Thanksgiving Point Gazette - Winter 2018

Gazette THANKSGIVING POINT

W here Famil ies Co me To g ether

WINTER 2018 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4

COME "PLAY" WITH US

Making play a priority in your family. - p4

A HOLIDAY TRADITION CONTINUES

Luminaria returns to delight the senses this holiday season. - p6

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE GRAND OPENING It's finally here! Come celebrate our metamorphosis on January 18th. - p11

Gazette THANKSGIVING POINT

TO MAKE A DONATION

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

ThanksgivingPoint.org/give

TO SCHEDULE AN EVENT

Dear friends,

801.768.4947

TICKET SALES

801.768.4900 Toll Free 888.672.6040

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION 801.768.7478 membership@thanksgivingpoint.org ThanksgivingPoint.org/membership

EDUCATION 801.768.4971

GENERAL INQUIRIES 801.768.2300

PUBLISHER

Thanksgiving Point 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way Lehi, Utah 84043 801.768.2300

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Josh Berndt

ONLINE EDITORS Emily Duffy

Rachel Olsen

ART DIRECTOR Jeremy Andrus

CONTRIBUTORS Stephen Ashton Josh Berndt Austin Brown Erica Brown

Jodie Fisher Zak Gezon Lorie Millward Kari Nelson

We’re headed into one of the most festive times of the year at Thanksgiving Point: the holidays. Believe it or not, we began decking our halls this summer and very soon you’ll be invited to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays in the most festive of ways.

This winter, the leaves come down and the lights go up. Thanksgiving Point invites you to experience the transformation of Ashton Gardens into the holiday event spectacular Luminaria. Beginning November 19, explore a winter wonderland populated with the scents, sounds, and sights of Christmas. Walk through the life of Jesus Christ lit by a thousand flickering candles and theatrical lighting in the Light of the World sculpture garden. Enjoy new and improved activities like a Childhood Noel, a music box come to life complete with an interactive wishing tree. Reserve a fire pit in S’mores Village and roast marshmallows, challenge friends to some reindeer games, and create treasured holiday memories with your family.

But there’s even more transformation coming to Thanksgiving Point.

In January 2019, Thanksgiving Point will open its fifth venue: Butterfly Biosphere. The guiding principle of this world-class facility is that insects are small, but significant, like many of our guests. Located in Water Tower Plaza, Butterfly Biosphere will engage guests of all ages in a hands-on journey of butterflies and other insects from the Congo to Costa Rica.

Butterfly Biosphere won’t just be home to thousands of colorful live butterflies in the conservatory. Butterfly Biosphere will also be a worldclass invertebrate zoo with thousands of animals from all over the world.

You’ll hold tarantulas, watch a bustling bumble bee hive, test your strength against dung beetles, and explore the rainforest canopy of Costa Rica. It will be among the finest experiences available in the world, and as a member, you will have unlimited access. Hurry and get your reservations now!

Sincerely,

SOCIAL MEDIA @thankspoint

WEBSITE

ThanksgivingPoint.org

Thanksgiving Point Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit farm, garden, and museum complex that draws upon the natural world to cultivate transformative family learning.

Mike L Washburn

VOLUME SIX | ISSUE FOUR

SHARE THE WONDER OF THANKSGIVING POINT THROUGH GIFT MEMBERSHIP Find your perfect fit below: INDIVIDUAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100 Benefits for one named individual DUO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175 Benefits for two named individuals BONUS INDIVIDUAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $195 Benefits for one named individual and one guest on every visit

Give the Gift

Membership of

FAMILY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $275 Benefits for two named adults living at the same address and their dependent children

this Holiday Season

GRANDPARENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $275 Benefits for two named grandparents living at the same address and their accompanying grandchildren

BY JODIE FISHER

D I R E C TO R O F M E M B E R S H I P

With the holidays fast approaching, a Thanksgiving Point gift membership is the perfect way to show your friends and family members how much you care about them and transformative family learning. When you give a gift membership, your loved ones not only receive unlimited access to fun and hands-on attractions, but they are also welcomed into Thanksgiving Point’s family of dedicated individuals committed to providing memorable learning experiences.

