3/08/11 ema

HAYS, Kan. -- "A Cretaceous Carnival" at Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History on Sunday, April 3, will raise funds for the museum's Discovery Room through good old-fashioned fun-night games with a natural history theme.

The carnival runs from 1 to 6 p.m.

"The games are for specific age groups," said Thea Haugen, Discovery Room manager. "For younger children there will be a shark pond, a dino rock monster and many others. There will also be prizes for the games if you win."

Admission to the carnival is free and a ticket is not needed to get into the lobby. The games start at 25 cents and go up to $1 to play.

McDonalds will donate free punch for the carnival, which will include a cakewalk and dinosaur cookies. The purchase of a cookie comes with a ticket to win a large stuffed dinosaur.

Volunteers are needed to work game booths, sell tickets and make or buy cakes, pies, and cookies for the cakewalk. Museum staff and volunteers are making stuffed animals and need fiber filling material or fur. The museum is also looking for an air-hockey game to convert for one of the carnival games.

Monetary donations are welcome to help buy prizes. All funds raised at the carnival will be used by the Discovery Room and the education department to buy animal food and supplies.

For more information contact Haugen at 785-628-5517 or 785-650-7431 or e-mail at thaugen@fhsu.edu.