ML Interest Tag: extinct

You Better Believe It! Ripley’s Comes to OMSI

by Anna Doogan

For the lovers of “Why?” OMSI’s newest exhibit is perfect for them. The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! goes beyond wowing your little ones and gives them a little scientific 411 to Ripley’s famous discoveries. Your tots can compare themselves to an animatronic replica of the world’s tallest man or find Bumblebee from Transformers and see exactly what makes his gears churn. Intrigued? Read on to discover more about this interactive exhibit.

                                                                                                              photo: Anna Doogan

Going Beyond the Wow Factor
Seeking “the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained” since 1918, Robert Ripley traveled to over 200 countries in 35 years, gathering incredible stories and interesting artifacts from around the world. Today, his collections are housed in over 32 museums all around the world, dazzling audiences with exhibits that must be seen to be believed.

This newest exhibit from Ripley Entertainment Inc., demonstrates the “how” beyond Ripley’s fascinating and peculiar discoveries. Visitors of all ages will find their curiosity satisfied as they explore a room of Perceptions and Illusions to the wild Gallery of the Unexpected. They’ll also be able to witness how advanced technologies and tools can unravel and explain the mysteries of our world.

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

What to See (and Believe):

The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has an eyeful of curiosities to check out, but here are a few that you and your little explorers won’t want to miss:

Learn about extreme biology and see how your height measures up against the towering skeleton of the extinct Elephant Bird. Then, check out the enormous Bumblebee transformer made out of used car parts. For real eye-opening amazement, watch daring footage of actual sword swallowers and learn about their precise techniques.

Head to the Gallery of the Unexpected, where you can peek through a microscope to observe incredible sculptures that fit on the head of a pin, before cruising by a Rolls Royce made out of over one million matchsticks. Don’t miss the portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. made out of postage stamps, or the Justin Bieber created from candy! It’s no science how those are made, but your little one will love the quirky aspect of it.

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

What to Get Your Hands On:

Ready for a more hands on experience? Let your young adventurers investigate and explore the interactive parts of The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Don’t leave these things off of your agenda:

Climb up into a giant Chippendale chair that was built for one of the world’s tallest people. Explore the science of height while testing the “How Tall Will I Be?” computer activity. You can even measure yourself with a giant ruler next to the animated likeness of Robert Wadlow, a man who grew to be almost nine feet tall. (Be sure to stick around for a few minutes to see him stand to his full size before sitting down again).

Then, crawl through the open jaws and into the body of a life-sized Titanoba replica—the largest species of snake that ever lived.

Visit the Weird World area to touch a real meteorite and examine dinosaur fossils. Visit the Perceptions and Illusions room to create colorful silhouette art with your body, or test your skill at unlocking and opening the perplexing Mystery Gate. Finally, finish your visit by posing for a great family photo inside the jaws of an enormous Megalodon shark (that’s one for the holiday cards).

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

 

Know Before You Go

Some of the more eye-popping displays in the exhibit can be a bit startling, including a collection of shrunken heads, a calf with two faces and large animal skeletons. Know your little science lover’s temperament and keep an eye out for the displays you may want to steer away from.

When: May 21-Sept. 7
Hours: Tues.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $9.50/youth (3-13) and seniors (63 and up); $13/adults; FREE/members and children under 2
Parking: $5
1945 SE Water Ave.
503-797-4000
Online: omsi.edu/ripleys-believe-it-or-not

Have you checked out The Science of Ripley’s Believe it Or Not!? Let us know what you thought in the comments below!

—Anna Doogan

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7 Magnificent Reasons to Visit Leach Botanical Garden

by liz overson

It was once the private estate of John and Lilla Leach; world-travelers, botanists, and all around cool Oregonians who called their expansive garden and manor home Sleepy Hollow. Rad. They collected flowers and plants from all over the globe then gave them a home here. The Leaches bequeathed their estate to the City of Portland and the public was able to come traipsing through starting in 1983 thanks to a partnership with Friends of Leach and Portland Parks & Rec. Wait until you see this place. What an aptly-named gem it is – simply because you cannot help but relax and be inspired at the same time. Urban oasis anyone?

Sleepy Hollow err…Leach Botanical Garden boasts lots of room wander, explore, uncover and discover. It’s never crowded, consistently lovely and always free. With almost seventeen acres of awesomeness waiting, get ready for creek-side mosey-ing, winding trail exploring, native and unique plant, succulent and flower sniffing and stone step skipping. It’s such a magical place, it’s easy to forget how close to home(s) you are.    