This year, the gift of membership takes on even greater meaning because it includes free admission to the muchanticipated and newest venue to Thanksgiving Point – the Butterfly Biosphere, opening in January 2019.

This world-class facility will include a 9,000-square foot conservatory filled with thousands of free-flying butterflies from around the world along with new exhibits and live critters of all varieties – tarantulas, a bumble bee hive, dung beetles, and so much more.

In addition to free unlimited admission to all four (soon to be FIVE) Thanksgiving Point venues (Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, Museum of Natural Curiosity, Ashton Gardens, and the Butterfly Biosphere), Thanksgiving Point members enjoy highly-anticipated events like the Scarecrow Festival, Tulip Festival, Baby Animal Birthday Party and Fairy Tale Festival for free, as part of the membership’s benefits. Members also receive early notification for event registration and exclusive discounts on popular signature events including the enchanting holiday light experience Luminaria, Breakfast with Santa, a cappella quartet Voice Male, Super Hero Saturday, the ever-popular Easter Eggstreme, Labor Day Luau, and Witch’s Breakfast, just to name a few.

Share the joy with others by giving a gift that brings friends and family together in an engaging and meaningful way. Give a Thanksgiving Point membership – an undeniable value that lasts far beyond the holiday season.

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BONUS FAMILY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $375 Benefits for two named adults living at the same address and their dependent children PLUS two free guests on every visit BONUS GRANDPARENT. . . . . . . . . . $375 Benefits for two named grandparents living at the same address and their accompanying grandchildren PLUS two free guests on every visit PREMIER FAMILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $750 Benefits for two named adults living at the same address and their dependent children PLUS four free guests on every visit PREMIER GRANDPARENT. . . . . . . . $750 Benefits for two named grandparents living at the same address and their accompanying grandchildren PLUS four free guests on every visit

IT'S EASY TO GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP ONLINE ThanksgivingPoint.org/membershipgift VISIT Any of our venues or guest information desk

CALL 801.768.2300

THANKSGIVING P OINT | WINTER G A ZET TE

Making

Play a Priority in Your Family

BY STEPHEN A SHTON , PH .D.

K ARI NELSON, M. A ., M.S.

D I R E C TO R O F A U D I E N C E RESE A RCH A ND DE V ELO PMEN T

R E S E A R C H A N D E VA L U AT I O N A S S O C I AT E

Here’s a serious question for you: When was the last time you played? And we mean really played? Not played a sport or a video game, but voluntary, open-ended, spontaneous play? We at Thanksgiving Point are big proponents of play. We believe that play leads to learning, especially for children, and we aren’t alone in thinking that.

reawaken the joy of their own childhood and rejuvenate themselves. Through play and rereading their favorite childhood books, parents learn to see the world from their child’s perspective and are likely to communicate more effectively with their child, even appreciating and sharing their child’s sense of humor and individuality.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics just published an article in September of this year in their Pediatrics journal titled: “The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children” (see the reference below). The doctors who wrote this article argue that, “play is fundamentally important for learning 21st century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, and creativity, which require the executive functioning skills that are critical for adult success.”

Children learn in classrooms and from structured activities; however, the most powerful learning may occur on playgrounds and in playrooms. When children play they are literally building connections in their brains. “Play leads to changes [in the brain] at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels that promote learning and adaptive and/or pro-social behavior.”

These doctors are so serious about play that they are recommending pediatricians prescribe play to their patients. Taking more time to play is not only beneficial for children, but it can lead to benefits for the adult caregivers as well. The authors argue that “playing with children adds value not only for children but also for adult caregivers, who can re-experience or

At Thanksgiving Point, we’re serious about play, too! Through participation in the Association of Children’s Museum Research Network (CMRN), members of our Research and Evaluation Team are contributing to an understanding of how play leads to learning in children’s museums, including our own Museum of Natural Curiosity.

