The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville is heading into June and making waves as they go. Whales, a mermaid, and even a summer gear swap is on the agenda as they dive right into all things aquatic.
Movies on Madison
The NCMNS-Whiteville will be hosting their iconic event Movies on Madison once again this season. On May 30, children and their families are invited to bring a chair or blanket and sprawl out on the facility’s lawn to watch Disney’s live action version of “The Little Mermaid.”
Come out to set up your seat and learn about underwater creatures before the movie begins. “The Little Mermaid” is rated PG and runs 135 minutes. This is a family-friendly event, so no pets, no coolers, and no alcohol or smoking permitted. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
This event is made possible by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville and the Columbus County Arts Council. It is sponsored by the International Paper Foundation. Future movie lineups for Movies on Madison include ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ on June 27 and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ on July 25.
Whale of a Tale
Come to the museum on June 14 from 2-3 p.m. to hear the story of the North Atlantic Right whale affectionately known as “Stumpy” by the scientists who followed her for 30 years. Learn about the journey of this now legendary animal came to the museum in Raleigh, where her story educates visitors about whale diversity and the obstacles that these critically endangered whales face.
Lisa Gatens, NCMNS Mammalogy Collections Manager, will address the threats and laws related to this species as well as conservation techniques being implemented to reverse population decline.
Kids’ Summer Clothing and Gear Swap
Join the NCMNS-Whiteville for a ‘Kids’ Summer Clothing and Gear Swap’ from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. on June 21 inside the Nature PlaySpace. Bring clean, new or lightly used children’s warm weather outdoor clothes, shoes, inclement-weather gear, baby carriers, and more to exchange for absolutely free with other parents.
Bring items day-of or look for a donation area inside the museum beginning June 14. As items included in the swap will be sourced through donations, NCMNS-Whiteville cannot guarantee the availability of specific sizes or types of items. The swap will coincide with the Saturday PlaySpace Pop-Up, and the rain date for the event is June 28. Contact Chelsea Flowers at chelsea.flowers@naturalsciences.org with any questions.
Potential donation items may include:
- Shoes (sandals, sneakers, rain boots, etc.)
- Swim gear
- Pants, shirts, underlayers, etc.
- Jackets, coats
- Rain gear (rain suits, jackets, overalls, etc.)
- Camping gear
- Baby carriers
- Other essentials to spend time outdoors
Regularly Scheduled Events: Storytime and PlaySpace Pop-ups
The museum will continue to host Second Saturday Storytime with their partners from the Columbus Council of the North Carolina Reading Association. These Storytimes take place on the second Saturday of each month with a nature-based theme. Books and activities are geared for ages 7 and younger, but all are welcome. Registration not required.
PlaySpace Pop-Ups are another regularly scheduled event. They are outdoor programs guided by museum staff that occur in the fenced natural PlaySpace just outside the museum. This program is geared towards children 4-8 years old, but other ages are always welcomed. Each activity will be designed to connect children to nature, and they occur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month as well as every third Saturday.
Parents, dress your children accordingly for outdoor play and exploration. In the event of light rain or cold, the pop-ups will still take place. In more adverse conditions, please call the museum to inquire about the program’s status. There is also no registration requirement for the PlaySpace Pop-Ups.
Please notify NCMNS-Whiteville staff ahead of time if you plan to bring groups of 10 or more to visit the Nature PlaySpace or other parts of the museum. You can contact them by emailing whiteville@naturalsciences.org or by calling 910.788.5100. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and you can find them at 415 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
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