Ancient Technologies—Making Flint Tools
Heather Cruz, Anthropology, UConn
Dr. Cara Roure-Johnson,
Anthropology, UConn
Saturday, April 30, 10 am to 12 noon
Museum of Natural History, UConn Storrs
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for
Museum member) Includes materials
Adults and children ages 12 and above. Children
must be accompanied by an adult.
You may have seen “arrowheads” and other
ancient stone tools on exhibit in museums—this is your chance to make and use
them! In this workshop, you will learn about the history and art of flint
knapping: producing stone tools with sharp edges by percussion and pressure.
This type of tool use predates modern humans by at least 1.5 million years, as
discovered by UConn scientist Dr. Cara Roure-Johnson.
Learn how archaeologists identify and date these tools, what properties make
materials appropriate for use in this type of tool manufacture, and discover
the many different types of sharp-edged stone tools used by our ancestors.
Then, under the guidance of
UConn archaeologist and “knapper” Heather Cruz, you
will flint-knap to create stone tools! Try your hand at this type of stone tool
manufacture and learn how to use some of these tools for woodworking and food
preparation.
For
registration information please visit www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar or call
(860) 486-4460.
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Star
Party: Fun With Astronomy!
Dr. Cynthia Peterson, Physics, UConn
Friday, May 6,
UConn,
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Start with a visit to UConn’s Planetarium during this
annual exploration of the spring night sky! Learn how to identify the stars,
planets and other celestial objects observable throughout this season. During
this program, Astronomy Professor Dr. Cynthia Peterson will offer a general
orientation to the constellations, planets, and special celestial objects
visible in the night sky using binoculars. While in the planetarium, Dr.
Peterson will bring out the small projection orrery
(a mechanical device illustrating the positions and motions of the planets and
moons in the solar system) that both children and adults can try out.
Weather permitting, the session will conclude with a trip to the UConn
Observatory on the roof of the physics building. This year observers may see
Saturn with its rings, some globular clusters, and possibly some meteor showers
with binoculars and the observatory telescope. Dress warmly for the outdoor session
and bring binoculars!
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History,
part of the
Learn to Throw the Atlatl!
Gary Nolf, World Atlatl Association and Friends of the Office of State
Archaeology
Saturday, May 28, 1 pm to 4 pm
UConn, Storrs Campus
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
The atlatl is an ancient spear-throwing device that
is swift and accurate, and long predates the use of the bow and arrow. Today we
no longer use the atlatl for hunting, but compete
with them in sanctioned sporting events. Gary Nolf, member of the World Atlatl
Association, atlatl maker, and nationally ranked
competitor in sanctioned atlatl contests, will reveal
the history and secrets of this ancient invention. He has even appeared on the
David Letterman Show to demonstrate his skills! He will bring examples of both
traditional-style and modern atlatls and darts for you to see. After the
presentation, borrow an atlatl and darts, or bring
your own and join in the fun at an outdoor target area where you will learn to
throw like a pro!
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
Playing in the Dirt: Exploring Backyard Microbiology
Dr. Kenneth Noll, Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB), UConn
Nitin Narayanan and Lindsey Bomar,
MCB, UConn
Saturday, June 4, 10 am to 12 noon
UConn, Storrs Campus
Advance registration required: $30 ($25 for Museum members); includes materials
fee
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
Springtime lures us outdoors to enjoy the explosion of new life as the sun
warms the soil and buds become blooms. Many of us embrace the season by turning
over the soil, adding compost, and planting vegetables and flowers. Spring is
also a time of blooming for the unseen microbial world in the soil, the
compost, and even in and on the plants! Join a team of microbiology researchers
from the UConn MCB Department in this exploration of microbial life right in
your own backyard! Bring in samples from your own yard and collect samples from
around campus with the team. Then, you will learn to use laboratory protocols
to determine the types of microbes lurking in your backyard. Dr. Noll and the
other researchers will discuss what the presence of these microbes
means to the health of your soil as well as the health of your family. Learn
about our microscopic “friends” and have fun playing in the dirt!
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History,
part of the
Wetland Wonders
Dr. Mark Urban, EEB, UConn
Sunday, June 5, 1 pm to 3 pm
UConn, Storrs Campus
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
Spend an afternoon in the
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History,
part of the
High Tech Treasure Hunting: Fun with GPS and Geocaching
Cary Chadwick, Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), UConn
Saturday, June 18, 10 am to 12 noon
Central Connecticut location
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an
adult.