The CMRN is a group of researchers across the country who study the learning value of Children’s Museums. Many CMRN studies have explored different aspects of play in the museum. For example: • Learning is central in the work and purpose of children’s museums, and while each museum takes a different approach to it, learning through play is a common path.

• In interviews with 50 leaders of children’s museums, every leader rated the importance of play to their museum as 5, 6, or 7 on a 1-7 scale.

• Parents and caregivers (and since we surveyed many at Thanksgiving Point, you may be one of them!) notice their children learning in museums.

Respondents attribute this to the opportunity’s museums provide for parents to watch their children play, and for their children to play with others.

Because we believe play is such a critical part of learning, we have designed many of our experiences to foster play.

You’ll notice many exhibits across Thanksgiving Point are open-ended and encourage multiple outcomes.

Examples of this in the Museum of Natural Curiosity include the Temple Climber in Rainforest, the Water Plexus in Waterworks, and the Theater in Kidopolis, to name just a few. The Erosion Table in the Museum of Ancient Life is one of our most popular spots in that museum, we think because it facilitates play.

We are so committed to play that we are designing a large, multi-story play space in the Butterfly Biosphere too. This area will be called The Costa Rica Climber where families will be encouraged to play together and pretend that they are explorers in the Costa Rica rainforest.

The space will encourage social play, pretend play, and physical play—complete with a twisty slide to get down from one of the tree house platforms!

“As museum professionals at Thanksgiving Point, we understand that play is not only a critical part of a child’s development, but it is an essential part of learning across all ages,” stated Amber Thomas, Early Childhood Education Coordinator. “Play promotes creative thinking, problem solving, and social emotional development. With a foundation of play, Thanksgiving Point draws upon the natural world and cultivates transformative family learning through hands-on, process-driven, inquiry-based, experiential, and open-ended discovery.”

So, the next time you’re with the children that you love, don’t forget to play! It will benefit them, and it will benefit you.

REFERENCES YOGMAN, M., GARNER, A., HUTCHINSON, J., HIRSH-PASEK, K., & GOLINKOFF, R. M. (2018). THE POWER OF PLAY: A PEDIATRIC ROLE IN ENHANCING DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN. PEDIATRICS, 142(3).

AVAILABLE AT HTTP://PEDIATRICS.AAPPUBLICATIONS.ORG/CONTENT/EARLY/2018/08/16/PEDS.2018-2058.

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VOLUME SIX | ISSUE FOUR

CONGRATS TO THE 2018 SCARECROW FESTIVAL WINNERS

JUDGES CHOICE GNOME SWEET GNOME

PEOPLE'S 1ST CORNSTOCK ELEMENTARY MISS CROW'S CLASS

PEOPLE'S 2ND THRILLER!

PEOPLE'S 3RD VENOM

The fourth annual Scarecrow Festival at the Ashton Gardens recently wrapped and thanks to you we broke the attendance record for the fourth straight year! More than 17,000 guests came, admired, and enjoyed the scarecrows. Make your plans now to get your best scarecrow entered into the Festival!

GRAND PRIZE [RANDOMLY SELECTED] THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

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THANKSGIVING P OINT | WINTER G A ZET TE

Luminaria 2018

B Y AU S T I N B R O W N

S I G N AT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S D I R E C TO R

We’re excited to announce the return of Luminaria for a third consecutive year at the Ashton Gardens! To continue the annual family tradition, we have added some new experiences. The first is called “Let it Glow”. This musical themed beat is packed with snowflakes and music notes synced to its own soundtrack. You’ll feel like you are in a frosted lounge being entertained by synchronized light and sound. It is a perfect way to start the Luminaria Experience. Next is “Blossoms of Light”.

This mesmerizing flower garden provides a pretty look during the day, but at night these flowers come to play! Morphing light is at the center of each floral display, creating a garden of colorful hues.

