The Florida Museum of Natural History will hold its first 5K race on Feb. 11 to help celebrate the opening of the new featured exhibit “Frogs! A Chorus of Colors.”

The “Froggy 5K” begins at 8:30 a.m. in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza commuter lot. The race route includes a combination of trails in the UF Natural Area Teaching Laboratory and campus roads.

“Race participants have an opportunity to see trails in their own backyard that they might not have discovered yet,” said Florida Museum volunteer coordinator and race organizer Amy Hester. “We hope they discover their love of nature during the run.”

Early registration is $25, or $15 for UF students with a valid Gator 1 card. Participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt and free entry into the “Frogs!” exhibit on race day. The race is open to all ages.

The deadline to register early is Jan. 24 and participants may pick up their early registration packets on Feb. 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the museum.

Registration after Jan. 24, including race day, is $30, or $20 for UF students, and will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 11. Only cash or checks will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to the University of Florida.

Medals will be given to all who complete the race, with awards presented to the top three age group winners. The museum will also hold a frog costume contest for prizes.

For more information or to register, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/5K or call 352-273-2055.

The museum will also hold free activities and informational tables from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 in celebration of the new exhibition, which opens Jan. 28 and features live frog species from around the world and information on Florida Museum frog research.

Admission to “Frogs! A Chorus of Colors” is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 for Florida residents, seniors and college students); $5 for ages 3-17 and free to museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 card.

The museum will display “Frogs!” through Sept. 4. The exhibit was created by Peeling Productions at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland and sponsored in part with contributions from the 150th Anniversary Cultural Plaza Endowment, UF Student Government and the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/frogs or call 352-846-2000.

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Writer: Elizabeth Brown, 352-273-2034, ebrown@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Amy Hester, 352-273-2055, ahester@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu