Ecotarium Trip

Last week we visited the Ecotarium in Worcester MA. We were already scheduled to visit Higgins Armory but that group tour didn't start until 1:00 pm so we figures might as well add in a morning stop if we're driving 2 hours south. I researched a little and found the Ecotarium, which looked to be a fun place to spend a few hours. As a bonus the Ecotarium was only minutes away from Higgins Armory. We arrived at the Ecotarium at 10:00, right when they opened and decided to see the inside exhibits first and then do the outdoor trails and exhibits.

As we begin our tour of the Ecotarium Tristan ponders this giant clam, below.

Most of the indoor exhibits were based on specific biomes or animal habitats. There was one room dedicated to the various parts of Africa and the plants and animals that live in those areas.

On the first floor there is a Curators shop which you can almost miss but I'm glad we didn't. There are many, many curious items to explore and ask the curator about. We spent about a half hour there discovering fossils, unusual seeds, sharks teeth, a Narwhal bone, skulls and other random items of nature.

Also on the first floor there were many microscopes set up with things to look at.

and water ehibits to explore. There were ocean, lake and pond tanks housing the types of animals found in New England in those water areas.

Upstairs was more about plant diversity and also a pretend wooded area where one can see how many animals they can spot in just a small corner of the forest. Amazing how many creatures will call just one tree and the surrounding and underground areas home.

There often seems to be a penny press at places like this and they are a magnet for my kids who HAVE to make a pressed penny and then usually lose it before we get home!

There was also a nice gift shop upstairs with a variety of science kits and large and small trinkets to consider buying. I was glad to see items in all price ranges, sometimes museum shops are so pricey but here you could get small souveniers for only a dollar or two.

As usual the animals were the highlight of the trip for my kids. There were animals inside and outside the museum.

There were also nature trails, Tristan takes a break along the way.

Kenda the polar bear was the absolute highlight of the visit.

Before long it was time to head to our next destination but not before a dinosaur encounter!

The dinosaur was not real of course but the kids had fun pretending. Then we had a picnic lunch before heading onto the second part of our day. The Ecotarium was a fun place to spend a few hours. Younger children than mine would also have play areas to explore and storytelling that is just for them and may have wanted an additional hour at the museum. Had we had a little longer we would have taken in a planetarium show. Lots to do and although not really enough for a full day trip for older kids, the ecotarium it was indeed a nice place to spend a few hours.

Higgins Armory trip

On April 27th, the day after Tristan's birthday, we headed to Higgins Armory in Massachusetts with the homeschool group. We may not get very far distance wise with our trips, never really getting out of the Northeast due to work, finance, special needs and needy pets to consider, we hopefully make up for lack of distance with the sheer amount of day trips and running around the northeast we do. In my experience with my own children and their learning I do find there is a place for textbooks but the best learning seems to happen by doing or experiencing.

We had been to Higgins armory before, Trevor and Hayley were of an age to remember but Colin and Tristan were babe and toddler in the double stroller and I don't remember it at all. I'm sure I was busy caring for said babe and toddler. I also went there as a child and remember it jjust a little. One thing I didn't remember at all was the imposing steel and glass building, wow it really stands out there in Worcester MA! It took us about 2 hours to drive there and a few recalculations by the GPS when we were within a mile of the building but finally we arrived and took in the sight of the armory building.

What a building, and what a knight on top!

John Woodman Higgins built this amazing place in 1929 when his collection of arms and armor took over his home and his wife said enough!

It's a grand place to enter, you feel like royalty or as if you've been transported back many, many years.

At the start of our visit we watched a show about armor, some of our group was chposen to help with the demonstations, Tristan was a little dissapointed that he didn't get to hold or wear some armor during the show.

After the show we had a guided tour of the museum. I only added a sampling of pictures but there are arms and armor of many styles all over the place. The great hall was magnificent and we learned a lot about armor over history. Even learned that Darth Vader's mask was patterned after some ancient armor.

Tristan enjoyed taking some pictures oh his own on the dsi he had gotten for his birthday the day before.

Towards the end of our visit we spent some time in the kids room at the armory. There the kids could try on some armor, play with medieval types of toys and take some silly pictures. Tristan enjoyed this room.

There was also a fantasy, dagon type room filled with the stuff of mythology, that was a lot of fun.

Before leaving for the day we spent one last visit looking at the dog armor, one of the highlights of the museum.

Then of course the requisite trip to the gift shop where a few fun items were bought to enjoy on the long ride home.

Winter photos

Winter

Ok you know it's bad when you start blogging by season not by the day! I'm helping the younger boys work on a blog for a scout merit badge and I am determined to update my own blog more often too. Winter was work, skiing, snowboarding, cold, long, and now is finally over Hooray spring and summer!