BVMNH 2010 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BVMNH places a high focus on educational and fun programs for children and adults. The museum offers a wide variety of educational lectures and workshops, children’s science camps and science enrichment sessions throughout the year which meet or exceed academic standards. For additional information please contact the museum 661-324-6350
Our calendar of events is subject to change. Important: there is limited space for most of the programs being offered, Reservation are recommended for all programs. Please call 661-324-6350
Adults $7
$4 children: Under 18 years
5 and younger Free
Students (with ID) and Seniors (55 older) $5
All events will be held at the BVMNH museum located at 2018 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
First Saturday of every month is BVMNH's Family Day 2 adults and up to 6 children admission only $20.
Second Saturday of the every month is Seniors Day, seniors admission $1
Third Thursday of every month is Free day from 12 noon to 3pm
January
January 9th 11am BVM Education committee meeting. Chairperson Pam Angel. Open to all those interested in planning and promoting educational exhibits and programs at the museum.
January 16, 3:00 PM “Gold in Kern County!
Presented by Geologist Tim Elam. Join local geologist Tim Elam as he takes you on a rich photographic tour of the geology, history and location of gold mining in Kern County.
Kern County has been the home to numerous gold mining ventures since the 1840’s. In fact, the lure of gold was the primary reason American, European, and Chinese settlers came to the county in the mid-1800’s. Numerous underground and open-pit operations existed throughout the late 1800’s and 1900’s, concentrated in the Mojave Desert, Southern Sierra Nevada, and Tehachapi Mountains. At least three million of ounces of gold have been mined from the county since the first discovery of gold near the Kern River.
Although the latest commercial mining ceased in 2003 near Randsberg, plans exist to commence mining again in the Mojave Desert. Recreational miners still find tiny flakes gold in the Kern River, and “nugget shooting” is common in the Mojave Desert.
The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee and members are Free.
January 19th. 7pm Kern County Archeology Society “KCAS” guest speaker BLM Archaeologist.
January 21st Third Thursday of each month the museum is open FREE from 12noon - 4pm
February
February 6th Family Day At BVMNH. A day filled with fun for everyone. Museum opens at 10 am. Mark your calander: the First Saturday of each month is BVMNH's Family Day, 2 adults and up to 6 children admission only $20.
February 6th, 10:30-12noon “Just for Kids”. TBA - A science based program designed just for kids.
February 6th, 1:00 -2:00 Join Victoria Therault for Storytime in the BVM Library. Located on the BVMNH mezzanine floor. Children and Parents welcomed. Normal Museum entrance fee applies and members are Free.
February 6, 3:00 PM “Sharktooth Hill- A Kern County Fossil Treasure” Presented by Geologist Tim Elam.
The Sharktooth Hill Bone Bed, exposed in bluffs near the Kern River, is a natural history treasure of Kern County. Fossils found in this layer of sedimentary rock are famous to paleontologists worldwide. This layer not only contains a diverse fauna representing marine mammals that lived in this area millions of years ago, but it gives us information regarding how they lived.
The Bone Bed has drawn man’s interest at least since the 1850’s, when it was first noted by gold miners. It has yielded fossils of great paleontologic interest, been excavated commercially, and provided great adventure to thousands of Kern County residents.
Fossils that have been recovered from the Bone Bed include dozens of species of sharks, rays and skates, whales, turtles, sea lions, “bony” fish, land animals and plants.
Why are they concentrated in one six inch layer…in one small geographic area? Join local geologist Tim Elam for a look at the geology and history of the Sharktooth Hill Bone Bed…a Kern County treasure.
The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge to attend this event…just the normal Museum admittance, members are Free.
Feb. 7, 2010 - GEOLOGY AND MINING HISTORY FIELD TRIPS "East Cuyama Valley and Carpenteria" with Gregg Wilkerson.
The paleontology and geology of the San Joaquin Valley, Eastern Cuyama Valley and Coast Ranges is discussed. We visit scenic Santa Barbara Canyon and the San Andreas Fault. The trip includes a visit to the Carpenteria oil seeps which is a historic and archaeological site. This trip will end in Carpenteria. There will be optional camping Sunday night at Carpenteria State Beach for those going in private vehicles.
If you have any questions about registering for a field trip, contact Gregg Wilkerson at 661-391-6081 or contact the Museum directly at 661-324-6350. Prices vary for each trip depending on stops at museums or other locations that charge admission. Generally, fees are $25.00 per vehicle per day.
