Spring Break at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science stretches to two weeks with daily activities, live demos, Discovery camps, 3D films and more

Pinwheels, egg dyeing, cloud-making, marshmallows, rainbows, kites and other daily spring-themed science demos and activities, plus bookworm readings, trivia, crafts, fossil-fun Discovery Days, extended hours and more to satisfy stir-crazy kids and staycationers of all ages

Extending to two weeks this year, Spring Break at the Perot Museum will come chock-full of fun and exciting science March 5-20. From daily activities and “science on the spot” demos including pinwheels, egg dyeing, cloud making, marshmallows, rainbows, Slinkys and more, to Discovery Camps, a sleepover, 3D films and a fossil-themed Discovery Days, the Perot Museum will be springing forward with exploration around every corner. Plus from March 5-19, the Museum will stay open until 7 p.m. giving guests extra hours to squeeze it all in.

“With five floors, 11 exhibit halls, a fabulous 3D theater and ongoing activities and adventures throughout, the Perot Museum is like a one-stop-shop for all you Spring Break visitors,” said Colleen Walker, Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum. “Dinosaur devotees, bird watchers, crafty kids, sports lovers, film buffs, robot fans and curious minds of all ages will find something intriguing and inspiring. And no matter which week you’re on break, we have you covered!”

Beginning March 5, daily programming will include bookworm readings, science crafts, science trivia, live “science on the spot” demos and other spring-themed drop-in activities at select times through March 20. (See end of release for a detailed schedule.) On Saturday, March 12, Discovery Days: Fossils will feature a variety of paleontology-themed activities, from giant 3D dinosaur puzzles to fossil artwork and a fossil scavenger hunt, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

And a new revelation will have fossil enthusiasts intrigued. As it turns out, a 90-million-year-old fossil fish that has been on display in the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall is in fact a new species from North Texas. The large tuna-like fish has been named Pentanogmius fritschi in honor of Joseph Fritsch, a local amateur collector who discovered the fossil, dug it up with the help of another avid fossil collector, Kris Howe, and donated it to the Perot Museum. It’s just another exciting example of live science happening right here in North Texas.

For details on all the Spring Break happening highlights, see below.

3D FILMS IN THE HOGLUND FOUNDATION THEATER, A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE.Don some 3D glasses, sit back and travel to worlds where sea monsters, space and tiny giants rule the big screen. To view trailers and film schedule, go to perotmuseum.org. Films are presented locally by Primrose Schools. Ticket prices below.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure 3D (through May 26, 2016). When strange bones are discovered in a muddy Kansas river bank, paleontologists set out to investigate a mystery buried in time. Through ultra-realistic 3D computer animation, travel back to the Late Cretaceous period, when the sea was dominated by giant marine reptiles, some as large as present-day whales. Follow a female Dolichorhynchops and her offspring through adventures that illustrate life in the sea during the age of dinosaurs. Live-action recreations of actual paleontological digs are woven throughout, revealing the scientific basis for each animated episode. Presented by National Geographic with music composition by Peter Gabriel, this film runs approximately 20 minutes.

Journey to Space 3D (through May 26, 2016). In the past half-century, humans have punched through the stratosphere, walked on the moon and lived continuously in orbit. In the coming decades, unquenchable curiosity will take our species beyond the cradle of Earth to touch the face of another world. Journey to Space 3D will inspire a new generation of young people to dream of new horizons in space and engender a new appreciation for the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle program among an older generation who came to take it for granted. Through extensive interviews, brilliant narration by actor Patrick Stewart and stunning 3D, discover the foundation behind the next giant leaps being taken into space. Presented by Giant Screen Films, this film runs approximately 40 minutes.

Tiny Giants 3D (through Sept. 5, 2016). In an adventure of giant proportions, Tiny Giants 3D reveals the astonishing lives of the smallest animals. Using the incredibly immersive power of special 3D cameras, audiences are transported in a very intimate way into another world to experience the titanic battles these creatures face to survive. A chipmunk in a wild wood is forced to grow up fast when he is on his own for the first time. Only by using his ingenious superpowers can he not only stay alive, but also become master of his universe. Presented by Giant Screen Films, this film runs approximately 20 minutes.

PROGRAMS.With beaucoups back-to-back Spring Break activities, plus Discovery Days, Discovery Camps and sleepovers, the Perot Museum makes it difficult to stay away.

SPRING BREAK SPECIAL PROGRAMMING. At select times March 5-20, visitors can enjoy daily spring science crafts, bookworm readings, science trivia, slinky spring science, live “science on the spot” demos and drop-in activities involving making clouds, rainbows, egg dyeing, pinwheels/wind energy, marshmallows, mammoth/dinosaur toothpaste and mini kite flying, to name a few. Check the website for detailed schedules. Activities are free to members and included with general admission for non-members.

