Morrill Hall provides family fun on 'Colorful Creature Day' June 9

            Colorful Creature Day will take place June 9 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall, south of 14th and Vine streets on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus. This afternoon for families will celebrate the fun, furry side of science. Regular museum admission will be charged.

            Colorful Creature Day will feature live animals and art activities in the museum. Various groups will be on hand to give children the opportunity learn about and interact with different creatures, including an alpaca, llama, miniature horse, birds, snakes, butterflies, amphibians, insects and more. At 3:30 p.m., Wildlife Encounters will showcase exotic animals in Elephant Hall, including a kinkajou, alligator, coatimundi, African serval and others.

            Artists will provide animal-related art activities for children and demonstrate their creative talents.

            Mueller Planetarium will present the fulldome show, "Enchanted Reef," a 30-minute adventure exploring the ocean world. Show times are 2 and 3 p.m.

            Presenting organizations include Wildlife Encounters, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Pioneers Park Nature Center, Raptor Recovery, Capital Humane Society, Harmony Hill 4-H Club, Nebraska Herpetological Society, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon, Nebraska Parrot Rescue, Star City Llama and Alpaca 4-H Club, Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators, and the UNL Department of Art and Art History. Support for this event is provided by the Hixson-Lied Endowment.

            Established in 1871, the University of Nebraska State Museum is the state's premier museum of natural history. Hours are 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. Admission is $5 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years, 4 and under are free), and $10 for families (up to two adults and children). UNL staff, faculty, and students are admitted free with valid NU ID. Friends members are free with membership card. There is an additional charge for planetarium shows. Parking is free in front of the museum. For more information, visit www.museum.unl.edu.

Writer: Dana Ludvik