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The California Academy of Sciences Presents
Earth Day 2003: Rainforests of the World
Two-Day Festival, April 5-6, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO (March 28, 2003) - Butterflies, birds, and a binturong,
oh my! On April 5 and 6, the Academy's halls will be crawling with these
and other live animals from many of the world's rainforests, including
brightly colored beetles and frogs, free-flying macaws, and even a two-toed
sloth. Part of the Academy's annual Earth Day festival, these animals
will inspire visitors to celebrate and protect the biodiversity of the
world's rainforests. In addition to meeting - and sometimes touching -
live animals during the festival, visitors will be able to sample sustainably
harvested rainforest products, make tree-free paper and other rainforest-related
crafts, view award-winning rainforest documentaries, and even take a tour
of a real rainforest with guides from Strybing Arboretum. All weekend
long, visitors who ride their bicycles or take public transportation will
receive free admission to the Academy. Complimentary, secure bicycle parking
will be provided near the front entrance. For more information, see the
Earth Day weekend program descriptions below. All activities and programs
are free with museum admission.
SPIRIT OF THE RAIN FOREST 2:00 both days
Get transported to the most wondrous rainforests in the world with live
animal encounters. Meet a two-toed sloth, a binturong, a squirrel monkey
and a kinkajou, and then see them in their natural habitats in a slide
presentation.
BIRDS OF THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST 11:30, 1:30, 3:00 and 4:00 both
days
Meet birds from around the world, including free-flying scarlet macaws
from the Amazon basin, rare parrots from Papua New Guinea, a rhinoceros
hornbill from Indonesia, and much more. Presented by renowned bird handler
Joe Carvalho.
MINI-FILM FESTIVAL 11:30-1:00 both days
Come see award-winning documentaries and Academy research films. Drop
in anytime, stay as long as you like and eat low on the food chain with
vegetarian brown bag lunches. These no-waste lunches are fully compostable,
including your eating utensils! Films are free, fee for lunches.
THE RAINFOREST BUG ROOM 11:00-5:00 Saturday
Spectacular insects are one of the trademarks of the world's tropical
rainforests. Come see the Academy's "Oh My!" collection of insect specimens
and get your hands on some living creepy crawlies - if you dare!
THE RAINFOREST CRAFT CENTER 11:00-5:00 Sunday
Make your own tree-free paper or get creative with an all-recycled art
activity. Then watch while sustainably harvested tagua nuts, known as
vegetable ivory, get carved into jewelry.
ANIMAL EXTRAVAGANZA 10:00 - 4:00 both days
One frog, two frog, red frog, blue frog - plus snakes, skinks, geckos
and iguanas, too! Have a head to head encounter with these exceptional
inhabitants of the world's rainforests.
TALES FROM THE RAINFOREST 1:00 Saturday
Ruth Halpern has been collecting and telling stories around the world
for more than twenty years. In this program, she shares traditional tales
from various peoples living in the world's rainforests.
TAKE A RAINFOREST TOUR WITH STRYBING ARBORETUM both days
What makes a forest a rainforest? This weekend, compare plants from a
high elevation rainforest, or cloud forest, with plants from California's
redwood forest. Then join guides from Strybing Arboretum for a walk through
their cloud forest groves just down the street.
DO THE LEMUR LEAP WITH THE ZOO 11:00 - 3:00 both days
Join the San Francisco Zoo in learning about some of the rainforest's
longest leapers -- lemurs! Test your jumping skills and see how you measure
up, examine a lemur's skull, and learn about their rainforest habitats.
PRODUCT SAMPLING both days
Join Odwalla and Whole Foods Market in sampling organic, sustainably harvested
fruit juices and food products. Aveda Environmental Lifestyle Store will
also be on hand to demonstrate beauty products that contain extracts from
sustainably harvested rainforest plants.
FAMILY STORYTIME 10:30 both days
Join Academy librarians for stories from the rainforest in this weekly
lap-sit program for young children.
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