SPRING BREAK DISCOVERY CAMP AND DISCOVERY CAMP, JR. Kids in grades K-6 can design their own STEAM-centered creations, explore their natural world, conduct scientific experiments and discover the wonders of space at Discovery Camp. Plus, little ones ages 3-4 can partake in Discovery Camp, Jr. (week-long, half-day) where they can engage in interactive experiences focused on investigation and exploration with hands-on science experiments and creative projects led by expert camp instructors. New for 2016! The Museum will offer two weeks of Discovery Camp and Discovery Camp, Jr. from March 7-11 and March 14-18. Programming offered will be the same each week. Parents should check that the camp week selected matches the Spring Break dates for each child. Spring Break Discovery Camp and Discovery Camp, Jr. are presented by Texas Instruments.

DISCOVERY DAYS: FOSSILS. On March 12, families can discover the world of paleontology by digging for fossils and bones and learning to examine and identify their finds at Discovery Days: Fossils. Other paleo pursuits include piecing together giant 3D dinosaur puzzles, creating fossil artwork and exploring the Museum on a fossil scavenger hunt. Free to members and included with general admission for non-members, Discovery Days, presented by Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds, take place on the second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (with exclusive activities during member-only hours).

SLEEPOVER. On March 12, kids can grab a sleeping bag and have a spring break sleepover dozing with the dinosaurs at the Perot Museum! Those lucky enough to reserve a spot can enjoy behind-the-scenes after-hours access to the Museum’s 11 exhibit halls, exclusive demonstrations, hands-on discovery plus a late-night snack, 3D film and light breakfast to round out the experience. Designed especially for children ages 6-12, sleepovers are open to groups of all sizes – from a parent and child to entire organizations. Cost is $45 per child and $30 per adult chaperone.

HOURS. General hours of operation for the Perot Museum are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. On the first Thursday of the month, the Museum will stay open until 9 p.m. for its First Thursday Late Night public events.

Spring Break hours.During Spring Break (March 5-19), the Museum will stay open daily with extended hours until 7 p.m.

Member mornings. From 8:30-10 a.m. every Saturday and 10 a.m.-noon every Sunday, members can enjoy exclusive access to the Perot Museum. Additionally, during Spring Break, there will be member-only hours from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Monday through Friday (March 7-11 and March 14-18).

TICKETS. Museum general admission ticket prices are $19 for adults (18-64), $12 for youth (2-17), $13 for seniors (65+), and free for children under 2. Museum general admission is always free for members. Admission to the theater is $6 for a short film (20 minutes) and $8 for a long film (40 minutes) for adults, seniors and youth. For members, admission to the theater is $5 (short film) and $6 (long film). All children under 2 are free.

Skip the ticket sales line! Visitors, including members, are strongly encouraged to purchase/reserve tickets directly from their smart phones or computers in advance.

The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For parking information, tickets and other details, visit perotmuseum.org or call 214-428-5555.
To learn more, please visit perotmuseum.org.


2016 SPRING BREAK PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
Saturday, March 5 - Sunday, March 20

SATURDAY, MARCH 5; MONDAY, MARCH 7 - FRIDAY, MARCH 11; MONDAY, MARCH 14 – SATURDAY, MARCH 19 (8:30-10 a.m. – members only; extended hours from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Spring Science Crafts. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Art Lab – Moody Family Children’s Museum on the Lower Level – children 5 and under with adult companion)
“Science on the Spot” Demos. 11:30 a.m. (T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall – Level 4)
and 1:30 p.m. (The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall – Level 3)
Bookworm Reading. 11 a.m. (T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall – Level 4)
Drop-In Science Activities. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)
Science Trivia. 2 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)
Slinky Spring Science. 3-6 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)

SATURDAY, MARCH 12(8:30-10 a.m. – members only; extended hours from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Discovery Day: Fossils (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Enjoy a variety of paleontology-themed activities, from giant 3D dinosaur puzzles to fossil artwork and a fossil scavenger hunt.
Fossils and Footprints Activity. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Art Lab – Moody Family Children’s Museum on the Lower Level – children 5 and under with adult companion)
Bookworm Reading. 11 a.m. (T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall – Level 4)

SUNDAYS ON MARCH 6, 13 AND 20(10 a.m.-noon members only; extended hours from noon-7 p.m. March 6 and 13 and regular hours from noon-5 p.m. March 20)
Spring Science Crafts. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Art Lab – Moody Family Children’s Museum on the Lower Level – children 5 and under with adult companion)
“Science on the Spot” Demos. 11:30 a.m. (T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall – Level 4)
and 1:30 p.m. (The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall – Level 3)
Bookworm Reading. 11 a.m. (T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall – Level 4)
Drop-In Science Activities. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)
Science Trivia. 2 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)
Slinky Spring Science. 3-6 p.m. (TECH Corner – Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall – Level 2)

Discovery Carts and other live science demos will occur throughout the Museum at various times each day.