The Johnson Creek Footbridge is open and awesome. This bridge isn’t always available to cross, but now in Spring it is open for all the joy you can muster. Yahoo! Kiddos and grownups will love walking on (right over the) water. Be sure to pause and take in the scene from here. It is a gorgeous place to be and like every bridge over bubbled water–it leads to some hidden delights on the other side like:

A very stop-and-play-worthy stone cabin, perfect for young ramblers to claim as their own. Ninja house? Hansel and Gretel’s lair? Princess or fairy cabin? Whatevs! The stone cabin is the perfect spot for a picnic or snack break and some good ol’ fashioned imaginary play.  

You can hug a dinosaur! Yup, you can. He loves hugs. But you can’t ride him. He’s not quite that strong. See if you can find this extinct garden delight and when you do get those arms around him. Stat! And be sure to say hello to the plant pot people, too. You’ll know ‘em when you see ‘em. 

Honeybee Hikes, summer camps and other classes keep it real. Really amazing that is! There seems to always be something cool happening for the kiddos here. Especially when school is out. Keep the learning and adventuring going strong with a few hours, days or a week of guided learning and discovery. The Leach Botanical Garden web site is a bevy of info about their award winning summer programs and their partnership with Audubon means you never know who (or should we say hoo-hoo) might be stopping by.


The Children’s Nature Fair is coming soon! Last but oh-so-far-from-least, mark your calendar for this annual collaboration with Johnson Creek Watershed Council, Zenger Farms, Portland Parks EE, Audubon Society of Portland and EEAO.  Blooming on Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, this year’s Children’s Nature Fair theme is Nature Explodes! and will feature volcanoes, oozy geology, arts & crafts, slug races, 25 cent mini ice cream cones, live music, ladybug walks, worm activities and something billed as the Mad Science’s Fire & Ice Show. Ok, sold. See ya there!

Leach Botanical Garden is free (donations welcome) and open Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

6704 SE 122nd Ave
Portland, OR
503-823-9503

–Liz Overson

What did you do on your last visit to Leach Botanical Garden?

Photos courtesy of Leach Botanical Garden Facebook page and Liz Overson

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These Boots Are Made for Walking: 6 Great Kid-Friendly Hikes

by Beth Shea

One of the best things about living in Portland is the beautiful backdrop of nature that acts as an expansive, communal backyard. There are exquisite hikes to be enjoyed around every corner of the city; here we highlight six kid-friendly trails that will keep the whole family entertained while trekking about in Portland’s great outdoors.

photo courtesy of Paul Schultz on Flickr

Tryon Creek State Park
The moss-covered towering trees and lush flora and fauna at Tryon Creek make strolling along the easy walking trails an enchanting escape and favorite outing among the pint-sized set. In addition to endless nature discoveries, from seeing sprouting mushrooms to detecting bird calls, kids will revel in views of a waterfall and stream, and enjoy playing at the quaint playground at Marshall Park, which is located just beside one of the many trails.

Salmon River
Don’t think we forgot about the little ones. For those families hiking with toddlers, the trails along the Salmon River are perfect for exploring the outdoors without much strain. The trail is relatively flat the whole way and stays close to the river. Here, salmon migrate the the sea upstream, so if you go during peak season, be on the lookout. The first two miles of the trail are the easiest, so the younger set may not want to hike much further.

Powell Butte Nature Park
Comprised of 608 acres of forest and meadowlands, Powell Butte, an extinct cinder cone volcano, is now home to an array of animals–from birds of prey to deer, coyotes and foxes. Miles of paved, easy to navigate trails accommodate hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. It’s a great place to watch the sunset with the whole family.

photo courtesy of Michael Newton on Flickr

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
If you’re looking for an impromptu hike without having to drive miles out of town, this 140-acre natural flood plain wetland is located just a few minutes from the bustling town of Sellwood — but hiking here makes you feel like you’re deep in nature. A bird-watcher’s dream, you may even spot a bald eagle on your journey. If kids still need to expend some energy after this hike, take them to nearby Sellwood Park to enjoy an awesome playground adventure.

Washington Park
Great for hiking with the younger set, Washington Park is full of short trails that your kids can explore in almost every direction. Make your way towards the Hoyt Arboretum for some of the more scenic hiking spots. The trails are named after the trees you’ll find scattered along each path, and are typically in full bloom come spring and summer. Once you’ve had your fill of hiking, there’s still a bunch of other kid-friendly activities in Washington Park: the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Children’s Museum, and the World Forestry Center.

Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Featuring 1.5 miles of paved trails, and 3.5 miles of soft-surface trails, this 222-acre wildlife preserve is conveniently situated in Beaverton. Kids will love the park’s free guided nature hikes and ranger programs, which will enable them to explore local ecosystems and connect with their environment. Relax on one of the benches that pepper the paths and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet with your little ones.

Does your family love to tackle the outdoors? Leave us a comment below sharing your favorite spots to take the kids hiking.

— Beth Shea

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