Family friendly deals make it easy to visit unique museum

Spring up to The Wildlife Experience in Parker, and give your wallet a break. Cash in on a spring break deal that allows all Colorado Springs students to delight in a 17-foot waterfall, explore majestic coral reefs and marvel at the mysteries of the rainforest — all for free through April 1, when a general admission of equal or greater value is purchased.

The Wildlife Experience boasts a variety of activities guaranteed to engage your students for a full day of fun and adventure. Families who take advantage of this BOGO offer can make a day of it, with more than 100,000 square-feet of interactive exhibits, four Extreme Screen films, daily hands-on activities with the museum’s education team, a full cafe menu and much more.

Current exhibits include:

• “Rainforest Adventure” — A multisensory expedition through a human-size maze to tropical rain forests around the world. Meet scientists, become a research assistant, climb a 9-foot-tall kapok tree, weave on a loom, climb through a tree log, explore a gorilla nest and learn about conservation.

• “Globeology” — A 1/4-mile path through nature, including a 17-foot waterfall, two polar bears and a hissing crocodile. Watch the coral reef come to life with live fish-feeding programs at 11:30 a.m., get an up-close look at sea horses, eels, fish and a wide variety of marine life in action, and learn why coral reefs are called the “rain forests of the sea” and how we can protect them for generations to come.

• “Pronghorn Passage: A Photographic Journey” — Joe Riis documents the annual 170-mile pronghorn migration from wintering grounds in the Green River Basin to Grand Teton National Park. Wildlife photographer Riis and environmental writer Emilene Ost-lind spent nearly three years following the pronghorn on foot to capture this amazing story.

Don’t miss “Science on a Sphere,” a 6-foot diameter earthly lesson with a wide variety of interactive zones for crafts, costumes and imaginative play, and wildlife fine art exhibits.

IF YOU GO

A natural-history and wildlife art museum, The Wildlife Experience is at 10035 S. Peoria St. in Parker, one mile east of Interstate 25 at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and South Peoria Street. E-470 is an easy way to get there. Take E-470 to Peoria Street and go south to Lincoln Avenue.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $10 for ages 13-64, $9 for ages 65 and older and $6 for ages 3-12. Those ages 2 and younger get in free, and two-venue combo tickets are available, allowing you to view a film in the Extreme Screen Theater during your visit. Parking is free.

The Wildlife Experience’s Spring Break BOGO special runs through April 1. Students must show their student ID or their parent’s driver’s license with a Colorado Springs address. Those not in Colorado Springs can get discounts at www.coloradokids.com or in their entertainment book. For information, call 1-720-488-3300 or visit www.thewildlifeexperience.org.

JOY HARPER, THE GAZETTE