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• Sunday, September 19

  • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • I Can Change the World: Citizen Science in the Classroom (map)
  • NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Cullowhee

  • Even if you don’t consider yourself a “science type,” you and your students can engage in meaningful and exciting studies that will enhance your understanding of the natural world. Cross-curricular citizen science programs allow students to collect and share scientific data with the global scientific community. Teachers have long recognized that students are more engaged in their learning when they are directly involved with topics that are relevant to their lives. Join faculty from NCCAT and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in hands-on field experiences. Explore seasonally appropriate citizen science themes. Tag migrating Monarch butterflies. Band birds on a mountaintop. Delve into the streams and forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Caution: Students contributing to these studies may experience increased civic engagement and scientific literacy, as well as honed observation skills, and enhanced abilities in reading, writing, mathematics, and technology.

    Multi-day workshop; September 19-23

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: No cost to teachers or school systems. Meals, lodging, materials, and substitute reimbursement provided.
  • Class/Workshop: Science Professionals, Other
• • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • The Landscape of Democracy: Our National Parks (map)
  • NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Ocracoke

  • Our nearly 400 national parks offer opportunities for our students to investigate the biology, geology, and culture of important national sites. Join us on the Outer Banks as we learn about “America’s Best Idea” and how the National Park Service is honoring and documenting our history, conserving our natural resources, and helping our communities preserve their own history and environment. Learn about efforts to expand and reach into almost every one of our country’s 3,141 counties. We will explore the Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores to examine the natural and human history of its marshes, beaches, and maritime forests, as well as its lighthouses, shipwrecks, and important historical events. Inspire the next generation of scientists, thinkers, and conservationists. Discover how many of our national parks, having borrowed from the best practices of effective educators, are revamping their programs to include more opportunities for experiential learning. See how the unique formulation of the national parks in the United States reflects and reinforces the idea that our best and most important places should be available and maintained for all, rather than exploited or reserved for a fortunate few. This seminar requires a moderate level of fitness.

    Multi-day workshop; September 19-23

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: No cost to teachers or school systems. Meals, lodging, materials, and substitute reimbursement provided.
  • Class/Workshop: Science Professionals, Other
• • 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
  • NC Mountain State Fair (map)
  • WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher

  • WNC Agricultural Center, the third largest fair in North Carolina, celebrates the heritage of the Blue Ridge mountains, including agriculture, music, crafts, art, food, entertainment, display of livestock, competitions, and midway amusement rides. The NC Mountain State Fair runs September 10-19, 2010.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: $7 for adults/ $3 children 6-12/ children 5 and under free
  • Hands-On Activity, Arts/Performance, Demonstration, Exhibit: Families, General Audiences
• • 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Great Apes (map)
  • North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro

  • Join us for a celebration of the North Carolina Zoo’s great apes! Located in the Africa exhibit region of the park.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with zoo admission.
  • Tour/Open House: Families, General Audiences
• • 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Sunday Science (map)
  • Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham

  • Join us in the garden on Sundays, Sept 12 through Oct 30, for simple drop-in science or craft projects. Each will include something to make and take home. Location in the garden noted at the Front Desk of the Doris Duke Center.

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Hands-On Activity: Families, General Audiences
• • 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • SciWorks Planetarium Shows (map)
  • SciWorks Science Center, Winston-Salem

  • SciWorks planetarium offers several shows throughout the day for various age groups. We also present a live sky tour of the current night sky. Shows and times vary daily so please call ahead. First show at 11:00 a.m. Last show at 3:00 p.m. Several shows daily.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Other: Families, General Audiences
• • 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Live Animal Encounter (map)
  • North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Manteo

  • Come face to face with alligators, snakes, sea turtles and many other live animals in Neptune’s Theater. This program is featured everyday at 11:30 a.m.

