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Stephanie Jennings

Halloween at the Heard T-Rex

On October 18th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., visitors from across North Texas will experience Collin County’s premier family-friendly Halloween event at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. Halloween at the Heard features a safe environment to experience the joy of trick-or-treating along the eerie Dinosaurs Live! Live-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs trail.

Families will enjoy an evening full of fun activities including a presentation of a movie on the Heard's outdoor amphitheater stage. Kids ages 12 and under will also have the opportunity to participate in a costume contest.

Those who dare will be able take a trail detour after the movie through our "Haunted Forest" and “Ghost Town” where they may encounter a ghost or creature of the night (not recommended for younger children)! Visitors will get to walk through the Heard’s newest indoor exhibit, Project Passenger Pigeon, which will be open until dusk. Clix Photography will take professional photos of guests in their costumes.

The Heard recommends that guests bring insect repellant, flashlights, water-resistant blankets and/or stadium seats for use during the movie. Concessions will be available for purchase, including grilled hot dogs provided by Whole Foods Market. Guests may also bring their own picnic dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. Trick-or-treat bags, sponsored by Clif KiD, and other giveaways will be available while supplies last.

Tickets will be available to the public beginning October 1st. Tickets for this annual event have sold out each year, so the Heard encourages guests to purchase theirs as soon as possible. Admission to this event is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under. See heardmuseum.org for more details. 

Proceeds from this event benefit Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, a private 501(c)3 organization. The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard.  Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard’s mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. 

Stephanie Jennings
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Do you have a love for children and an enthusiasm for nature? We are looking for a few dynamic individuals to round out our part-time education staff for this academic school year as part-time museum educators and teaching assistants. Both weekday and weekend positions are available!

Weekend opportunities include leading scout workshops and hosting birthday parties. Weekday opportunities include assisting with weekly preschool and homeschool classes and school field trips as scheduled.

Previous teaching experience and a background in natural sciences is preferred. Also, experience presenting with live animals is desired. A background check is also required. To learn more about the Heard and available positions, please visit heardmuseum.org/employment.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

Stephanie Jennings
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Once described as being so numerous that they obscured the sun when in flight, the Passenger pigeon is now extinct. This year, Project Passenger Pigeon marks the centenary of this extraordinary extinction. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is participating in this nationwide program to bring the subject of conservation to the forefront. 

At Passport to Project Passenger Pigeon on August 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Heard will introduce kids of all ages to conservation topics through fun games, activities, and crafts. Children will receive their own passport to the Passenger Pigeon Project. Those who complete their passport will receive a special prize. Visitors will also enjoy a special meet-and-greet with author Joel Greenberg. This event and exhibit will teach lessons from the past that you can apply toward a sustainable future!

This special event is FREE for Heard Museum members and included in general admission. 

Stephanie Jennings
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On April 26th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas invites guests to celebrate the history of the Blackland Prairie at Heritage Day, presented by Clif KiD.

The Heard will host demonstrations, entertainment, educational programming, and vendors to give visitors a view into our region’s culture and history. Live music performances will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by Madison Whitehead (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.), Elizabeth & Felipe (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and Texoma Highway (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

This event also features the grand opening of the Heard’s new Pioneer Village comprised of eight buildings in playhouse scale that emulate structures typical of prairie settlements in the late 1800s. Kids will be invited to go back in time and have fun playing in and exploring these buildings including a miniature school house, grocery store and settler’s cabins!

Through the Pioneer Village exhibit, the Heard hopes to continue to connect visitors to the history of the prairie and also its ecological significance. Less than 1% of the Blackland Prairie remains, making the tallgrass prairie the most-endangered large ecosystem in North America.

Heritage Day is included in general admission: $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and children (ages 3-12), and free for children ages 2 and under. Heard Museum members get in FREE. City of McKinney residents also get in free with a valid driver’s license indicating McKinney residence, or McKinney water bill accompanied by a valid driver’s license with a matching name.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

About Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious and organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® Bar energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and snacks for adventure, the family and employee-owned company is committed to sustaining its people, brands, business, community and planet. For more information on Clif KiD, please visit www.clifbar.com

Stephanie Jennings
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For more than 20 years, veteran and novice gardeners alike have anticipated this rare opportunity to purchase plants from a huge selection of hard-to-find herbs, native and well-adapted plants. This year, the Heard will provide some of the best plants for North Central Texas gardens and an opportunity to obtain many rare plants.

The plant sale is open to the public Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, 1-5 p.m.

A limited amount of Green Milkweed will also be available! Milkweed is the only food source for the Monarch butterfly, which is in great decline.

