Summer Updates from the JMZ

July 12, 2023

Hello Friends,

Summer is in full swing at the JMZ! Come see the new Fly River turtles, living in the Cichlid Tank. These fascinating creatures resemble sea turtles, making them very fun to watch up close in the small tunnel next to the aquarium.

This month, we take a look at the JMZ’s soon to be revamped block exhibit, which will invite young visitors to explore their curiosity in new ways. The City of Palo Alto continues to fundraise for exhibits through its Commemorative Block Campaign. A commemorative block becomes part of a community donor wall in the JMZ’s exhibit hall, and is displayed for a minimum of 15 years. Click here for more information or to purchase a commemorative block.

We hope you will join the Friends on Tuesday, July 25 between 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the JMZ’s Courtyard for an ice cream treat. Friends’ visitor events are free with admission; please remember to purchase tickets to the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo in advance.

We hope to see you at the JMZ soon!

Lauren Angelo

President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

Exhibit Spotlight: The Building Blocks Exhibit

Questions for Tina Keegan, JMZ Exhibits Director

Tell us about the building blocks exhibit. What makes it special?  

All of the exhibits at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo are interactive and allow children to explore science concepts through play. The building blocks exhibit is a great example of this, and is one of our most popular exhibits. By stacking different blocks and shapes together, children are introduced to engineering concepts that serve as a solid foundation for more complex STEM topics. Young visitors are very engaged with the block exhibit. It is not uncommon to see children building their own unique structures and even collaborating with other children. Giving kids the opportunity to play off of one another’s ideas is a great exercise in the importance of teamwork. The blocks are wonderful for learning, both academically and socially. 

How is the building blocks exhibit being revamped?

We designed the building blocks area with the flexibility to change the building activity. We create something custom along with an off-the-shelf block to enhance play and offer something unique that a child won’t have at their home or school. 

Our magnetic Tegu blocks will be retired at the end of this year to introduce Squigz. These toys are flexible and stick to one another with suction-cups. Bendable Squigz can create new shapes like rocket ships or animals or bridges. We watched kids playing with Squiqz and noticed them building cool structures on windows. Using their play as inspiration, we added colorful tubes, spheres, and plastic to inspire kids to build between structures. The large window will be transformed to a giant canvas with prismatic stickers to beckon creativity. 

Come see our young engineers and artists build something exceptional!

A young visitor builds with Squigz.

Rendering of what the new block play area will look like.

Can you tell us more about commemorative blocks?

Commemorative blocks are inscribed wood blocks displayed on the JMZ’s community donor wall, near the block play area at the end of the exhibit hall. Purchasing a block for our wall helps support new exhibits, including our building blocks area, while also fostering a sense of community. These blocks will be part of the JMZ for a minimum of 15 years.

Commemorative blocks are customizable, so when you look at the wall, you see a range of inspirational quotes, dedications, and even some animals. These blocks have been very popular amongst our community. 

The opportunity to purchase a block will soon close, and we have only a limited number of blocks left. If you are interested in donating a block, please visit our block campaign webpage. 

California Dinosaur Garden Update

Artists from Blue Rhino Studio are sculpting the final versions of the dinosaurs for the California Dinosaur Garden exhibit, opening this fall. These replicas are incredibly detailed, especially features like feathers, scales and eyes. Many of the dinosaurs featured are in dynamic poses that show how they would have interacted with their environment. For example, the Ichthyornis bird (pictured below) has a small fish in its mouth, giving visitors a glimpse into their diet. The goal of this exhibit is to give visitors a glimpse into the biodiversity of prehistoric California. This rich variety of life was critical for a healthy planet, just as it is today.Through these kinds of exhibits, we hope to inspire the conservationists of the future.

Interested in learning more about the California Dinosaur Garden? Read our recent Behind the Scenes and the Exhibit Preview from last year. Thank you to our generous supporters for making this exhibit a reality.

Photo of the Ichthyornis replica holding a fish in its beak. Photo credit of Blue Rhino Studio.

Photo of an artist shaping the foot of the Saurornitholestes. Photo credit of Blue Rhino Studio.

Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

info@friendsjmz.org | www.friendsjmz.org

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