About Heather Camlot
A freelance writer, crafts junkie and mom of two, Heather Camlot is constantly on the lookout for that elusive work-life balance she hears so much about. Read about Heather's never ending search for five minutes to herself while trying to meet deadlines, make the school bus and raise two fantastic children.
On Friday, May 15, my family and I were lucky enough to be invited to a preview of the Royal Ontario Museum’s new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity.
The gallery brings together seven ecosystems, some 2500 specimens and a live animal show to bring kids (and adults) the message that nature is amazing and we have to protect it.
I’m not sure if at 4 ½ and 2 ½ Alexandre and Juliana got that message (though I admit I probably should have explained it), but they did love running around the glass cases filled with the ROM’s diverse collection, including endangered and extinct species.
Alexandre, however, had a hard time trying to understand what he was looking at. “Are they real?” he asked by the caribou display case. I said no, but another mom, answering her four-year-old daughter’s same question, said “Yes, but they’re dead.” Once he heard that, Alexandre was spooked. “I don’t want you to be dead. I don’t want my sister to be dead.” After reassuring him we weren’t going to die any time soon, he wandered off to the coral reef aquarium, where his sister’s nose was pressed against the glass, eyes excitedly following a real and not dead “Nemo.”
After an inordinate amount of time at the aquarium, the kids discovered all 12 of the multimedia touch screens, where they could watch mini-documentaries about the main themes of the gallery. According to Marc, Juliana watched an entire video about Wollemi pines with complete interest, though he suspects she just liked having control of the remote for a change.
At the end of our 1 ½-hour tour, the zebra, king cobra, butterflies and marine life display were the definite hits (along with the butterfly and ladybug cookies). Alexandre’s review of the show: “Starfish are cool because I like them.”
I’m no expert, but I would say appreciating nature is one step closer to caring for and protecting it. Now if only they’d stop stomping on the ants in our backyard.
The Schad Gallery for Biodiversity is open and located on Level 2 of the ROM.
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What have you taught your children about nature and the environment? Log in and leave a comment below!
