Contributing Writer
The Orlando Science Center will open its doors for an insect invasion when it hosts Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! From September 24 to January 1, 2012.
The exhibit, which was developed by national pest control company Terminix, is a multisensory experience that immerses visitors into the world of bugs. Hosted by Harry, a Chinese praying mantis, and his insect friends, Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! takes visitors on a unique journey through the habitats, sights, sounds and social structures of some of the ecosystem’s smallest, yet most important, contributors.
Guests get an opportunity to explore freestanding habitats such as a cropland, forest, meadow, swamp and even a house to see how insects impact their surroundings, the environment and ultimately human lives.
Jeff Stanford, vice president of communications for Orlando Science Center, said, “We’re thrilled to hostHarry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! and offer this type of experience to our guests and members. This interactive exhibition is the perfect fit for our science center, and we feel it will offer family fun and a great educational experience for both kids and adults.”
Special weekend programming will feature a live insect petting zoo, cricket spitting competitions, roach races and a bug chef making tummy-tickling treats with bugs as the main ingredients.
“As a company, Terminix has always worked to advance the awareness and understanding of insects,” said Tom Brackett, Terminix president and chief operating officer. “Given our knowledge and expertise of the insect world, it was only fitting that we develop this one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates insects in their natural environment and educates people about the complex role they play in our ecosystem.”
Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World! will be open during regular museum hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Please note special weekend programming.) The Orlando Science Center is closed on Wednesdays. Entrance to the exhibit is included in museum admission, which is $17 for adults and $12 for youth (ages 3-11). For more information, call Orlando Science Center at 407.514.2000 or visit www.osc.org.
