Butterfly Kingdom - Conservatory

A donated private collection of more than 100,000 mounted insect specimens will be showcased. While the collection was created for its beauty and educational value, it includes dozens of extinct and rare insects of value to scholars. Our theater will continuously show educational nature videos. Lectures and demonstrations will take place regularly, aimed at children, students, and adults in rotating fashion and will be equipped with distance learning equipment. Live insects from approximately 50 species will be exhibited. Many insects may be touched and handled under supervision from staff. Live video feeds from the emergence room, the science labs, and the flight room will be available on video monitors throughout the complex, over the Internet, and on distance learning equipment. The outdoor butterfly gardens will attract thousands of native butterflies, and guests will learn how to recreate the gardens at home through lectures and posted information. Special attention will be paid to flower enthusiasts, gardening clubs and entomology groups. Hands-on "Please Touch" demonstrations will take place regularly. Trained staff will remove appropriate live specimens from their homes and allow them to be handled by visitors. Dozens of video microscopes and cameras will be available for the students and public to use. Interactive kiosks will teach such subjects as insect life cycles, butterfly rearing, Monarch migration, rainforest rescue and non-pesticide insect control methods. Models and toys in the Learning Center, as well as hands-on science displays, will interest busy hands. Guests will be encouraged to touch large insect sculptures, and children will find several areas in which to safely crawl and play. There will be plenty of education and involvement outside in the butterfly gardens, with fountains, interpretative nature walks, flower pathways, and large water features. Most will be labeled to enhance understanding and learning. Through new technology, each visitor will have the option of listening to their own audio program, customized to their own age, preferences, interests and language. A family might well have many different stories to tell each other about what they learned. Live Internet video feeds of events and information, as well as the emergence room and conservatory will be available to the world 24 hours a day.




Exhibits A donated private collection of more than 100,000 mounted insect specimens will be showcased. While the collection was created for its beauty and educational value, it includes dozens of extinct and rare insects of value to scholars. Our theater will continuously show educational nature videos. Lectures and demonstrations will take place regularly, aimed at children, students, and adults in rotating fashion and will be equipped with distance learning equipment. Live insects from approximately 50 species will be exhibited. Many insects may be touched and handled under supervision from staff. Live video feeds from the emergence room, the science labs, and the flight room will be available on video monitors throughout the complex, over the Internet, and on distance learning equipment. The outdoor butterfly gardens will attract thousands of native butterflies, and guests will learn how to recreate the gardens at home through lectures and posted information. Special attention will be paid to flower enthusiasts, gardening clubs and entomology groups. Hands-on "Please Touch" demonstrations will take place regularly. Trained staff will remove appropriate live specimens from their homes and allow them to be handled by visitors. Dozens of video microscopes and cameras will be available for the students and public to use. Interactive kiosks will teach such subjects as insect life cycles, butterfly rearing, Monarch migration, rainforest rescue and non-pesticide insect control methods. Models and toys in the Learning Center, as well as hands-on science displays, will interest busy hands. Guests will be encouraged to touch large insect sculptures, and children will find several areas in which to safely crawl and play. There will be plenty of education and involvement outside in the butterfly gardens, with fountains, interpretative nature walks, flower pathways, and large water features. Most will be labeled to enhance understanding and learning. Through new technology, each visitor will have the option of listening to their own audio program, customized to their own age, preferences, interests and language. A family might well have many different stories to tell each other about what they learned. Live Internet video feeds of events and information, as well as the emergence room and conservatory will be available to the world 24 hours a day.		Conservatory Updates Construction Site to Come Alive in January 2001!