in a hands-on, body-in manner, taking them to the far reaches of fun, discovery and exploration.”
Educators are invited to a special preview of the Amazing Butterflies exhibit on Thursday, September 15 from 6-8 p.m. (before it opens to the public). More details on the preview and a curricula guide for teachers are available by contacting Kodet at sasha.kodet@sanantonio.gov or 210.207.3270.
The Amazing Butterflies exhibit is free with paid admission to theSan AntonioBotanical Garden at $8 for adults; $6 for students, seniors, and military; and, $5 for children age 3-13. Botanical Society members have discounted or free admission, depending on membership level.
“This is a great time to join the Botanical Society and enjoy 38 acres of plush gardens and discounted or free admission to this exhibit and all the other upcoming great events at the Botanical Garden for families and adults, including Concerts under the Stars, Bootanica, Starlight Movies in the Garden, Dog Days of Summer, Art in the Garden, and Gardens by Moonlight,” said Candace Andrews, managing director, San Antonio Botanical Society. The San Antonio Botanical Society is the 501(c)(3) non-profit support organization specifically established to support theSan AntonioBotanical Gardenin its role of inspiring people to connect with the world of plants, and understand the importance of plants in our lives.
For more information, the public can call 210-829-5100 or visit www.sabot.org.
The Botanical Garden is operated under the auspices of the City of San Antonio Department of Parks & Recreation and is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Media Contact: SellMark
Dianne Powell, Marketing Coordinator
210-824-9474 (office), 210-887-8777 (mobile)
E-mail: dpsellmark@aol.com
Please call for photos, advance interviews and additional information
Media Contact:
SellMark
Dianne Powell,
Marketing Coordinator
210-824-9474
(office), 210-887-8777 (mobile)
E-mail: dpsellmark@aol.com
July 2011
Please call for
photos, advance interviews and additional information
Media Contact:
SellMark
Dianne Powell,
Marketing Coordinator
210-824-9474
(office), 210-887-8777 (mobile)
E-mail: dpsellmark@aol.com
July 2011
Please call for
photos, advance interviews and additional information
Media Contact:
SellMark
Dianne Powell,
Marketing Coordinator
210-824-9474
(office), 210-887-8777 (mobile)
E-mail: dpsellmark@aol.com
July 2011
Please call for
photos, advance interviews and additional information
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