Big Backyard features 10,000 square feet of outdoor-inspired fun that includes the restored Richman Gordman Zooland Animals, which were acquired by the museum last April. The animals were refurbished by Iggy's Auto Body of Omaha. A campaign to Bring Back the Pack of animals gathering funds and memories is still in progress at BringingBackThePack.org.

Areas of the exhibit include:

Play-Around Pond - This play dock is surrounded by "water." Kids will delight as they fish from the dock and get in and out of the water.

Discovery Path - A nature trail made with living trees and foliage from Mulhall's offers green nature-play. A scavenger hunt gets kids to take a closer look at their surroundings as they search for bugs and other backyard delights.

Camp Have-Some-Fun - This area features a kid-focused camp site with tents and sleeping gear, a pretend campfire, storytelling and activities from Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Plantin' Pits and Garden Shed - Kid-sized gardening and farming tools in the garden shed can be used in the oversized planting pits. Kids can use mowers and other equipment to help care for the Big Backyard.

BBQ Hut - Kids become chefs at this multi grilling station complete with real barbecue aromas and chef dress up. After they cook up delicious barbecue, children can serve their friends at kid-sized picnic tables.

Putt-Putt Place - This putting green has kid-sized putters and holes where kids can work on basic golf and coordination skills.

Trike Track - Kids can ride on the trike track, make deliveries and even test-drive a kid-sized semi truck.

Parents' Pergola - The pergola features three waterfalls and plenty of seating for visitors to the Big Backyard. A 42" screen shows the history of the Zooland animals and thanks exhibit supporters.

OCM Zooland - The new home for the restored Zooland Animals, OCM Zooland is the habitat for the elephant, camel, kangaroo and hippo!

"Big Backyard is extra special for many reasons including the beloved Richman Gordman Zooland Animals coming back for a new generation of children," said Lindy Hoyer, Omaha Children's Museum executive director. "Big Backyard is a wonderful example of what our community can do when they come together for our children. We cannot thank all those who have been involved in the creation of this exhibit enough."

Big Backyard, was developed with numerous community partners and donors including: Gordmans, Mulhall's, Clear Creek Landscapes, Watkins, Gorges Volvo, Kiewit Building Group, Backyard Playworld, NP Dodge, Cox, Oriental Trading, Carmax, The Robert H. Storz Foundation, Werner Enterprises, Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council, Acreage Fences, Millard Lumber, Heartland Scenic Studio, Brain Injury Association of Nebraska, NMC, Puritan Manufacturing, Energy Systems, Frontier Fuel Lines at Gaslines.net, IBEW NECA, Iggy's Auto Body, All About Grass LLC, Electric Fixture and Supply, Judy and Bill Wimmer, Kelli and Mark Gustafson, Danielle and Jeff Gordman, Shirley and Richard McVicker, Cindy and Scott Heider and many others who contributed specifically to the restoration of the Zooland animals.

The exhibition is opening shortly after the museum won a major national award from the Association of Science-Technology Centers for the creation of its first community-driven exhibit, Construction Zone, that was open from January through April of this year.

The Bringing Back the Pack Family Block Party is a special ticketed preview event on Friday from 6-9 p.m. The event will feature live music from The String Beans, backyard games, play in the museum, giveaways and the first look at the restored Zooland Animals as they are revealed. Each child will receive an envelope, one will contain a golden ticket. The child who receives the golden ticket will be the first to slide down the elephant's trunk slide. Tickets are $12 for museum members and $15 for non-members and are available at ocm.org.

Opening day activities will include backyard games and giveaways throughout the day.