MSUM Summer 2009 Events & Activities
MSUM Regional Science Center Buffalo River Site
www.mnstate.edu/regsci
The Buffalo River Site is located 16 miles east of Moorhead, off Highway 10. It is adjacent to the Buffalo River State Park and one of Minnesota’s largest prairie preserves, The Nature Conservancy’s Bluestem Prairie. The Buffalo River Site is open from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Entrance fees for public events, star parties, and to the site and interpretive center is free.
Solar Spectacular
June 14 • 2-3:30 p.m.
Sometimes we forget that the sun is a star. By studying it we can learn about its more distant cousins. Our star, Sol, affects our planet in many ways–some obvious and others not so obvious. Come and look at the sun through a specially filtered telescope. Special activities for the whole family will help you to learn more about this shining member of our solar system.
Bird Banding Open House
July 25 • 8-10 a.m.
Wake up early, grab your mosquito spray and check out our bird-banding program. The Science Center’s participation in the Mapping Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) bird-banding program is in its 10th year. We will start with a tour of our Interpretive Center’s Bird Observatory, an introduction to MAPS and then it’s off to observe our citizen scientists at work as captured birds are identified, aged, sexed, banded and released.
Star Party on the Prairie
August 21 • 9-11 p.m.
We’re having a star party on the prairie and you are invited. Come and have the beautiful summer sky interpreted for you. Learn how to find the constellations. See the Milky Way, nebulae and star clusters through our telescopes. Perhaps we will see some meteors. Bring your own binoculars or telescope, if you wish, and enjoy the prairie at night. If it is cloudy we will have a short indoor presentation at 9 p.m.
Interpretive Center Open House
August 23 • 2-4 p.m. • Guided prairie hike at 3 p.m.
Join us for an open house at the Regional Science Center’s Buffalo River Site. Tour the prairie displays in the interpretive center before you venture onto the prairie to view the “Cluster of Grasses” art sculpture and visit a prairie pothole. You will learn about the center’s efforts to improve the “prairie-ness” of the grasslands of the Buffalo River Site.
Interpretive Center Open House
September 20 • 2-4 p.m. • Prairie seed collecting at 3 p.m.
Come to Regional Science Center’s Buffalo River Site for some hands-on learning about Minnesota’s native prairie grasses and wildflowers. Enjoy a peaceful hour picking seed for the center’s prairie restoration program. You’ll learn why the prairie ecosystem is important and help to improve the center’s prairie landscape. Be prepared to walk over uneven ground.
MSUM Regional Science Center Planetarium
www.mnstate.edu/regsci
The planetarium is located at 11th Street and 8th Avenue South on the MSUM campus in Bridges Hall 167. General admission is $3; children 12 and under, senior citizens and Tri-College students are $1.50. For more information, call 218.477.2904.
Summer Planets
June 4-25 • Thursdays at 7 p.m.
The sun sets late over the Red River Valley in June. But there are still opportunities to observe the night sky. This month we will learn how to use a star map and where to find the bright naked-eye planets in the summer sky.
Our Moon
July 2-30 • Thursdays at 7 p.m.
The full moons of summer ride low in the sky. They often appear larger than the full moon at other times of the year. Come and learn more about our closest neighbor—its phases, features and lore and learn how to use a star map to identify summer stars and constellations.
Our Moon Telescope Viewing
July 30 • Thursday 8 p.m.
A special telescope viewing of the summer moon will be held in conjunction with the July 30 planetarium show. Guests are invited to see “Our Moon” in the planetarium first, and then join the volunteers and staff on the MSUM campus where telescopes will be set up to enjoy the moon in its summer splendor. Regular admission prices will be charged for entrance to the Planetarium, but the telescope viewing will be free. If it is too cloudy to view the outdoor sky, the interpretation program will not be held.
Catch a Falling Star
August 6-20 • Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Summer is one of the best times of the year to catch a “falling star.” There are several meteor showers that occur during July and August. But you don’t need an umbrella to observe them! Come and learn more about these fascinating objects. Perhaps you will even get to hold a real “shooting star!”
College for Kids
MSUM is offering College for Kids for kids ages 8-14 July 13-16 and again July 20-23. A variety of classes will be offered, ranging from magician tricks, the solar system and Spanish, to architecture, art and crazy chemistry. The 1-1/2 hour classes run from 8:30-10 a.m., and the 3-hour classes run from 8:30-11:50 a.m., both Monday through Thursday. Class fees vary. For more information, contact MSUM Continuing Studies at 218.477.5862 or e-mail contstdy@mnstate.edu or visit the website http://www.mnstate.edu/collegeforkids/
Summer Algebra Institute™
MSUM is offering the Summer Algebra Institute™, a weeklong, half-day math enrichment program for kids entering 3rd-6th grades that runs July 27-31. Open to average and gifted students, the program establishes an enduring grasp of foundational algebra concepts like variables, powers and factoring, using hands-on activities and games. Class fee is $195. For more information, contact MSUM Continuing Studies at 218.477.5862 or e-mail contstdy@mnstate.edu or visit the website www.mnstate.edu/continue and click children’s enrichment programs.
Summer Discovery Camp
MSUM is offering Summer Discovery Camp for students who have completed 7th, 8th or 9th grades. The week-long resident camp runs June 15-19 and includes investigating rivers, creeks and ponds; observing plants growing, bugs transforming and mold decaying; and exploring new ways of getting energy to power our planet. Camp cost is $500, but many full and partial scholarships are available. For more information, contact Shawn Ellingboe, outreach coordinator, at ellngboe@mnstate.edu or 218-477-5836 or visit the website http://www.mnstate.edu/csnsoutreach/
Motorcycle Training
MSUM offers basic and advanced motorcycle training on the MSUM campus and in Fergus Falls. A variety of dates and times are available. Basic classes (14.5 hours) usually run on a one-weeknight, two-weekend-day schedule. Weekday and evening classes are available in June. Advanced classes (5 hours) run on weekends and weeknights. The basic course costs $160. The advanced course costs $55. For more information, contact MSUM Continuing Studies at 218.477.5862 or e-mail contstdy@mnstate.edu or visit the website mnstate.edu/continue and click Motorcycle Safety Training 2009.