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As you make your way through the experience, guests will now enter the Parterre Garden. The Parterre Garden is transformed into the “Childhood Noel”. Childhood magic come to life in this carousel inspired realm! Guests are invited to share their Christmas wish, at the large wishing tree, whisper a wish and the lights will begin to dance- letting them know that their wish was received

by Santa himself. The carousel horses and other toys surround this whimsical illuminated carousel light show display where synchronized light begins to play!

VOLUME SIX | ISSUE FOUR

Each winter Luminaria supplies countless memories to families and friends in Utah. While the memories are limitless here's a look at Luminaria by the Numbers, based on last year's event:

15 Beats 6,500

853

LED Luminaries set to music at the Merry Mosaic

bags of Reindeer Chow

3,200

Cookies

556

batches of Kettle Corn

700 fresh cut trees

1,200

S'mores Kits

20

S'mores fire pits

24,595 cups of hot chocolate

86,000 guests THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS PLATINUM LEVEL

1,000,000 holiday lights GOLD LEVEL

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MON

DEC LUMINARIA

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

SAT

3

4

5

6

GAME NIGHT

7

CURIOUS CRITTERS

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LUMINARIA NOV 19 – JAN 5 [CLOSED SUNDAYS, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY]

NOV 19 - JAN 5

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

10

11

12

13

14

15

LUMINARIA NOV 19 – JAN 5 [CLOSED SUNDAYS, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY]

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

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VOICE MALE CONCERT

18

19

20

GAME NIGHT

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CURIOUS CRITTERS

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BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

DEC 1, 8, 15, 22

Come celebrate the joys of the season with a festive celebration at Breakfast with Santa. A delicious breakfast will be served with visits from Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and other favorite North Pole characters. Kids will enjoy dance contests, sing-a-longs, cookie decorating, games, and crafts.

LUMINARIA NOV 19 – JAN 5 [CLOSED SUNDAYS, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY]

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25

26

27

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CHRISTMAS DAY

NIGHT BRIGHT

LUMINARIA NOV 19 – JAN 5 [CLOSED SUNDAYS, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY]

DEC 31

Ring in the New Year in the most curious style there is: celebrating and playing at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.

Limited tickets are available to enjoy this one-of-a-kind exclusive after-hours party.

DESIGN CHALLENGE

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Bring your family and friends to a holiday light experience that will create lasting memories for everyone. More than a million lights are on display throughout the Ashton Gardens to help get you in the holiday spirit—all the sights, sounds, and smells of the season are on display.

MUSEUM OF NATURAL CURIOSITY

FRI

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

CHRISTMAS EVE, AND CHRISTMAS DAY]

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

THU

1

[CLOSED SUNDAYS , THANKSGIVING DAY,

SHOW BARN

WED

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

2018 ASHTON GARDENS

TUE

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

NIGHT BRIGHT

31

29

MON

JAN

2019

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE GRAND OPENING

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

TUE

7

WED

THU

FRI

1

2

3

8

9

10

SAT 5

4

11

GAME NIGHT

CURIOUS CRITTERS

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HEROES OF THE ICE AGE

JAN 18

2019 will be a year to remember as our fifth venue opens! Thousands of butterflies from around the world will be here to see, enjoy, and interact with. Come celebrate these amazing creatures and many of their friends.

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

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17

21

22

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24

28

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BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE GRAND OPENING

GAME NIGHT

18

25

DESIGN CHALLENGE

19

SUPERHERO SATURDAY

CURIOUS CRITTERS

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MON

FEB

TUE

WED

THU

FRI GAME NIGHT

2019

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

4

5

11

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6

7

SAT 2

1

8

CURIOUS CRITTERS

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MUMMY'S CURSE

MUSEUM OF ANCIENT LIFE

FEB 16

Back for another round of cursing is the Mummy's Curse at the Museum of Ancient Life. Learn about how mummies were made and all sorts of cool Egyptian culture. Mummy's Curse is FREE for Thanksgiving Point members as it's included in venue admissions.

