By combining science and imagination, we can see the universe in many different ways. Just imagine a sky full of stars and the pictures that can be found there. Imagine what life would be like if the Earth had no Moon or the Sun was a different star. Then, imagine the last days of the universe.

Experience the wild world of insects! View specimens from The Schiele’s own insect collections, meet entomologists from across the state, and visit with live insects. Use a microscope to view insect specimens, have fun making creepy crawly crafts, and see if you’re brave enough to eat a bug! Samples of gourmet bug-filled dishes will be available in the morning. Bring your “Nano Hexbug” and battle in our bugged-out arena! $3 in addition to museum admission.

Enjoy a late afternoon at The Schiele for free! All the museum’s exhibits and Nature Trail will be available for your exploration. At 5 PM see how our ancestors used to make clothing from sheep’s wool spun by hand on an 18th century spinning wheel. Don’t miss a special showing of Just Imagine at 7 PM in the James H. Lynn Planetarium.

Bring the family to experience first-hand the process from hand shearing a sheep to modeling a finished short gown! See wool fibers carded then spun into thread by Backcountry interpreters. Enjoy lively tunes from the 18th century and delicious aromas from the kitchen’s open hearth in preparation of a festive meal.

See hilarious videos of the most comical behaviors and activities of our animal friends! Enjoy side-splitting video clips capture “natural” comedy from your backyard to the savannahs of Kenya. Our safari host has scoured the globe for funny animal hijinks that shows the sometimes crazy behavior from across the animal kingdom and around the world. $ 3 with museum admission.

Children’s groups can enjoy fun and enriching activities at the Schiele Museum after dark! Camp In events provide a unique opportunity to experience museum programs and exhibits during a fun, indoor camping adventure. Activity options allow you to customize your event to meet badge, patch, or pin requirements. A late night snack and breakfast are included. $30 per participant (2 adults free with a group of participants).Call 704-869-1033 to register.

Permaculture is a whole-systems design process modeled after nature, and when applied, can restore wholeness and balance to individuals, the environment, and communities. Explore permaculture ethics and how these design principles can be applied to your home and landscape. Workshop includes preliminary site analysis of The Schiele site and take home materials.  $30 Museum Members / $33 Nonmembers Call 704-854-6676 by April 26 to register

Participants will manufacture more than a dozen stick-projects including: hangers, fasteners, cooking gear, utensils, and a variety of other camp gadgets and gizmos. Likewise, more than a dozen knife skills will be taught: safety, grips, strokes, holding positions and power/control strategies. $50 Museum Members / $55 Nonmembers Contact Steve Watts 704-866-6912

Candles provided inexpensive lighting for the old-time camper. They also served as ace-in-the-hole fire starting aids on a rainy day. We’ll explore period appropriate candle types and the candle holders, stands and lanterns of the classic camp. Participants will then create candles using three different methods: dipping, pouring and molding. $50 Museum Members / $55 Nonmembers Contact Steve Watts 704-866-6912

Explore the mysteries of the magnificent planet Saturn, its moons and its enigmatic rings. Follow the Cassini probe on its three billion mile voyage to the outer reaches of the solar system. Narrated by John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox of “Star Trek: Enterprise”), this visually stunning program reveals the secrets of a very beautiful and distant world.

Journey across the continents and discover the incredible story of the most complex and diverse animals on earth. Adaptable, sociable and intelligent - mammals are the most familiar group of animals. Amazingly, all 5,000 species of mammals share some fundamental characteristics. Appearing in the fossil record 200 million years ago, they have spread across the world and developed incredible ways to survive in a broad range of habitats, from forests to deserts, from the oceans to the poles. Our planet is now populated by all sorts of mammals that dig and swim, creep and fly, run and climb. Lions, tigers, bears and more! Go on a virtual mammal safari adventure across the globe. Meet live animals from around the world, see awesome mounted specimens from Africa, Asia, North and South America, and enjoy cool hands-on interactive exhibits designed to bring out the explorer in all of us. Mammal Safari is an original production of the Schiele Museum.