Museum Heat

I know you are all enjoying the weather. I can't believe all the wonderful sunshine we have been having. I always love to see my dormant plants awake in the Spring but I can't help but worry about getting that last frost which may destroy my tender plants. But not just plants are wilting. We at the museum have decided not to turn off the heat (it is only Mid-March)and start the air conditioning. So I am learning all about solar heating. When I arrive in the morning the museum has cooled and work is comfortable. But now, around 4:30 it is literally steaming in the museum. I love all these wonderful windows. I enjoy watching visitors come up excited to the museum and look into the windows with wonder as they see our whale for the first time. Usually I enjoy sitting at the front desk greeting visitors but today I am wilting. My only volunteer in the museum is Frank Kozlowski. If you haven't met him,he is a wonderful volunteer. He comes in every Thursday with a smile and some wonderful new tidbit of information for me. It brightens my day when he walks into the office. He is what I wish for every one of the volunteers here. He has found what he loves to do and enthusiastically shares it with us and the visitors. I just hope he hasn't melted down there in the museum today. As for most beautiful Ithaca days, we have had few visitors.The few who have visited are probably not even noticing the heat because Frank is most likely helping them learn some new aspect of Earth's History. I will have to Thanks Frank, and all of you for making my job so enjoyable even in the heat. 
Lastly, make sure you come by the Cayuga Nature Center for Maple Fest this weekend. Jaime is rumored to be coming to sell her wares. You can say Hi, enjoy some fantastic pancakes, and revel in Ithaca's sweet nature!

Today is the last of the Winter Free Days. I have a few more volunteers in the museum helping out. Last month we had more than 400 visitors in one day, which is a lot for this small museum. It is a different crowd who visit on these free days. It is a diverse group. From visitors who are very into the science but are unable to visit because of not being able to pay for admissions. There are families from the community who enjoy having the opportunity to visit the museum because it is free. But unfortunately there are visitors who expect everything while they are here; very demanding. I think their attitude is, "You should be happy we are coming to this museum today even though it isn't important to us." I like the first two groups and could do without the last. I guess you have to take the bad with the good. I hope to take some time to encourage science and natural history education while we have these visitors. Sometimes the only time I will be able to have contact with them. This museum is such a great resource and I am glad we have the opportunity to reach this part of the public. Our volunteers make it happen!

Girl scout overnight

What happens at night in a museum? A group of Girl Scouts are about to find out. Normally when I leave the museum in the evening it is quiet ant kind of spooky. Tonight it is fun and the air is filled with anticipation of the night ahead. I have been greeting the girls and their leaders as they drag their sleeping bags and air mattresses down the ramp for a night at the Museum of the Earth. They have been changing into their pjs and texting on their phones. Some things change at sleep overs phones are new but giggling girls are not. Johanna has planned a night full of activities from whale info science table to making ice cream. I have my girls Elizabeth and Maria here helping out. I love to share my volunteering with my family as well as yours. It is quieting down, most of the girls have arrive, and I will be needed in another part of the museum. We have another one of these overnights coming up in April.You as volunteers dont' have to stay all night just experience the fun!