February, 13th 11am - BVM Education committee meeting. Chairperson Pam Angel Open to all those interested in planning and promoting educational exhibits and programs at the museum.
February 13th 3:00 pm - The Antiquity of Peopling of the New World: The Straight Poop will be Presented by Dr. Robert Yohe, CSUB professor and Archeologist.
Recent biomolecular studies of ancient human feces recovered from archaeological contexts at Paisley Five Mile Cave in southeaster Oregon suggest that the presence of humans in the New World predates the so-called "Clovis Culture" by almost 2,000 years. This talk will focus on the fascinating forensic detective work employed to study human coprolites (also known as paleofeces) that appear to be nearly 14,000 years old. There will be no extra charge to attend this event…just the normal Museum admittance, members are Free.
Feb 13th and 20th, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon both days- Art and Dinosaurs Open to children in first through third grades, Fee: $4 per class. presented by Chela Brehmer with Art Start and the Art Council of Kern will present Art and Dinosaurs. Learn about Dinosaurs while learning art projects. Class to be conducted at the BV museum in the Dinosaur exhibit area. This is part of a creative learning program for children provided through our friends at Chevron. For reservations contact the Art council of Kern 324-9000. To read more about this program CLICK HERE to open classes_teach_science_through_art.doc (very small text only file).
February 17th Third Thursday of each month the museum is open FREE from 12noon - 4pm.
February 27th, Saturday, 3 pm - Sharks! The Big, the Bad and the Ugly a Presentation all about Sharks with Shark expert Scott Bennett.
March March 6th Family Day. The First Saturday of each month is BVMNH's Family Day 2 adults and up to 6 children admission only $20. March 6, 10:30-12 noon Just for Kids - The Big the Bad and the Ugly Sharks with Shark expert Scott Bennett. This is a science based fun filled program for children. March 6th 1:30 -2:30 Join Victoria Therault for Storytime in the BVM Library. Located on the BVMNH mezzanine floor. Children and Parents welcomed. Normal Museum entrance fee applies and members are Free. March 6, 3:00 PM “Life on the Edge: California and the San Andreas Fault” Presented by Geologist Tim Elam. The San Andreas Fault is perhaps the best known, most studied, and yet potentially most devastating geologic feature in the United States. A portion of this fault runs through western and southern Kern County. This 700-mile long geologic structure is the boundary between two plates of the Earth’s crust. It is one of the most dynamic features of the crust. This boundary of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate is evidence of what geologists call “Plate Tectonics.” Stresses and strains associated with this plate boundary influence geologic activity throughout the entire state. Join local geologist Tim Elam as he presents a geologic view of this feature. He will discuss: The presentation will be informal, and questions and discussion are encouraged. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. March 6-7, 2010 - GEOLOGY AND MINING HISTORY FIELD TRIPS "Tecopa-Amargosa Valley" with Gregg Wilkerson. The silver-lead-zinc mines of Tecopa and the clay deposits of the Amargosa Valley will be investigated. The Tecopa district was the only long-runing, profitable metal mining district in the Death Valley Region. The Amargosa Opera House and Amargosa Valley Pup Fish localities will also be visited. If you have any questions about registering for a field trip, contact Gregg Wilkerson at 661-391-6081 or contact the Museum directly at 661-324-6350. Prices vary for each trip depending on stops at museums or other locations that charge admission. Generally, fees are $25.00 per vehicle per day. March 18th Third Thursday of each month the museum is open FREE from 12noon - 4pm. Monday March 29th to Thursday April 1st, 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. 2010 SPRING SCIENCE CAMP "EARLY AMERICAN HERITAGE" April April 3, 3:00 PM “Geology of Yosemite National Park” with geologist Tim Elam Yosemite is a treasure among America’s National Parks. Towering peaks, glacially sculpted valleys, alpine meadows, and spectacular waterfalls are just a part of the land surveyed by John Muir and others in the late 1800’s. Tuolumne Meadows, El Capitan, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy, Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Bridalveil Falls give us awe-inspiring views and memories. These spectacularly beautiful and unusual landforms, along with their flora and fauna, are just part of the Yosemite story. What geologic processes have converged to make this land a jewel of North America? Did you know that an oceans and volcanoes once occupied the entire park area, long before steep canyon walls defined Yosemite Valley? Where are the remnants of those oceans and volcanoes? Some important geologic features can only be seen on the highest peaks of the park. What other stories do the rocks tell us? What geologic activities continue today? Join local geologist Tim Elam as he presents a photographic overview of the geology of California’s first National Park. The presentation will be informal, and questions and discussion are encouraged. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee.
