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Embark on a captivating exploration of the miniature wonders in our ecosystem through a series of Nature Journaling Workshops at the Butterfly Pavilion. Led by an expert artist and environmental educator, each workshop unveils a new topic within the enchanting realm of invertebrates – from butterflies to spiders and beetles. Participants will learn to intricately capture these delicate creatures in their nature journals, combining art and scientific observation. Whether you're an experienced artist or a curious nature enthusiast, join us to delve into the fascinating world of invertebrates, gaining a deeper appreciation for their significance in maintaining the ecological balance. Don't miss the chance to ignite your creativity and understanding of nature in these hands-on, educational workshops.

About the Instructor - Catie Michel: Catie Michel is a seasoned scientific illustrator with a deep-rooted passion for capturing the intricate details of the natural world. With a portfolio that spans numerous publications, exhibitions, and collaborations with leading researchers, Catie brings both artistic finesse and scientific rigor to her instruction. Her ability to intertwine art and science creates an enriching learning experience that encourages participants to view the environment through a new lens.

Topics:

June 22  - Pollinators  

July 27  - Beetles 

August 31 -  Color in the Natural World 

October 26 -  Spiders  

Experience Butterfly Pavilion like never before for the first-ever Adult Pride Night!

Dive into the colorful world of invertebrates with our first-ever Adult Pride Night at Butterfly Pavilion. Engage with local drag performers dressed in their best invertebrate-inspired costumes at each of our exhibits, while learning from our animal experts. Witness captivating performances, indulge in delectable bites from Berries and Biscuits, meet our community partners, and discover ways to support our conservation efforts. Join us for an unforgettable experience! 

Little Miss Muffet may have been afraid, but you won’t be as you learn about spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions, camel spiders, daddy longlegs, and ticks. Review the evolutionary history of arachnids, the natural history and biology of the different groups, and the medical and economic importance of these animals. Live guests may drop by for an eight-legged howdy do!

Biography: Paula Cushing received her Ph.D. in 1995 from the University of Florida. In 1998, she began her position as Curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Her research focuses on the biodiversity, taxonomy, systematics, and evolutionary ecology of arachnids, particularly spiders and wind scorpions, or solifuges. She has published numerous scientific articles as well as popular articles about spiders and insects. She is also very active with the American Arachnological Society and the International Society of Arachnology and has served as President of both these scientific societies.

Syllabus:

Tuesday, October 1st

Introduction to Subphylum Chelicerata, Class Arachnida

· Pycnogonida and Xiphosura

· Palpigradi – micro-whip scorpions

· Opiliones – daddy longlegs or harvestmen

· Acarina – mites and ticks (begin, live guests)

Thursday, October 3rd

· Acarina – continued; microscope exercise

· Ricinulei – hooded tick-spiders

· Pseudoscorpiones -- pseudoscorpions

· Solifugae – camel spiders or wind scorpions

Tuesday, October 8th

· Solifugae – continued (sex video!)

· Scorpiones– scorpions (live guests)

· Schizomida – short-tailed whip-scorpions

Thursday, October 10th

· Amblypygi – tailless whip scorpions (live guest)

· Thelyphonida – vinegaroon or whip scorpion (live guest)

· Araneae – spiders (just a taste and live guests (but not a taste of live guests!)

Experience a rejuvenating yoga class in our tropical rainforest. Led by one of our rotating instructors, classes provide an amazing opportunity to transcend the hustle and bustle of daily life as you practice amongst the butterflies in our conservatory.

Due to this program being in high demand no refunds or date change requests can be made for this program. All tickets are final purchase.

In the animal kingdom, reproductive strategies and sexual characteristics show incredible diversity. From mating rituals to reproductive systems, understanding this variation is key to unraveling evolution's mysteries. In this lecture, we explore this diversity, starting with sexual differences like size and coloration driven by mate selection and competition. Moving beyond traditional ideas of sex, we look at unconventional strategies and their advantages. We delve into various mating systems, driven by ecological and social factors, showcasing the diverse adaptations and their implications for evolutionary biology.

Your instructor: Arachnologist Jackie Billotte M.S

Join Butterfly Pavilion in creating safe places for pollinators when you build your pollinator hotel on Father's Day! First, check out the native pollinators currently residing in Butterfly Pavilion's own pollinator hotels. Then, participants will be supplied with all the tools and instructions to build and decorate their very own pollinator hotel while learning more about native pollinators, who you can expect to use your hotel, and what more you can do to help protect and conserve all pollinators.

