Cranbrook Institute of Science

April 2015

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Daily Planetarium and Bat Programs April 6-10

The planetarium will offer special weekday programming on the hour from 10:30am until 3:30pm each day during Spring Break. Preview trailers and schedules online. Bat Zone tours also will be available at 12:30pm and 2:30pm each day. Planetarium and bat program tickets information is online.

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Astronomy, the wilds of Michigan, and the science of taste are on the schedule this month at the Institute of Science. Join us and explore.

Please note we will not be open to the public on Sunday, April 5.

Go Science!

Blast Off Into Space During Spring Break!

Discover the details of the Cosmos with hands-on activities during Blast-off with Astronomy throughout Spring Break, April 6-10. Visitors will learn about the scale of the Universe, star clocks, and comets from 1-4 pm, each day. We'll build models of the solar system, explore the relative sizes of the planets, take a space trivia challenge, and more. Check for special show times for the Planetarium and Bat Zone too. Blast-off with Astronomy is free with admission. Planetarium and Bat Zone shows are available at an additional charge. Learn more and check our Facebook page for special events throughout the week.

The Nature Conservancy Says Let's Get Wild!

SCIENCE TALKS, the Institute's popular lecture series in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, continues on Thursday, April 16 when Patrick Doran takes us to the "wild" places in Michigan and the Great Lakes. Patrick will explore where to experience wild in Michigan, and what we are doing to protect those places for the future. Two more lectures are planned, including a reschedule of February's lecture when Mary Khoury will explain what "connectivity' means in our river systems and why it is so important on June 11. Learn more.

CIS After Dark Explores "Taste"

CIS After Dark invites adults 21 + to spend an evening at the museum experiencing the science of taste by diving into the culinary experiences of Southeast Michigan during "Taste After Dark" on Thursday, April 23 from 7 - 10pm. Guests will guess where their favorite libation falls on the pH scale and then test it, study taste sensing to discover whether or not they have a certain gene, and try new molecular concoctions that local foodies are creating using science. Special activities like owl pellet dissection (no tasting, please) and the chance to talk to a local health safety inspector about food allergies will make this an unusual night out! Preregistered tickets are $10 for Members and $15 for non-Members. At the door day of event tickets are $20 for everyone.

Get Ready for a Close Up With a Moon Rock During Spring Break

As part of the Institute's Cranbrook Space Odyssey comprising two exhibitions in one, a moon rock is on loan to Cranbrook from NASA's John Glenn Research Center until April 21. If you are not getting to the Smithsonian during Spring Break, don't despair-our moon rock is bigger. Complementing the Institute's own astronomical collections and research facilities, Cranbrook Space Odyssey offers visitors the opportunity to explore our galaxy and beyond. Highlights include rarely seen desert glass specimens formed by asteroid impacts from the Institute's own collections, and a space suit from the Apollo 8 flight. Many interactives make this the ultimate in family fun.Learn more!

Indoor Exploration and Survival Outdoors-it's Summer Camp 2015

Cranbrook Institute of Science is now taking reservations for curious campers who want to explore science this coming summer. Campers ages 5-14 are invited to register now to utilize Cranbrook's 319-acre "outdoor laboratory" and the resources of a museum to discover the wonder of science and create a lifetime of memories and learning experiences. Week-long camps begin June 22 and run through August 10. To review camp selections visit our website or call 248 645.3210 for a 2015 Explore Science Summer Camp Guide.

Scouting Programs Available Through May 2015

Only at Cranbrook Institute of Science can Boy and Girl Scouts dig for fossils, soar into outer space, or spend a night in a museum sleeping among the exhibits! The Institute's Scouting Programs offer Scouts the chance to work with professional scientists who are active in their fields and the opportunity to interact with a unique, world-class collection of objects and artifacts. Our experts work with your group to teach Scouts about a variety of scientific topics through interactive workshops and hands-on activities. Workshop fees include the cost of general admission. For more information about Scouting at Cranbrook please visit our website.