GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are invited to get a closer look at the natural world by participating in their next adventure at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

On Nov. 9, Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to practice scientific investigation at the Florida Museum’s “She’s A Scientist: A Girl Scout Exploration” program.

The program from 1 to 4 p.m. allows Brownie or Junior Girl Scouts to experience hands-on activities and experiments while meeting local scientists. The Scouts can earn a museum patch created for the event.

“I am very excited for this new program,” said Florida Museum educator Amanda Harvey. “The Scouts will have a unique opportunity to meet with many of our local scientists and to learn what kind of research is being done right here in Gainesville.”

The program is $5 per Scout including the patch. Girls may attend with their guardians or with a troop. Pre-registration is available but not required.

On May 1, 2015, the museum will host “Girl Scouts Explore: Lepidoptera” from 6 to 9 p.m., during which Scouts may explore the “Butterfly Rainforest,” learn how to pin butterfly specimens with researchers from the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity and find out more about the museum’s collections.

The program is $18 per Scout and includes a patch. Girls may attend with their guardians or with a troop. Pre-registration is required.

In addition to these events, Scout groups may register for weekend programs at the museum during the school year to earn part or all of the requirements for badges, journeys, belt loops and pins. These programs explore natural history topics such as animal habitats, insects, archaeology and Indian lore.

The weekend programs are designed for groups of 10 to 20 with at least one chaperone for every 10 Scouts. The cost is $15 per Scout with a required deposit of $50 to reserve a troop’s spot. Chaperones are free, and there is an additional fee for programs that utilize the “Butterfly Rainforest.”

Scouts may also work toward various badges, journeys, belt loops and pins by attending the museum’s public programs, such as the annual “Can You Dig It?” geology event.

For more information or to register for a program, call Amanda Harvey at 352-273-2062 or visit http://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/events/camps/scout-explorations/.

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Writer: Katina Prokos, kprokos@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Amanda Harvey, aerickson@flmnh.ufl.edu, 352-273-2062
Media Contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu, 352-273-2054