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Forest Adventures
Fern bank Museum opens childrens area,
woodland habitat to the public
By Grace Huseth
T he Fernbank Museum of Natural FFistory in Druid Hills is expanding to the
great outdoors this fall. The museum is completing two outdoor projects in
the next month, one that will feature all-new environments and activities for
Fernbank’s museum and another to reopen the Fernbank Forest.
Brandi Berry, Fernbank’s vice president of marketing and communications, said
nearly 10 acres behind the museum have been transformed into a nature adventure
called WildWoods, complete with treetop views, an educational pavilion, and hands-on
activities for children.
“Creating natural, outdoor experiences reignites the central, original mission of
Fernbank to preserve Fernbank Forest as a living classroom,” Berry said. “The education
and exhibition department at Fernbank dreamed of an outdoor area that would inspire
guests to keep learning.”
Stepping off the museum’s terrace, WildWoods starts with the Montgomery FFighline
Trace that has a dramatic vantage point from 50 feet in the treetops. The high boardwalk
features two tree pods in the shape of a tulip poplar and a fern that open up for visitors
to see different vantage points of the woodlands. There are view-scopes along the
boardwalk, some with a view from a predator — such as a hawk — and some from a prey
— such as a deer — as well as a compound view like that of an insect.
A realistic tree snag offers more hours of play at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
The trail winds to a play area called Nature Stories where children 8 and under can
interact with unique exhibit sensory stations. The first station is a hands-on water cycle
activity leading from a waterfall. A looping creek bed encourages kids to explore the
cause and effects of manipulating water, such as building a dam or creating an eddy. The
largest exhibit is a playground designed to look like part of the forest, with custom-made
trees, native Georgia lichen, mushrooms and hidden woodland critters.
“All activities correlate with the science standards that children are learning in
school. While discoveries in nature are often unpredictable, Fernbank has incorporated
exciting discoveries so that the exhibit is always stocked with educational finds,” Berry
said.
WildWoods leads on to elevated platforms and nets in a high ropes experience called
Adventure Outpost. FFere older children can learn in the treetops, tiptoeing through
suspended rope walks, and ascending on floating discs inspired by leaves to reach an
interactive weather station. More activities will take place at the Kendeda Education
Pavillion with specialist-led programs.
The boardwalk splits to allow access into the Isdell Wildlife Sanctuary, a restored
wetland that highlights the role Piedmont forest plays in the water cycle for Georgia.
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20 September 2016 I QD
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