Guide Line Review
The Wildlife Experience Museum
Dave and Gail Liniger are best known as the founders of the real estate giant RE/MAX. They started their one-office, two-employee company in Denver in 1973 and have grown it into a company that now employs 90,000 people in 90 countries around the world.
But perhaps their greatest accomplishment and defining contribution to society was the establishment of The Wildlife Experience, a non-profit outdoor education and conservation museum located in Parker, CO. A unique blend of interactive exhibits, large format film, fine art, natural history and community educational programs and events provides The Wildlife Experience the opportunity to present information on the world’s wildlife and ecosystems that encourages discovery and understanding through fun and entertainment.
The Wildlife Experience is one of Colorado’s most unique venues that provide both indoor and outdoor event spaces for events. They offer five unique and flexible spaces throughout the museum that can accommodate both small and large events (from groups of 10 to 2,000 people); including fundraising events, banquets, galas, holiday parties, receptions, cocktail parties, lectures, presentations, trade shows, training events, concerts and more.
We were then taken into the facility’s state-of-the-art large film format 3-D theater and enjoyed several 3-D movie clips. This is definitely not just a children’s museum; The Wildlife Experience offers fun for adults as well. Check out their online calendar for “Movie & A Martini Night” and “Whiskey and a Western.” There are also Nature Nights and Wild Outdoor Workshops featuring Ice Fishing, Fly Fishing, Snowshoeing and Archery.
We toured the exhibits with docents stationed throughout the museum to provide information and answer our questions. Below is a look at just some of the current and permanent exhibits. Check out The Wildlife Experience’s comprehensive website for information on current, upcoming and permanent exhibits; tour groups; classes; programs and much more at http://thewildlifeexperience.org.
Current Exhibits
They always have a traveling exhibit and you need to check their website for current information on their exhibits. The current exhibit is called GPS Adventures and it opened on February 9, 2013. This human-sized maze invites you to get lost and learn how to find your way using GPS. The museum asserts that “GPS technology is changing the way we live. It can be found in surprising places from automobiles to cell phones and is the backbone of the global treasure hunting game called Geocaching. Through Geocaching, more than five million people have found the treasure of reconnecting with family, community and nature in a meaningful way. GPS Adventures introduces visitors to the world of navigation and geocaching, opening the door to new and enriching life adventures.”
An art exhibit, ending on February 18, was 2012 Birds in Art. This was comprised of 65 pieces of artwork chosen from artists throughout the world including thirty-three international artists and nineteen artists who have been named Master Artists during previous Birds in Art exhibitions.
Just opening in February 2013 is African Visions – Birds in the Lens of Willis Peterson is a collection of 24 beautiful photos of African birds. The photographs are images from a larger exhibition of 130 prints that capture African culture, geography and wildlife, and feature a wide range of birds from the small, superb starling to the largest bird, the ostrich.
Permanent Exhibits
A journey around the world through major biomes, such as the Tundra, Rainforest and Coral Reef awaits you at The Wildlife Experience in Globeology. Enjoy a seventeen-foot waterfall, fireflies, live coral, snowfall and much more in this state-of-the-art immersive exhibit exclusive to The Wildlife Experience!
Globeology is a very dynamic and interactive journey along a quarter mile path in an expansion of over 25,000 square feet of new exhibit space. Along the way, they’ll encounter state-of-the-art animatronics and special visual effects, sound effects and interactive touch screens with bio-facts and trivia games that are relative to the different biomes. These features in conjunction with the realistic exhibits provide visitors with a unique and immersive experience with the world’s wildlife and habitats.
Occupying the introductory gallery that precedes Globeology is an educational element developed by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration called Science on a Sphere. This is a global display that utilizes computer imagery and multiple projectors to project information about Earth onto a six-foot diameter sphere, showing topics such as atmospheric storms, climate change and ocean temperature.
Colorado Profiles: This new exhibit in the Extreme Screen Theater Lobby, documents the range of habitats found along three profiles that cross a great diversity of life in Colorado through the well-known photography of John Fielder. The exhibit is broken down into three major ecosystems: Mesas, Mountains and Plains.
Discovery Den: This exhibit was created with the adventurous nature of children in mind and will engage children of all ages and enhance their knowledge of animals and the natural world. Hands-on exhibits such as “Marble Mountain” describe erosion and how it can be minimized to protect wild lands. “H2Ohhhh!!!!” is a fun exhibit that traces the water cycle and addresses the issue of water conservation in Colorado. Kids can also enjoy special videos, arts and crafts and science areas. It is here that children develop a life-long curiosity and respect for our natural world.
--- Valerie Booze
Content copyright 2016. Rocky Mountain Guides Association. All rights reserved.
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THE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
WHAT: RMGA MEETING – THE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
WHEN: Monday February 11, 2013
WHERE: The Wildlife Experience, 10035 Peoria Street, Parker, CO 80134.
PROGRAM: The CEO Gary Debus, will provide opening remarks on the history of The Wildlife Experience and Brit Rasmussen, Visitor Experience Manage, will be our guide.
PARKING: The Wildlife Experience has a large well lite parking lot on the South side of the building.