All sales are tax free and proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s mission to bring nature and people together. Guests are welcome to bring carts or wagons to facilitate their purchases.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

Stephanie Jennings
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Spring Break is a great time connect with nature. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is offering Spring Break Family Mini-Camps to help families this need. Designed for kids (ages 5+) and adults to attend together, each mini-camp explores a different topic and includes indoor activities and time outside exploring our 289 acre sanctuary.

On March 11, in “Unearthing Dinosaurs,” explore which dinosaurs and other pre-historic life lived in Texas. Go on a real fossil hunt and make a pre-historic inspired craft to take home.

“What Comes from Eggs?” on March 12, will provide participants with the opportunity to discover some of the amazing animals that hatch from eggs. See examples from the Heard’s live and preserved animals. You’ll also get to dye your own hard-boiled egg using natural dyes to take home.

Springtime can bring dramatic weather to our area. On March 13, in “Forces of Nature,” find out about tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Then, make your own weather-themed project.

Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Each adult may bring up to 4 children. Preregistration for these mini-camps is required. These camps are $20 per person (adult or child); or, become a Heard Museum member and pay only $17 per person (adult or child). More information at www.heardmuseum.org

Stephanie Jennings
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Owls are amazing birds of prey! There are many interesting aspects about them that you may or may not know. For example, owls’ eyes are fixed in their sockets. This is why they must turn their entire head to see something in a different direction. They can’t turn their head completely backwards, but have a total 270 degree view.

Most owls are nocturnal, meaning that they’re active at night. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come see them in a live owl presentation on Saturday night at 6:30 P.M. and learn more about them. Then, stay for a guided night hike on our sanctuary trails to see if you can hear them.

If you’ve ever been on a hike and the sun set before you finished, you know that experiencing a trail at night can be a completely different experience from hiking during the day. Landmarks change, as can your sense of direction. Even if you’ve hiked a trail several times, it can feel completely unfamiliar.

Explore the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers will be encouraged to sharpen their senses to be able to spot signs of animal life and learn more about the inhabitants of the Heard.

Clif KiD samples will be distributed while supplies last.  This event sells out each year.Preregistration is required for all night hikes. Registration available at www.heardmuseum.org.

Stephanie Jennings
Pin on Pinterest

Spring Break is a great time connect with nature. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is offering Spring Break Family Mini-Camps to help families this need. Designed for kids (ages 5+) and adults to attend together, each mini-camp explores a different topic and includes indoor activities and time outside exploring our 289 acre sanctuary.

On March 11, in “Unearthing Dinosaurs,” explore which dinosaurs and other pre-historic life lived in Texas. Go on a real fossil hunt and make a pre-historic inspired craft to take home.

“What Comes from Eggs?” on March 12, will provide participants with the opportunity to discover some of the amazing animals that hatch from eggs. See examples from the Heard’s live and preserved animals. You’ll also get to dye your own hard-boiled egg using natural dyes to take home.

Springtime can bring dramatic weather to our area. On March 13, in “Forces of Nature,” find out about tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Then, make your own weather-themed project.

Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Each adult may bring up to 4 children. Preregistration for these mini-camps is required. These camps are $20 per person (adult or child); or, become a Heard Museum member and pay only $17per person (adult or child). More information at www.heardmuseum.org

Stephanie Jennings
Pin on Pinterest

Owls are amazing birds of prey! There are many interesting aspects about them that you may or may not know. For example, owls’ eyes are fixed in their sockets. This is why they must turn their entire head to see something in a different direction. They can’t turn their head completely backwards, but have a total 270 degree view.

Most owls are nocturnal, meaning that they’re active at night. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come see them in a live owl presentation on Saturday night at 6:30 P.M. and learn more about them. Then, stay for a guided night hike on our sanctuary trails to see if you can hear them.

If you’ve ever been on a hike and the sun set before you finished, you know that experiencing a trail at night can be a completely different experience from hiking during the day. Landmarks change, as can your sense of direction. Even if you’ve hiked a trail several times, it can feel completely unfamiliar.

Explore the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers will be encouraged to sharpen their senses to be able to spot signs of animal life and learn more about the inhabitants of the Heard.

Clif KiD samples will be distributed while supplies last.  This event sells out each year. Preregistration is required for all night hikes. Registration available at www.heardmuseum.org.
 

Stephanie Jennings

Have dinner plans Tuesday night? On February 18, from 4-8PM, Texas Roadhouse in McKinney is hosting a fundraising night for Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary! Mention you’re there to support the Heard, and 10% of your order will go to the Heard.

Texas Roadhouse is a full service, casual dining restaurant featuring steaks, ribs, fish, chicken, and more. This night will also be a Kids’ Night, with fun activities like face painting, and free ice cream and goody bags for the kids. The Heard will also have a touch table available during some of the event.

For directions, menu, and more, visit Texas Roadhouse’s website here: http://www.texasroadhouse.com/restaurant-locations/texas/mckinney