By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published November 25, 2024
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — For those who do not plan on spending the day after Thanksgiving holiday gift shopping, Cranbrook Institute of Science is hosting an event all about dinosaurs.
Paleo Blitz will take place on Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During the event, there will be 12 different hands-on activity stations throughout the museum as well as three public lectures about dinosaurs and paleontology in the exploreLAB. Paleo Blitz is geared towards all ages.
With general admission into the museum, Paleo Blitz activities are free. Among the many interactive activities include Megalodon Mania, Dakota’s Incredible Journey, Dino Defense Design and a Paleo Scavenger Hunt.
Timothy Urban, Cranbrook Institute of Science program presenter and dinosaur enthusiast, said he is looking forward to guests experiencing Megalodon Mania.
“The Megalodon is the largest shark that has ever existed,” Urban said.
“There are so many cool, interesting facts about it, but what I think is really interesting is that this amazing, powerful shark went extinct. Part of what this table goes over is how amazing the shark was and why it actually did go extinct.”
Janet Beylin, the Institute’s public programs coordinator, said the activity “Fossil or Faux?” is intended to inform guests about the importance of casts and their use to museums and research.
“(Casts) actually let people touch, handle and explore so much more than if we were limited to just the real things,” Beylin said.
Guests will have the opportunity to go on an adventure through the museum during the scavenger hunt to find all the treasures.
“The scavenger hunt highlights all sorts of fossils that are all over the museum. Some of the fossils that it highlights tend to kind of get, like, overshadowed by some of the other larger, more eye-popping exhibits,” Urban said.
“I really wanted to design a scavenger hunt as a way to celebrate all fossils, including the smaller ones that are on display as well.”
For a small additional fee, guests can check out the programming at the exploreLAB, including “Tour the Jurassic,” “Live Bug Feeding,” “Dinos Drawn Wrong” and “Diets of the Giants.” During these programs, participants will have the opportunity to get up close with real fossils and live insects.
To join the fun at the exploreLAB, nonmember adults, children (ages 2-12), and seniors (65 and up) can purchase tickets for $5. Nonmember children under 2 years old are $1. Family or companion member tickets are $4 for adults, children (ages 2-12) and seniors (65 and up), and free for children under 2 years old. The nonmember fee is added on top of general museum admission. Back Stage, All Access, and Galactic Members can experience the exploreLAB for free.
For more information on the event, visit science.cranbrook.edu/visit/events/2024-11/paleo-blitz.