PHILADELPHIA, December 7, 2015

Dinosaurs, weird specimens in jars, live animal shows and live reptile encounters are all in store for All-Star Days, Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Dec. 30 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

For five days, the Academy celebrates the most popular of its family programs with engaging activities, rare fossil displays, new live animal shows and crafts to create and take home. Each day features a different nature theme, so there’s plenty to do by coming more than once to All-Star Days. In the Special Exhibits Gallery, Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly features a fascinating look at live deadly snakes, colorful lizards, bizarre turtles, and rugged crocodilians from around the world.

Here are highlights of the activities for All-Star Days. For a more detailed list and to purchase admission tickets online at a discount, visit http://bit.ly/12jXKsd

Dinosaur Day

Saturday, Dec. 26

Come face to face with fossils, meet living relatives of these ancient beasts, and explore the world of the dinosaurs.

Live Animals of the Academy Show, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Discover the stories about some of the Academy’s live animals and learn what you can do to help their wild cousins.

Rad Reptile Relatives: Dandy Dinos and Bodacious Birds Show, 1 p.m.

Though dinosaurs are extinct, their legacy lives on in their closest relatives: birds. Meet the Academy’s live birds and reptiles and learn how they are related.

Story Time in Outside In, 2 p.m.

Enjoy an interactive dinosaur story with Marty the Moose and a favorite live animal.

Closer Look

Examine live brine shrimp and insects in amber under a microscope. Meet weird live reptiles.

Fossil Forensics

Touch real fossils and use your dinosaur detective skills to solve prehistoric puzzles.

Dinosaur Crafts

Make a prehistoric craft to take home.

Bug Day

Sunday, Dec. 27

Embrace the creepy crawlies and learn what makes spineless animals so special.

Live Animals of the Academy Show, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Discover the stories about some of the Academy’s live animals and learn what you can do to help their wild cousins.

Creepy Crawlies Show, 1 p.m.
Discover the spineless wonders of the Academy’s live invertebrate collection with magnified details on the big screen.

Story Time in Outside In, 2 p.m.

Enjoy an interactive insect story with Marty the Moose and a favorite live animal.

Closer Look
Examine a butterfly wing and a spider molt under a microscope. Meet weird live reptiles.

Investigating Invertebrates

Investigate the spineless stars of the live invertebrate collection up close.

Buggy Craft
Make a special buggy craft to take home.

Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly Day

Monday, Dec. 28

Celebrate the special exhibit Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly with a day devoted to the cold-blooded critters.

Live Animals of the Academy Show, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Discover the stories about some of the Academy’s live animals and learn what you can do to help their wild cousins.

Reptile Dinner Party Show, 1 p.m.

Meet some live animals that might be predators or prey if they met a reptile at a dinner party.

Story Time in Outside In, 2 p.m.

Enjoy an interactive story with Marty the Moose and a favorite live animal.

Scale Tales

Examine reptile scales, scutes and osteoderms under the microscope and find out what they are made of.

Local Herps and Venomous Snakes

Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of cool reptiles. Find out what may be living in your backyard.

Closer Look 

Meet weird and wonderful live reptiles up close.

Cold-Blooded Craft

Make a special reptile craft to take home.

Fur, Feathers, and Scales Day
Tuesday, Dec. 29

See firsthand how the Academy takes good care of its live animals and learn from the stars of the dioramas.

Live Animals of the Academy Show, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Discover the stories about some of the Academy’s live animals and learn what you can do to help their wild cousins.

Critter Capers, Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
See a live animal enjoying its exercise time and get your critter questions answered.

Story Time in Outside In, 2 p.m.

Enjoy an interactive story with Marty the Moose and a favorite live animal.

Closer Look 

Examine fur, feathers and scales under a microscope and compare coverings from all over the world. Meet weird and wonderful live reptiles.

Diorama Diversions

Touch real furs like on the diorama animals and see the striking skulls of the animals of North America.

Critter Crafts

Make a special animal craft to take home.

Weird Things in Jars Day

Wednesday, Dec. 30

Science is surprising, inspiring and weird! Come see the weirder specimens in our collections all day at the Academy.

Animals of the Live Animal Center Show, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Meet some of the live animals that that live at the Academy. Discover their stories and learn what you can do to help their wild cousins.

Weird and Wonderful Show, 1 p.m.
They might not be jarred, but the live animals of the Academy are plenty weird! Meet the inhabitants of our Live Animal Center during this live animal show.

Story Time in Outside In, 2 p.m.

Enjoy an interactive story with Marty the Moose and a favorite live animal.

Closer Look

Investigate the amazing techniques scientists use to preserve Academy specimens for research. Meet weird and wonderful live reptiles up close.

Cool Collections
Peer into jars from the Academy’s collections for some weird and wonderful surprises.

Crazy Crafts
Create a creature of bizarre adaptations to take home.   

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