Originally, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was for military use as a
navigational aid. Today, the general public has access to this satellite-based
technology, and using hand-held GPS devices they can participate in geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunt. The idea behind geocaching is to locate outdoor hidden containers called geocaches by using GPS coordinates listed on the Geocaching website, and then share your experiences with
others online. Currently, there are 1,310,416 active geocaches
and over 5 million participants worldwide!
Cary Chadwick of UConn’s Center for Land Use
Education and Research will teach you to use a hand held GPS unit. Then,
everyone will go outdoors and hunt for practice caches using the coordinates
given to you. One of these will be an officially registered geocache
that you can list online as your first. Join us for this opportunity to learn
about this fun-filled combination of hiking and treasure hunting, high-tech
style!
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
The History of Lake Compounce Park
Jerry Brick, General Manager, Lake Compounce
Saturday, July 9, 10 am
Bristol, CT
Advance registration required: $35 ($30 for Museum members); includes parking
and admission to the amusement park.
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Many people have been to
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
Friday Afternoons at the Museum: Make Your Own Game!
Friday, July 15,
Museum of Natural History – FREE!
Put on your thinking cap and spend this Friday afternoon at the Museum
designing and making your own board game. You can re-work a standard game such
as Monopoly or Chess, or come up with your own idea for an exciting new board
game. Make your own rules, board illustration and game pieces! Play your game
with other visitors, and play their games, too.
Drop in any time between
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
Saturday, July 16,
Advance registration required: $15 ($10 for Museum members)
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring your friends and family to the beach to play some outdoor Native American
games at the
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
Project O—Fun in the Lab and On the Sea!
Research Staff, Project Oceanology, UConn Avery Point
Saturday, July 23,
Advance registration required: $40 ($30 for Museum members)
Fee includes both morning workshop and afternoon cruise.
Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be
accompanied by an adult. Please register early as spaces are limited.
Spend the day experiencing marine science, both onshore and at sea, in this
beautiful setting on the
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History,
part of the
Archaeology Field School for Kids
K.A.S.T. - Kids Are Scientists Too!
Monday, July 25 through Friday, July 29,
UConn Storrs Campus
Advance registration required: $185 ($165 if registered before June 6)
Students entering grades 5 through 10
To register call K.A.S.T. at (860) 486-9219 or visit www.kast.uconn.edu.
Do you like to solve mysteries by uncovering evidence? Do you like getting your
hands dirty? Then, spend this week with UConn archaeologists exploring the
world of field archaeology. You will learn about the science, tools and methods
used by genuine archaeologists. Then, you will be part of a
archaeological field crew, doing hands-on fieldwork and laboratory research at
a real, ongoing archaeological dig. We have been opening new areas of our on
campus dig site each year, and every session we uncover something new!
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
Trail Ride in the UConn Forest
Dr. Jen Nadeau, Equine Extension Specialist, UConn
Saturday, August 6, 9:30am to 12 noon
UConn, Storrs Campus
Advance registration required: $60 ($55 for Museum members)
Adults and students ages 13 and above. Intermediate to advanced riders only.
Join Dr. Jen Nadeau, UConn’s Equine Extension
Specialist for a horseback ride along the trails in the
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History,
part of the
Friday Afternoons at the Museum: Please Act Silly: Nature Charades
Friday, August 12,
Come to the Museum this Friday afternoon and get silly! Be prepared to act out
your favorite animals, plants, or even geological events in silly nature
charades. The goofier your interpretation the better! Just
like wholesome foods and exercise, being silly and laughing are good for you.
See how many people you can get to laugh and to guess what your charade is,
then giggle your way to guessing theirs!
Drop in any time between
Presented by the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History
and
CSMNH
Adult Archaeology Field School
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist,
UConn
Monday, August 15 through Friday, August 19, 9 am
to 3 pm
Central Connecticut location
Advance registration required: $400 ($300 for
Museum members)
Adults and older teens ages 16 and up.
Spend an entire week with State Archaeologist Dr.
Nicholas Bellantoni at the
Presented by the Connecticut
State Museum of Natural History and