11/08/12 ema

HAYS, Kan. -- Fossils, rattlesnakes and critters are all a part of the winter season at Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

"Rattlerssss! From Fear to Fascination," a 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.

"Junior Naturalists," a monthly program, will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. 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.

From 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, children at the Sternberg's "Critter Scat Investigation" will learn how to identify remnants and reconstruct life and death in the environment. Children ages 8 and older are welcome. The cost for the activities is $15 for non-members and $12 for members. The maximum number of participants is 25, so pre-registration is necessary.

"Digging it! Fossil Workshop" will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. Children can discover, uncover, learn, prepare and take home authentic Cretaceous fossils. This is open to ages 5 and older. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. The event costs $10 for members and $12 for non-members. The maximum number of participants is 12.

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 and do art, music and group activities. Pre-registration is required.

On Tuesday, Nov. 13, there will be no Sternberg After School for grades two and three and no Sternberg After School on Wednesday, Nov. 21, for grades four and five.

The winter hours for the Sternberg Museum are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays through March.

Visit http://sternberg.fhsu.edu/ for information and registration.

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