Includes:

- 1 Pollinator Hotel Per family (you may request a max of one per kid)

- Exhibit admission for each person attending (waived entrance fee for members)

- Learn from one of Butterfly Pavilion's invertebrate experts

Butterfly Pavilion's annual Pollinator Palooza Festival is just around the corner on June 29 from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Get your tickets today!

Get your tickets online & save! Admission at the door is $1 more than online.

Tickets only valid for the date selected.

Front Doors lock at 4:15 p.m.

Tickets must be reserved for children under 2.

Please see Visitor Information or FAQ page for more information.

Looking for the best time to visit Butterfly Pavilion? View our live occupancy tracker!

Homeschoolers and your families, these days are reserved especially for you! Take advantage of these exciting opportunities to explore our engaging exhibits and interact with thousands of invertebrates! Each Homeschool Day incorporates themed activities great for all ages. These include various invertebrate investigations, talks with real scientists, fun crafts, and more.

May 23, 2024: Earn your green thumb with our gardening homeschool day! Learn about pollinators and native plants through fun classes and gardening projects. 

June 18, 2024: Join us for engaging outdoor classes and activities that explore the vital roles played by mosquitoes and other invertebrate "pests" in our ecosystems. Learn about their functions around the world and why they're essential for our planet during this special outdoor homeschool day! 

Butterfly Pavilion membership is your all-access pass to discovery! Individual membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for one adult
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off guest admission

Butterfly Pavilion membership is your all-access pass to discovery! Just for Two membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for one adult and one guest
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off guest admission

Butterfly Pavilion membership is your all-access pass to discovery! Family membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two adults and four children (add a caregiver for $15)
• Three one-time use guest passes
• $2 off guest admission

Butterfly Pavilion membership is your all-access pass to discovery! Friends and Family membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two adults and six children plus two guests
• Three one-time use guest passes
• 50% off guest admission

Butterfly Pavilion membership helps support our research, conservation and education efforts.

Pollinator Protector membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for four adults and six children plus two guests
• Four one-time use guest passes
• 50% off guest admission

Two favorite cultural attractions have teamed up to offer you two great membership packages at one low price!

Combo membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two named adults and six named children (add an unnamed adult for $36)
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off guest admission

Gift the gift of science learning, invertebrate exploration and year-round entertainment that will engage and inspire!

Individual membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for one adult
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 to 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date. Gift memberships are activated in our system at the date of purchase and expire at the end of the month one year from the date of purchase.

Gift the gift of science learning, invertebrate exploration and year-round entertainment that will engage and inspire!

Just for Two membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for one adult and one guest
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 to 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date. Gift memberships are activated in our system at the date of purchase and expire at the end of the month one year from the date of purchase.

Gift the gift of science learning, invertebrate exploration and year-round entertainment that will engage and inspire!

Family membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two adults and four children
• Three one-time use guest passes

• $2 off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 to 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date. Gift memberships are activated in our system at the date of purchase and expire at the end of the month one year from the date of purchase.

Gift the gift of science learning, invertebrate exploration and year-round entertainment that will engage and inspire!

Family Plus membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two adults and six children plus two guests
• Three one-time use guest passes
• 50% off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 to 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date. Gift memberships are activated in our system at the date of purchase and expire at the end of the month one year from the date of purchase.

Gift the gift of membership to help support our research, conservation and education efforts.

Pollinator Protector membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for four adults and six children plus two guests
• Four one-time use guest passes
• 50% off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 - 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date.

Two favorite cultural attractions have teamed up to offer you two great membership packages at one low price!

Combo membership includes:

• Unlimited admission and benefits for two named adults and six named children in the same household
• Two one-time use guest passes
• $2 off general admission for additional guests each visit

About gift memberships: Fill out the online membership form with your recipient's information. Gift memberships are processed within 1 to 5 business days. Recipients do not receive an email confirmation. Gift memberships are sent via First Class mail to the address specified on the form. We do not guarantee delivery or arrival by a specific date. Gift memberships are activated in our system at the date of purchase and expire at the end of the month one year from the date of purchase.