May May 1, 2010, 3:00 PM - "TWENTY MULE TEAMS AND BORAX MINING IN CALIFORNIA" with geologist Tim Elam Kern County has been a part of the California borax mining industry for over 100 years. In the late 1800’s, Mojave was the terminus for borax mined in Death Valley and transported by mule teams. More recently, the Rio Tinto open pit borate mine in eastern Kern County has been supplying this important mineral to the world for nearly 80 years. The mine remains the largest borax mineral mine in the world. Borax mining in California provided some the state’s most enduring and visible legends. Twenty Mule Teams, “Borax Bill”, Death Valley, and Boraxo soap, were a part of television and movies during the mid 20th Century. Join local geologist Tim Elam as he takes you on a rich photographic tour of the geology, history and location of borax mining in Kern County and California. The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. May 15, 2010, 3:00 PM - “ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF KERN COUNTY” with geologist Tim Elam California has virtually every type of rock, landform, and geologic feature known. Many of the significant, fascinating geologic features of California geology exist right here in Kern County.
Our Kern County roads and highways showcase many of these features.
Among those areas that will be discussed are: Join local geologist Tim Elam for a photographic tour of Highway 58, Highway 178, Interstate 5, Highway 33, Highway 14, and other roads of Kern County. See why and how Kern County is the crossroads of California geology. The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge to attend this event…just the normal Museum admittance fee.
May 8, 2010 - "Mineral King and Case Mountain Sequoia Grove" with Gregg Wilkerson. The seldom-visited giant sequoia groves on BLM land at Case Mountain are inspected by a 1 mile hike cross-country (no trails). This unique experience is followed by a tour of historic Mineral King in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. The silver-lead-zinc (gold) mineralization there is associated with an ancient sub-sea volcano. High clearance.
June June 5, 2010 - GEOLOGY AND MINING HISTORY FIELD TRIPS "Oil and gas seeps of western Kern County" The oil/gas seeps at Devil’s Den, Avinal, McKittrick and Maricopa are investigated. If you have any questions about registering for a field trip, contact Gregg Wilkerson at 661-391-6081 or contact the Museum directly at 661-324-6350. Prices vary for each trip depending on stops at museums or other locations that charge admission. Generally, fees are $25.00 per vehicle per day. July JULY 5th Summer Science Camp begins: 3 weeks of fun science camps. Week of July5th Week of July 12th Week of July 19th July 9-10-11, 2010 - GEOLOGY AND MINING HISTORY FIELD TRIPS "Mother Lode Part I: Southern Mines" with Gregg Wilkerson. This 3-day field conference examines the mines, geology and mining history between Maricopa and Jackson. There will be a Friday Evening Lecture Series in Jamestown at the Community Hall 6:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday's trip will be from Jamestown through Columbia and then to the Hidden Treasure Mine and hence to the Westpoint Mining District via the Chaw Se Historic Park (petroglyphs, grinding stones). This tour ends at the Kennedy Wheels in Jackson. Sunday's Field trip starts in Coulterville and examines the mining areas of La Grange, Hornitos, Bear Valley and Mt. Bullion. The Sunday field trip ends with a stamp-mill demonstration in Mariposa and a visit to the State Mining and Mineral Museum. If you have any questions about registering for a field trip, contact Gregg Wilkerson at 661-391-6081 or contact the Museum directly at 661-324-6350. Prices vary for each trip depending on stops at museums or other locations that charge admission. Generally, fees are $25.00 per vehicle per day. August check back for updates or call the museum and ask to be added to our email contact list. September September 4, 2010 3:00 - "PMHISTORY AND GEOLOGY OF THE GRAND CANYON" with geologist Tim Elam Perhaps no place in the world can inspire more superlatives than the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Awesome and colorful, beautiful and immense, this 277 mile long canyon has drawn Native Americans, explorers, tourists, artists, geologists, fortune-hunters, and adventure seekers for centuries. How did it form? Why is it there? What events have shaped the rich cultural and physical history of the Grand Canyon? Join local geologist Tim Elam as he takes you on a rich photographic tour of the geology, and history of the Grand Canyon. The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. September 18, 2010, 3:00 PM - "GEOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA" with geologist Tim Elam California has some of the most spectacular, beautiful, and unusual landforms on Earth. The state has virtually every type of rock and geologic feature. These are a reflection of dynamic geologic activities that have occurred over millions of years. Some of these activities continue today. Yosemite Valley, Death Valley, Mt. Whitney and the Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay, Mono Lake, Mojave Desert, Mt. Shasta, and Lake Tahoe…are just a few of the recognizable names of features created by geologic processes. How were they created? When? What are the evidences of geologic activity? Join local geologist Tim Elam as he presents a photographic overview of the geology of California. The presentation will be informal, and questions and discussion are encouraged. