Discovery Trail: Discovery Trail meets International Museum Day

By Eric Banford
Tompkins Weekly

 

The International Council of Museums (ICOM), a worldwide organization with more than 37,000 members in 141 countries and territories, established International Museum Day (IMD) in 1977. This year, ICOM has chosen the theme “Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics” for IMD 2018, which will be celebrated on Friday, May 18.

Right here in the Finger Lakes, IMD 2018 will be celebrated by the eight member organizations of the Discovery Trail, a museum-library partnership that collaborates to help visitors explore nature, science, and culture.

“International Museum Day is an opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of exhibits, cultural events, and programs offered by the eight Discovery Trail partners,” said Star Bressler, Executive Director of the Discovery Trail. “This day is really about connecting communities with cultural resources in the area, and trying to reach new audiences.”

You can explore the Earth and its prehistoric past at the Museum of the Earth, where you can learn about the history of life from the tiniest trilobite to the mighty Mastodon. Unearth and take home your own fossils from Fossil Lab. Marvel at the Hyde Park Mastodon, one of the most complete mastodon skeletons ever found, and the 44-foot Right Whale. Watch paleontologists uncover dinosaur bones and other exciting fossils in Prep Lab. Journey 540 million years back in time with the 500-foot mural Rock of Ages, Sands of Time.

At the Sciencenter, you can become an action-adventure star at their new featured exhibition, “Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action.” Enjoy four different adventure scenes while taking part in high intensity activities that help build strength, coordination, balance, and endurance. Friday, May 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. will feature Member Night with a sneak peek at the new exhibition before it opens to the public on May 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 2 p.m. you can also learn about renewable energy through hands-on activities presented by Cornell University engineering students.

Join a collaboration between Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) and Cornell Botanic Gardens for weekend walks throughout May to discover both the birds and wildflowers of spring. These free walks will be held rain or shine and pre-registration is not required. Bird Walks meet at the Sculpture Garden in the F.R. Newman Arboretum Fridays in May at 8 a.m. Wildflower Walks meet at Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center Sundays in May at 1 p.m.

Also visit CLO’s Visitor Center on Friday or Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon to see what’s new at their Exploration Station. Each week will feature a different topic in bird biology, conservation, or research. You’ll find hands-on activities, plus resources and ideas for bird-related things you can do at home. Topics include Bird ID, Feathers, Feeding Adaptations, Bird Diversity, and What You Can Do for Birds.

At the Johnson Museum of Art on Cornell’s campus, current exhibitions include collection highlights celebrating its 45th anniversary, Chinese art, European drawings, film and video pioneers, and American landscapes. Admission is always free.

Join The History Center Thursday, May 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a presentation by Frank Towner entitled “The Ithaca Y…Then, Now, and Later.” Towner, who is CEO of the Y, will take a historical walk down memory lane focused on the Ithaca Y, its Tompkins County history and how it has served the community.

And on Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the History Center will host a “HistoryForge Data Entry Bee Party” where you can volunteer at their next history transcription bee. Light refreshments will be served with lots of fun and an educational opportunity that will make Ithaca history come alive. Be sure to bring your laptop. Sign up to volunteer here: thehistorycenter.net/volunteer-historyforge

The Cayuga Nature Center (CNC) cultivates an awareness, appreciation, and responsibility for the natural world through outdoor and environmental education. You can catch animal feedings every Saturday at noon, and there is a special event Monday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. where Savannah Wilson, Animal Education Manager, will cover the unique adaptations of some of the animals in CNC’s collection and will touch upon how its staff and volunteers keep the animals healthy and enriched. Anyone interested in volunteering with CNC’s Animal department is encouraged to attend this session.

And lastly, while the Tompkins County Public Library is certainly not a museum, the biannual Library Booksale will be taking place throughout May, featuring over 250,000 items, some of them certain to involve museums. Peruse recycled books, music, movies, puzzles, games and more sorted into over 79 categories for easy shopping.

As IMD’s website says, “museums all over the world will be encouraged to find new approaches and new audiences by exploring, strengthening and creating connections.” Right here in the Finger Lakes, we encourage you to come out and strengthen your connection to the incredible resources that make up our Discovery Trail.

If you’re traveling during IMD, or if you want more info, check out events happening around the world at: icom.museum/activities/international-museum-day/