VALENTINE'S DINNER DANCE

SHOW BARN

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it and we've got you covered for dinner, dancing, and entertainment with our annual dinner dance.

Grab your dancing shoes and get ready for a wonderful night with your sweetheart.

FEB 13 & 14

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

VALENTINE'S DINNER DANCE

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VALENTINE'S DINNER DANCE

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GAME NIGHT

15

DESIGN CHALLENGE

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MUMMY'S CURSE

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CURIOUS CRITTERS

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THANKSGIVING P OINT | WINTER G A ZET TE

Like Nothing

You've Seen Before B Y L O R I E M I L LWA R D

VICE PRESIDENT OF POSSIBILITIES

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THANKSGIVING P OINT | WINTER G A ZET TE

ZEBRA LONGWING

In November 2013, six months before the Museum of Natural Curiosity opened, Thanksgiving Point began exploring the possibility of creating a place where families could learn about and connect with nature. Over the past few years, we did our homework - researching the best life science experiences, getting input from the community, and working with scientists, designers, and even hundreds of school kids to come up with a plan.

The result is Butterfly Biosphere, a museum like you’ve never seen before, dedicated to the small but significant creatures that make life on earth possible (and bearable) for the rest of us. This museum will immerse you in family-oriented exploration as you visit its three distinctly different, but equally awesome areas. Here’s a sneak peek…

Imagine comparing your strength to that of a dung beetle, the strongest animal in the world, by trying to move a giant dung ball (really!). Perhaps you’re interested in the phases of a monarch butterfly’s life? In the Discovery Zone, you will encounter larger-than-life sculptures of a caterpillar (6 feet long!), a pupa (that kids can sit in!), and an adult monarch laying eggs under a leaf (equally huge!). You may even decide to be brave and, with the help of our experts, hold an insect or spider, getting up close and personal with a variety of interesting creatures. There is even an exhibit designed to let you ask our entomologists your bug questions and see what others have learned.

The Costa Rica Climber will transport your family to a scientific research lab in the rainforests of Central America.

Costa Rica is home to a whopping 20 percent of the world’s butterflies and is a mecca for research biologists.

Thanksgiving Point has partnered with Costa Rican butterfly farmers to acquire our title residents and in doing so, we provide income to people who are trying to preserve natural habitat and butterfly species for the benefit of us all.

lava-tube cave lit by glowing crystals and let the little ones play and interact with a friendly tree in the Tot Zone.

This is a great place for kids and adults to get out their wiggles before heading to the Conservatory.

More than 1000 butterflies representing dozens of species will call the Conservatory home. This nearly 10,000 square foot glass greenhouse is filled with flowering and tropical plants that supply our flying jewels with nectar and places to rest. To enter or exit, you will pass through a specially designed vestibule that allows only one door to open at a time. This prevents butterflies from making an escape. Since a single butterfly can lay hundreds of eggs that turn into hungry caterpillars that can potentially destroy nearby crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires particular site conditions to contain the butterflies and special permits to transport and house them at Thanksgiving Point. During construction, we worked closely with this agency to ensure that we met all the requirements for protecting our important farm lands.

VELVET ANT

Your first encounter upon passing the admissions desk, is the Discovery Zone. This gallery is full of exhibits featuring a host of live insects and arachnids from around the world. But this is Thanksgiving Point, so we don’t expect you to just look – we have designed playful ways for your family to learn together. Similar to the Museum of Natural Curiosity, this space has exhibits that are hands-on and fun.

JERUSALEM CRICKET

This playful space, fully designed by kids, features treehouses where you can become an entomologist, investigate a giant bee, record field notes, and learn about the importance of biologically diverse places, like Costa Rica, to scientific discovery. Descend from the trees using a twisty slide to explore a

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ORCHID MANTIS

VOLUME SIX | ISSUE FOUR

Once inside, meandering pathways lead you through a grove of mango trees, past a rocky waterfall and pond, around hillsides draped in flowers, and finally, to the Emergence Gallery.