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Demonstration, Science Talk/Lecture: Families, General Audiences
• • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Tours of the Eco Industrial Park (map)
  • Eco Industrial Park, Pittsboro

  • Come to Pittsboro for a guided tour of Piedmont Biofuels Eco Industrial Park. Walk through a hydroponic greenhouse, see how clean burning renewable fuels are made from fats, oils and greases, wander through a biodiversity project, see a sustainable farming operation, and get your questions answered about solar thermal, photovoltaics, or about our plant-wall bio filter. Sample some bug spray made from renewable resources and learn about oilseed crushing and other bio-based products and technologies, including valuable soil amendments made by worms!

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Tour/Open House: Families, College Students, Science Professionals, General Audiences, Other
• • 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • The Science and Art of Wine making (map)
  • Shelton Vineyards, Dobson

  • Tour a state-of-the-art working winery and learn about the art and science of wine making in North Carolina. Tour will end with a tasting of 5 wines (must be 21 years of age to sample) and participants will receive a souvenir glass. Tours start every thirty minutes from 10 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. daily.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: $5.00 per person
  • Hands-On Activity, Tour/Open House: General Audiences
• • 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Yates Mill Corn Grinding Demonstrations (map)
  • Historic Yates Mill County Park, Raleigh

  • *Half-Hour Corn Grinding Tours* are offered on the 3rd weekend of each month from Mar – Nov, including September 18-19 (Sat. 10am-4pm and Sun. 1-4pm): Shell corn by hand then see the water mill in operation during ½-hour tours. Learn how the corn-milling machinery works from 19th-century costumed guides. Pre-registration is not required, but is encouraged for groups of 10 or more people. Last tour begins at 3:40pm.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: $5/adult, $3/seniors and children (but those age 6 & under are free)
  • Hands-On Activity, Demonstration, Science Talk/Lecture, Tour/Open House: Families, General Audiences
• • 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Cape Fear Skies: Deep Sky Objects (map)
  • Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Wilmington

  • 3…2…1…Blastoff! Venture into Cape Fear Museum’s portable planetarium and explore the night sky in the daytime. Travel “deep” into outer space to explore nebula, clusters, and galaxies.

    Appropriate for all ages. Parental participation is required.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Hands-On Activity, Class/Workshop: Families, General Audiences
• • 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Animal Encounters (map)
  • North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro

  • Join the North Carolina Zoo for close-up encounters with animals! Located in the kidZone section of the park.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with zoo admission.
  • Demonstration: Families
• • 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • An Afternoon with Adam & Jamie (map)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill

  • “An Afternoon with Adam & Jamie,” cohosts of television’s MythBusters. During the 90-minute program, Adam and Jamie will share stories from behind the scenes of their popular show. They’ll also feature special video presentations of spectacular explosions and other “for fans only” outtakes.

    The program includes a question-and-answer session led by UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp with opportunities for questions from the audience.

    Buy tickets at www.tarheelblue.com. For more details, visit http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news_item&id=598.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Ticket prices vary.
  • Arts/Performance, Science Talk/Lecture: Families, College Students, Science Professionals, General Audiences
• • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Poisonous Plants and Animals (map)
  • Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach

  • Come learn about the “dangerous” plants and animals at Carolina Beach State Park. Learn to identify them to make your experience in the outdoors a safe one. Meet at the Visitor Center at 2:00 p.m. For more information call 910-458-8206.

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Science Talk/Lecture: General Audiences
• • 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • What’s Glowing On? (map)
  • Discovery Place, Charlotte

  • Grab a seat at “The Stage” and discover the science behind luminescent and incandescent light. By the time the show is over, you’ll be an expert on all that shines.

    Put yourself in the spotlight as a contestant in the “Will it Glow?” game show, hosted by one of the Museum’s brightest scientists. Explore the materials that make things glow and take a closer look at items such as the artwork of Vincent Van ‘Glow’ to watch them shine. The show does ‘lights out’ with a BANG! — get a front row seat to the explosive qualities of light.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Class/Workshop, Demonstration, Science Talk/Lecture: Families, General Audiences, Other
• • 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Cape Fear Skies: Deep Sky Objects (map)
  • Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Wilmington

  • 3…2…1…Blastoff! Venture into Cape Fear Museum’s portable planetarium and explore the night sky in the daytime. Travel “deep” into outer space to explore nebula, clusters, and galaxies.

