09/13/12 ema

HAYS, Kan. -- Butterflies, rattlesnakes and endangered species are all a part of the fall season at Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

"Rattlerssss! From Fear to Fascination," an educational temporary exhibit featuring live specimens of the 22 species of rattlesnakes found in the United States, is currently the featured exhibit. It is on exhibit through the end of winter.

From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, children at the Sternberg's Monarch Mania can capture, tag and release Monarch butterflies as they make their migration to Mexico. Children ages 5 to 12 are welcome. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The cost for the migration activities is $12.50 for non-members and $10 for members. The maximum number of participants is 25.

"American Icons: Threatened and Endangered" will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Stories of decline and recovery will be told. Live animals will include a peregrine falcon, gray wolves, an American alligator and more. The event is free for elementary schools. Schools must register to attend.

Eco-meet, a chance for high school students to show what they know and win scholarships, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27. Events are interpretive, require focus, and include habitat tests and a scavenger hunt. The event is limited to high school and eighth-grade teams who have pre-registered.

The Girl Scout Campout will be from 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Participants will spend a night at the museum with hiking, a campfire, astronomy and more. The event is open to all Girl Scout age groups. Scouts under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. Registration is $15 per person. Snacks and breakfast will be provided.

October events include:

Digging It Fossil Camp from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, and Wednesday, Oct. 3.

From 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, is Friday Evening at the Museum.

Fossil Day is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Bats, Snakes, Spiders and Creepy Things is from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.

From 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, and Monday, Oct. 29, the Sternberg Museum will put on the Haunted Museum in time for the Halloween holiday.

Ongoing events include Sternberg After School from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays for grades two and three and Wednesdays for grades four and five. Students will receive hands-on science enrichment a the museum and do art, music and group activities. Pre-registration is required.

Junior Naturalists, a monthly program, will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Participants will earn badges as they explore different fields of science, such as biology, geology and paleontology with the experts. This is open to ages 8-15 and costs $12 per person per program for members and $15 per person for non-members. The series costs $100 per person for members and $125 per person for non-members.

For more information on any events in September and October, contact James Leiker, education director at the museum, at 785-639-5249 or jaleiker4@fhsu.edu.