Science Institute Field Trip

Last Friday we visited Cranbrook Institute of Science and the Bat Zone located on the same campus. Our field trip was sponsored so we had no cost to attend, which was a huge blessing!

We started downstairs in the special exhibit which was about climate change in Michigan and several other special exhibits.

Did you know mastodon bones were found in Michigan? Quite close to where we live, in fact.

Saw an adorable little shrimp animal.

Progressing upstairs to the regular exhibits, we first saw some large fossil skeletons like the T-rex that's terrorizing Emily, as well as a humongous sea turtle. An extensive mastodon exhibit has a full-size model of that animal and much information, including the local connection.

Other exhibits were cultural differences between people groups, a kinetic machine (see photos), rocks, crystals, and botany, among other items of natural history.

We took a break for lunch and then headed to the bat exhibit. The Organization for Bat Conservation has a laboratory that houses over 90 bats, as well as a sloth, sugar gliders, and probably some other animals too. We got to see the animals up close and personal, as you'll see in the photos.

Since the bat house is in a separate building, we were able to enjoy the lovely sunny day as we returned to the museum for a few more minutes before heading home.

Note: James was much happier than he appears in photos. It seems that he has a personal conviction that prevents him from smiling for posed photographs.

Enjoy the photos! (Despite James and his pout....)

Oh yes, I forgot to mention - you won't see David in these photos as he was unable to attend.