Here you will see hundreds of butterfly pupae from a diversity of species and continents undergoing the final stage of metamorphosis. Watch closely and you will witness, firsthand, the amazing physical transformation that occurs when a fully formed adult butterfly emerges, stretches its wings, and prepares for flight.

As you see butterflies flitting about (perhaps even landing on your shoulder), smell the fragrant flowers and rich earth, feel the warmth and moisture of a tropical rainforest, it becomes clear— this is like nothing you’ve seen before.

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! The Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point’s Water Tower Plaza is an experience unlike anything in the state of Utah! This 40,000 square foot venue is home to over a thousand butterflies from around the globe. In addition to dozens of species of butterflies, it also has 20 species of tarantula, beetles as big as your fist, and many more creepy crawly friends.

TIMED TICKETING The Butterfly Biosphere is a timed ticketed experience to ensure you have an amazing experience, and the butterflies have enough space to be happy. All guests will need tickets – reserve today for the best time slot!

BLUE CRACKER BUTTERFLY

TIME SLOTS EVERY HALF HOUR 10:00am – 7:00pm

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE

VENUE HOURS 10:00am – 8:00pm

FUN FACTS – Almost 40,000 square foot venue – $31 million-dollar project – More than 5,000 donors contributed to the Butterfly Biosphere – One of just 150 similar biospheres in the world & one of 25 in North America

– Thousands of butterflies from around the world – Up to 35 different species at a time in the Conservatory – 65 species of arthropods – 20 species of tarantula – Hundreds of tropical plants in the Conservatory

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TICKETS Adults: $20 Free for Thanksgiving Point members!

Children: $15 Free for Thanksgiving Point members!

DID YOU KNOW? Butterflies go to sleep in the night time just like humans – so come during the daytime to see them awake or visit in the evening to meet some unique nocturnal creatures.

THANKSGIVING P OINT | WINTER G A ZET TE

OWL BUTTERFLY

BLUE MORPHO

We have entered the most fun and exciting phase of creating the Butterfly Biosphere: building-up the live animal collection! Starting in early November Thanksgiving Point will start receiving weekly shipments of butterfly pupae from small farms in Costa Rica. This includes some of the most spectacular butterflies on earth, such as the Blue Morpho and Owl Butterflies.

Blue Morphos are HUGE iridescent blue butterflies that gently glide through the air and seem to almost glow each time they flap their wings and light catches the scales. Owl Butterflies are some of the biggest butterflies in the world and are striking for how they are nearly invisible when they are at rest (except for that crazy huge eye spot!), but impossible to miss once they start flying. In fact, Owl Butterflies are interesting in that they are most active right at sunset, when they start

flying rapidly in clusters, looking more like bats leaving a cave than delicate insects. Seeing the Owl Butterflies come to life in our conservatory at sunset is an amazing sight to see.

But butterflies don’t have to be giant to be spectacular. Some of the favorite butterflies are the small, but stunning Longwing Butterflies. Longwings Butterflies can be found in a whole galaxy of colors, with combinations vibrant red, orange, yellow, and blue areas contrasting with deep black.

Longwings can afford to be flamboyant because their bodies are packed with cyanide, so birds and lizards learn not to eat them. But don’t worry, they are completely harmless to us as long as we don’t eat too many of them. One of the more surprising butterflies you might see in the conservatory are the ghost-like Glasswing Butterflies.

Unlike most butterflies, Glasswings

Critters Meet the

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GLASSWING BUTTERFLY

lack scales on their wings, leaving them with completely transparent wings and amazing camouflage. Glasswings have another trick up their sleeves as well – they collect chemicals from flowers that spiders don’t like. If a Glasswing Butterfly gets caught in a spider’s web, the spider will often gently cut the butterfly out and it can fly freely away. And although butterflies

BY Z AK GEZON , PH .D.