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. October October 16, 2010, 3:00 PM - "EARTHQUAKES IN KERN COUNTY" with geologist Tim Elam An occasional shaking of the ground reminds us that we live in earthquake country in Kern County. Why do we have earthquakes here? When will they occur? What can we do to make ourselves safer? When will the next BIG ONE be? What about the Lake Isabella Dams? Most folks have heard of the San Andreas Fault, one of the most studied, and yet potentially most devastating earthquake faults in the United States. A portion of this fault runs through Kern County. However, nearly all of the earthquakes felt in Kern County are due to ruptures along faults other than the San Andreas. At least seven active faults exist that could rupture, resulting in a major Kern County earthquake. Join local geologist Tim Elam as he presents a geologic/geographic view of earthquakes and major faults of Kern County. He will present and discuss: The presentation will be informal, and questions and discussion are encouraged. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. November November 6, 2010, 3:00 PM - FROM SAND AND GRAVEL TO DAZZLING DIAMONDS:
ROCKS, MINERALS AND CRYSTALS IN EVERYDAY LIFE Have you ever seen a picture of a beautiful crystal? Did you wonder what it was made of? Did you wonder if it was natural… or faceted, cut, and polished or even synthetically created by man? What’s the difference between a rock, a mineral, a crystal, and a stone? Did you realize one of the most important mineral deposits in the world exists right here in Kern County? Join local geologist Tim Elam for an informal afternoon devoted to the beauty, uniqueness, importance, and identification of minerals. He will display crystals from around the world, and discuss how they form, where they can be found, and how they can be identified. He will discuss the unique properties some minerals possess, such as brightly-colored fluorescent minerals that glow and change color depending on the type of light that shines upon them. The presentation will be informal, and questions are encouraged. No geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. If you have rocks or minerals you need to have identified, bring them with you. We’ll try to identify them at no charge. There will be no extra charge for attending this event…just the normal Museum entrance fee. December December 4, 2010, 3:00 PM - “McKittrick, Maricopa, and La Brea Tar Seeps” California is known for many unusual and fascinating geologic features. Here in Kern County, tar seeps near on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley provide evidence of life in the valley thousands of years ago. Similar to the more famous La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, tar seeps and pits at McKittrick and Maricopa entombed and preserved the hard parts of thousands of fauna, from insects to large mammals, including saber-toothed cats. Join local geologist Tim Elam for a photographic presentation that will include discussions of: The presentation will be informal, and no geologic background is necessary to enjoy the event. There will be no extra charge to attend this event…just the normal Museum admittance fee.
Join us for four days of fun filled sessions exploring the world of science and history. Learn about the facts and the tales regarding Early American Games. Sessions include early pioneering activities and some related skills.
Cost $80.00, Members of the Museum $70.00 per student. Mid-morning snack and materials included.
Download application form 2010_spring_sci_camp.doc
See attached flyer for more information.
Click here for flyer with class sessions and registration form.
Earth, Space and Beyond: 1st -3rd grade: A fun class exploring the world of astronomy and paleontology.
Air and Space: 4th -8th grade: Explore the world of Astronomy and Space technology.
Lost Arts and Science 1st-3rd grade: Learn about life skills through art and science.
Weird Science Technology 4th - 8th grade: From Science experiments to High-tech DVD recordings!
Sharks! The Big the Bad and the Ugly 1st-3rd grade: Learn about sharks…both prehistoric and modern day varieties.
Geology and Paleontology 4th-8th grade: Learn about Rocks, Minerals, Gemstones and Fossils.
Donations are tax deductible
Click on the Cymbospondylus for more information
Contact us at: 661-324-6350
Address: 2018 Chester Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Web Master: Sherry Pauley
