11:30 a.m. Skulls Learn about New England wildlife while examining their teeth and skull.
2:30 p.m. Cells (Lab Coat Investigation for ages 9 and up) Compare plant and animal cells using a microscope. You may get a chance to see your own cells! Sponsored by Hypertherm.

11:30 a.m. Mirrors Use mirrors to investigate symmetry. Turn simple shapes into complex and interesting patterns.

2:30 p.m. Build a Better Battery (Lab Coat Investigation for those ages 9 and up) Come learn how to construct a battery using potatoes, then experiment with materials to see if you can run a clock. Sponsored by Hypertherm.

11:30 a.m. Leafcutter Ants Our Leafcutter ant colony is a community of "insect fungus farmers" that grows its own food. Help us provide the colony with its supply of leaves and get a close look at these amazing insects.

2:30 p.m. Gearing Up (Lab Coat Activity for those ages 9 and up) Join in as we build machines with gears. Find out how different types of gears can change how something moves. Sponsored by Hypertherm.

11:30 a.m. Magnets (for preschoolers and their families) Discover cool ways to experiment with and use magnets.

2:30 p.m. Honeybees Stop in and find out what the honeybee colony is up to this summer.

11:30 a.m. Leafcutter Ants Our Leafcutter ant colony is a community of "insect fungus farmers" that grows its own food. Help us provide the colony with its supply of leaves and get a close look at these amazing insects.

2:30 p.m. Build a Better Battery (Lab Coat Investigation for those ages 9 and up) Come learn how to construct a battery using potatoes, then experiment with materials to see if you can run a clock. Sponsored by Hypertherm.

11:30 a.m. Air Play You can't see air, but it's all around us, all the time. Join one of our Explainers and discover what air can do.

2:30 p.m. Who Sank the Boat? Can your boat withstand the challenge? Build a boat and see if it can survive. (Outside in Science Park - weather permitting)

11:30 a.m. Color Mixing (for preschoolers and their families) Mix it up by experimenting with primary colors and seeing what new colors can be created.

2:30 p.m. Microscopic Explorations Use microscopes to magnify items and discover that there is more to see than with the naked eye.

Fall Sessions
Wednesdays, September 8-December 8 (no class Nov. 24)
Morning session: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Afternoon session: 1-3 p.m.

This weekly program will foster your young child's natural curiosity and learning through hands-on experiments, fun projects, and individual explorations in the physical and natural sciences. For children ages 4-kindergarten. Montshire members $350, non-members $385. Limit 15 per session, pre-registration required. Register online.

Dartmouth faculty and graduate students from the departments of Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics/Astronomy, Computer Science and Engineering will preview their work before descending on Washington, D.C. for the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival. Free with Museum admission; at the Science Discover Lab

10:30-11:15 a.m.—Stellar Forensics
11:15 am-Noon—Polar Detectives
Noon-12:45 p.m.—DNA Misbehaving

10:15 or 11:30 a.m. This program combines great children's literature and hands-on activities for fun science learning and exploration. Each day features a different book and activity. For children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Free with Museum admission.

Join other homeschoolers and their families for a day of science as we explore phenomena that shape, heat, and cool the earth. From investigating river formation and erosion to studying seasonal changes in the weather, these topics are sure to help your homeschooler better understand the underlying principles of earth science. For homeschoolers in grades 3-8. Free with Museum admission. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

This workshop will delve into the biggest stories on Earth! Using the Museum's new Dynamic Earth exhibition, you will engage in practical hands-on activities and lessons to make your Earth Science unit come alive. We will investigate erosion and delta formation, explore geologic time and plate tectonics, and learn how to use NASA satellite imagery to better understand global landforms. For grade 4-8 teachers. Fee: $50, includes lunch and the GEMS "River Cutters" unit. Limit 16, pre-registration required. Supported with funding from NASA. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Register online.

Thursdays, September 30, October 7 & 14
10:30 a.m.-noon for ages 6-8, 1-2:30 p.m. for ages 9-12

Join other homeschoolers in this three-part, inquiry-based science class. We'll focus on chemistry experiments and activities with ingredients found in your kitchen. We'll explore the density and pH of solutions, physical changes, and chemical reactions. Montshire members $54, non-members $60. Limit 12 per session, pre-registration required. Register online.