    Appropriate for all ages. Parental participation is required.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Hands-On Activity, Class/Workshop: Families, General Audiences
• • 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Meet the Animals (map)
  • NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh

  • From alligators to opossums, come face-to-face with a new live animal each week.

    Upcoming Topics

    Sept. 11: Insects & Arthropods

    Sept.12: Turtles
    Sept. 13: What do I eat?
    Sept. 14-17: Nocturnal Animals
    Sept. 18-19: Turtles
    Sept. 20-24: Alligators
    Sept. 25-26: Turtles

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Hands-On Activity, Science Talk/Lecture, Other: Families, College Students, Science Professionals, General Audiences
• • 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Science on a Sphere Program (map)
  • North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, Manteo

  • See the Earth like never before with an educational program on our three dimensional sphere at Oceans Revealed. Every day at 2:30 p.m.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with paid admission.
  • Demonstration, Science Talk/Lecture: Families, College Students, Science Professionals, General Audiences
• • 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • A World Apart (map)
  • Discovery Place, Charlotte

  • Learn about the tropical rainforest ecosystem and the species that call it home during “A World Apart”.

    Get acquainted with a variety of species that call the rainforest habitat home and explore the unique features that help them thrive in this one-of-a-kind environment. Keep your eye out for the ball python, a constrictor that uses its 200 vertebra to twist and turn around the rainforest exhibit. You also could meet an iguana hailing from Central and South America that uses its third eye to sense the presence of predators – and friendly Museum visitors.

    Step in to a world where the seasons change from hot to hotter, frogs roam freely and a 20-year old blue and gold macaw looks on as you experience the wonders of the tropical rainforest.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Science Talk/Lecture: Families, General Audiences, Other
• • 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
  • Explore McDowell: Guided Nature Hike (map)
  • McDowell Nature Center, Charlotte

  • Join an educator and discover something new at McDowell. A forest walk, stream study, or an introduction to letterboxing might be on the agenda. Please call 704-588-5224 ro reserve your spot.

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Hands-On Activity: Families
• • 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Cape Fear Skies: Deep Sky Objects (map)
  • Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, Wilmington

  • 3…2…1…Blastoff! Venture into Cape Fear Museum’s portable planetarium and explore the night sky in the daytime. Travel “deep” into outer space to explore nebula, clusters, and galaxies.

    Appropriate for all ages. Parental participation is required.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Hands-On Activity, Class/Workshop: Families, General Audiences
• • 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Sub Zero (map)
  • Discovery Place, Charlotte

  • Join our resident physicist at the “The Stage” to chill out and explore a world below freezing. With materials so cold they can only be touched with cryogenic gloves, you’re in for an icy treat!

    The star of the show is liquid nitrogen – a unique element that’s so cold, when poured out of its tank in a room temperature setting; it turns to gas before even hitting the floor – giving you the chance to frolic in a nitrogen cloud. You’ll watch as it makes a surgical glove as delicate as glass, takes the bounce out of a bouncy ball and causes a penny to shatter with one strike of a hammer.

    Learn more frosty facts about this important element at “Sub Zero”.

  • Event Web site
  • Cost: Free with museum admission.
  • Class/Workshop, Demonstration, Science Talk/Lecture: Families, General Audiences, Other
• • 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Live Animal Talk (map)
  • McDowell Nature Center, Charlotte

  • What does a snake feel like? Can turtles trade shells? Discover these answers and more while you get up close to several resident animals of McDowell Nature Center, the Preserve, and possibly your own backyard.

  • Event Web site
  • This event is free to participants.
  • Hands-On Activity: Families

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