Celebrate ‘NaturePalooza’ at Morrill Hall Nov. 4

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The University of Nebraska State Museum and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources will host "NaturePalooza Nebraska" from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Morrill Hall, south of 14th and Vine streets on the UNL City Campus. Museum hours Sunday are 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

"NaturePalooza Nebraska" provides a day of discovery and hands-on activities throughout the museum with stations staffed by the school's faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students. Activities and games will help visitors better understand Nebraska's rich natural resources and ways to help protect them.

Scientists from various groups within the school will provide interactive stations that explain the science behind Nebraska's water, weather, and wildlife. Topics covered will include birds, fish, plants, geography, groundwater, conservation, invasive species, and more. Here is a small sampling of what visitors may do:

• See live snakes and learn about which species are native to Nebraska.
• Discover what food birds eat by helping to feed a larger-than-life-sized owl and falcon
• Pump water up through a groundwater flow model.
• See a weather station gather data in real time.
• Play a game to test their knowledge about drought.
• Learn about careers working in nature.

Mueller Planetarium will present the new fulldome show "Dark" at 2 and 3 p.m.

The University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Regular admission is $6 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years, 4 and under are free), and $13 for families (up to two adults and children). UNL staff, faculty, and students are admitted free with NU ID. Friends of the Museum are also free with valid membership card. There is an additional charge for planetarium shows. Parking is free in front of the museum.

For more information, contact Dana Ludvik at (402) 472-3779 or dludvik2@unl.edu, or visit http://www.museum.unl.edu.

For more information on Mueller Planetarium, visit http://www.spacelaser.com.