The New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) is training volunteers to contribute photographs of New England plants for the upcoming Online Guide to Flora of New England. This informative session will prepare you to take aesthetically appealing photographs that can be included in this comprehensive online guide. You will learn useful tips and tricks of plant photography from an accomplished botanical photographer. Bring a bag lunch, camera, and tripod. Instructor: Arieh Tal, photographer and naturalist. Montshire members $28, non-members $30. Limit 16, pre-registration required. Contact NEWFS at 508-877-7630 or visit www.NEWFS.org. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mushrooms and other fungi are commonly seen on the forest floor in autumn. How can you tell which ones are edible and which ones should be avoided? Join expert Faith Hunt on this foray that will introduce you to a wide variety of spectacular fungi that can be found locally. We will end the program with an opportunity to sample some of our edible finds. Montshire members $50, non-members $55. Limit 12, pre-registration required. 1-4 p.m. Register online

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online

Beginning in the 1930s and spanning six decades, explorer Bradford Washburn artistically and audaciously photographed the majestic glaciers in Alaska and Switzerland. Beginning in 2005, environmental photojournalist David Arnold spent two years retracing Washburn's steps to record a selection of the original 8,000 images. Arnold's multi-media presentation, Chasing the Shadows of Dr. Bradford Washburn, chronicles his epic journey from Alaska to the Alps and provides insights into Washburn's extraordinary life. Montshire and ILEAD members $10, non-members $15. 7 p.m. Pre-registration required. Register online

10:15 or 11:30 a.m. This program combines great children's literature and hands-on activities for fun science learning and exploration. Each day features a different book and activity. For children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Free with Museum admission.

Bring the family and join us for a day of extraordinary activities investigating the processes that shape, heat, and cool our world. Learn the reasons for the seasons, the causes of our daily weather, and how deltas are formed. Explore the phenomena of currents and turbulence, and join a presentation at the Dynamic Globe about the week's weather. Free with Museum admission. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thursday, October 21, 7-8:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 23, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

October brings tens of thousands of Snow Geese to the Champlain Valley during their annual migration from the Arctic tundra. This annual spectacle is a "must see" for anyone interested in Vermont's natural history. This two-part program begins with an evening presentation on waterfowl migration and the natural history of Snow Geese, and concludes with a field trip to Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area to observe this magnificent migration. Montshire members $105, non-members $115, includes transportation to Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area. Limit 15, pre-registration required. Register online

Join other educators as we learn new hands-on investigations to better understand the causes and consequences of seasonal change. From working with models, to viewing satellite imagery showing change over time, this in-depth workshop will provide you with new ways to teach the reasons for seasons. For grade 5-8 teachers. Fee $50. Limit 16, pre-registration required. Supported with funding from NASA. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Register online

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online

10:15 or 11:30 a.m. This program combines great children's literature and hands-on activities for fun science learning and exploration. Each day features a different book and activity. For children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Free with Museum admission.

Inventors of all ages are invited to bring their home-built contraption to the Montshire and link it with other creations made by fellow participants. The result is an incredible chain reaction! Open to people of all ages and mechanical abilities. Details and building guidelines are available at www.montshire.org/mmadness. Let's make this the biggest year ever! Free with Museum admission. 1-4 p.m.

Free admission to the Museum, and save at the Museum Store, home to a wide selection of books, toys, and nature-related gifts. Free gift wrapping, refreshments, and more! 5-8 p.m.

10:15 or 11:30 a.m. This program combines great children's literature and hands-on activities for fun science learning and exploration. Each day features a different book and activity. For children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Free with Museum admission.

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online

Climb aboard the Montshire's magic carpet and be whisked away to locales around the world. Each Magic Carpet Luncheon features an extraordinary travelogue followed by a regionally inspired meal. Entirely run by volunteers, each luncheon benefits the Museum's education programs. Montshire members $12, non-members $15. Pre-registration required. Register online