B U T T E R F LY B I O S P H E R E C O N TA I N M E N T D I R E C TO R & C H I E F E N TO M O L O G I S T

VOLUME SIX | ISSUE FOUR

GOLIATH BEETLE BUMBLE BEE

have a reputation for being beautiful and silent, some butterflies can be quite noisy! Male Cracker Butterflies love to rest on tree trunks and chase potential competitors and mates. They slap their wings together to make a sound similar to bacon cooking.

As excited as I am about all the butterflies making themselves at home in the new conservatory, I am even more excited about all the other, nonbutterfly animals we are receiving. It honestly feels like Christmas came early this year as vendors and friends at other zoos send us new friends. It is unbelievable to see some of the insects that I have only known from pinned collections in real life.

Insects like the Goliath Beetles tickle me each time I see them, I honestly can’t get over how magnificent they are. They are a beautiful white and black and are the size of my fist. And they are the heaviest flying insects on the planet! But as massive as they are, Goliath Beetles are just big teddy bears—they couldn’t hurt you if they tried. Jungle Nymphs are also gentle

hardworking native pollinators like bumblebees this year. And the oftoverlooked LBBs (little brown bugs) that clean up the world as we sleep cannot get enough credit. Insects like dung beetles and cockroaches turn our waste into soil, creating fertile ground for our plants to grow in. And without carrion beetles, we would be waste deep in carcasses! Gross. I think another toast may be in order! Thanks carrion beetles! I love your work!

giants that never stop blowing my mind.

These massive stick insects are the second heaviest insects on the planet (only outdone by the Goliath beetles) and can be over half a foot long!

But there is a special place in my heart for some of the little, common insects that make life for us possible and bearable. Things like bumblebees (we will be the first museum with a custom built bumblebee observation colony on the planet as far as I am aware!) that help plants reproduce and make foods like tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelon, cranberries, and apricots possible. Can you imagine Thanksgiving dinner without pumpkin, squash, and cranberries?

Make sure you make a toast to the CARRION BEETLE

Well enough fawning over my new friends – I should get back to making their habitats and playgrounds. I can’t wait until we are open in just a handful of weeks to be able to show off all these amazing animals to you in person. See you soon!

JUNGLE NYMPH

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TP

The Game of Life at

GAMES

Ages 1-Adult A game of transformative learning for the whole family.

2-5 Players

Welcome to the Game of Life: Thanksgiving Point edition.

On your turn, grab some dice (or visit www.freeonlinedice.com) and roll. Then move your game piece the number of spaces on the dice. Always move your game piece forward, in the direction of the arrows. Follow the space directions. This ends your turn.

Ending the Game: The first player who completes the Thanksgiving Point board wins! Like really wins!

Email a selfie of you and your family playing the Game of Life to jberndt@thanksgivingpoint.org.

Every entry will receive a free Thanksgiving Point ice cream coupon. Random other winners will be selected for a variety of other Thanksgiving Point prizes.

Please one entry per person.

START

Take a pony ride at Farm Country.

Move ahead 2 spaces

Just Married: Married at the Ashton Gardens.

Move ahead 3 spaces

Grab the new Tower De to enjoy unlimited r next Thanksgiving Move ahea

Feed the Koi at the Monet Pond at the Ashton Gardens.

Move ahead 4 spaces

Visit Ruth the Gorgosaurus at the Museum of Ancient Life.

Move ahead 1 space

eli refill mug refills on you g Point visit. ad 4 spaces.

Challenge yourself at the High Ropes Course at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.

Move ahead 2 spaces

Buy your own tulip bulbs from the Tulip Festival.

Move ahead 3 spaces

Gift a Family Membership to someone special.

Move ahead 3 spaces

Experience the light at Luminaria during the holidays.

Move ahead 2 spaces

Miss the Butterfly Biosphere Grand Opening.

Move back 4 spaces

This way to

FINISH!

BUTTERFLY BIOSPHERE

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage

PAID Orem, UT Permit No. 110