March 2017: Programs and Events at the California Academy of Sciences

New Butterfly Emergence Experience at the Osher Rainforest
​Beginning March 3
Osher Rainforest
The Academy’s lush four-story rainforest is teeming with more than 1,600 live plants and animals from around the world, but perhaps its best-known inhabitants are its fluttering, heart-captivating friends: the butterflies. Now, the life cycle of these tropical butterflies will unfold through a special viewing chamber newly opened on the rainforest’s canopy level, which includes several butterfly species new to the dome.

Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture
Mapping the Heavens
​Monday March 6 | 7:30 pm
​Morrison Planetarium
Priyamvada Natarajan, Yale University
This talk takes a look at how our cosmic view has been transformed by two radical ideas in cosmology—dark matter and black holes. Dr. Natajaran will uncover how scientists discovered these invisible entities as well as explain the recent leaps in understanding them. Reservations required. $12 members and seniors; $15 non-members.

Birthdays at the Academy
Birthday parties for kids 2-10 and their family & friends are back! Guests enjoy exclusive two-hour access to a party room, light refreshments and of course, birthday cupcakes! All parties (for up to 30 guests) include museum admission, express entrance into the rainforest and EarthquakeShake House, party favors, age-appropriate story or activity, and much more. Plus there’s the option for special add-ons, such as an appearance by Claude the albino alligator costumed character and behind-the-scenes animal tours.

Academy Youth Programs for Summer 2017 — apply today!
Summer is the perfect time to learn about science while making new friends and trying new experiments. The Academy’s Youth Programs are now recruiting middle and high school students for the exciting summer season.Visitwww.calacademy.org/youthprograms.
Applications close on April 2.

Ongoing Events at the California Academy of Sciences
Junior Academy
​Monday – Thursday | 10:15 am
Naturalist Center
​Rainy weather leaving you at a loss for fun activities for your young kids? Check out Junior Academy, designed to foster youngsters’ curiosity about science and nature. With age-appropriate programs created for toddlers and preschoolers, young learners participate in engaging, hands-on activities with the hope of sparking an interest in science that will last through their school years and beyond. Junior Academy is for toddlers (18-36 months) Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; preschoolers (ages 3-5) on Mondays. Registration and program fees required.

Tour of the Universe
​Daily | 4:30 pm
Morrison Planetarium Explore the immense scale of the known Universe in this live presentation that leaves Earth far, far behind, thanks to the incredible digital capabilities of the Morrison Planetarium. Traveling even faster than light, you’ll be taken out of the solar system and beyond clusters of galaxies to the edge of the cosmos, then safely back home to Earth…without leaving your seat!

Color of Life
Daily
Don’t miss this ongoing Academy exhibit which offers an exploration into the world of color in the natural world. From mating rituals to survival tactics, color plays a crucial part in the day-to-day life of countless species and reveals the interconnectedness of life. This hands-on exhibit shows how adaptive strategies based on color work, such as camouflage and bioluminescence, which allow animals to survive and thrive.