Family Activities
Bug adventures

Not-so-creepy crawlies will be on view when you scurry over to the Buffalo Museum of Science for Bug Bash, its new summer exhibit.

On view through Sept. 1, Bug Bash offers a colorful, fun environment all about bugs, bug-inspired participatory activities and real-life insects from the museum's extensive collections.

Bug Bash is designed to appeal to young audiences with a highly visual, fun and fascinating look at the largest group of creatures on our planet.

Visitors will be immersed in an oversized bug habitat as soon as they enter the museum, featuring spiders, ladybugs, ants and grasshoppers.

The exhibit features "Pollination & Navigation," where guests don antennae and bug glasses, while practicing their weaving, tunneling, crawling and climbing skills. "Bug Builders Inc." explores bugs that build their own unique homes, including wasps, ants, tent caterpillars, trap-door spiders and butterflies. Design a personal bug home, then see how it stacks up to the real bug exper ts.

"Web Weaving" challenges visitors to weave their own spider web or add to the giant oversized community web. "Camouflage Collage" allows visitors to create camouflage to help obscure an insect of choice.

The "Flea Circus" features a carnival-like atmosphere where guests can enter "Insect Olympics" contests to see if they could jump as far or as high as certain insects. There is also a medicine ball challenge to see if visitors are as strong as a dung beetle.

In addition, the museum's third floor Connections gallery (for ages 8 and older) features "Insectigations," which includes a scientific look at the circle of life with real bugs feeding off animal carcasses, a 15-foot stream table habitat for bugs that walk on water, as well as a giant ant colony.

Younger visitors will enjoy "bug time" activities in Camp Wee Explorers, featuring popular books.

"There is no doubt that children are fascinated with bugs," said Dr. John Grehan, director of science and collections and the museum's resident entomologist. "Presenting this bundle of exhibits and programs is a way to nurture their curiosity and sustain their interest in biology throughout their lives."

Museum summer hours through Labor Day are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Sundays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children under 12, with discounts for students and seniors with ID. Museum members and children under 3 are admitted free.

The Buffalo Museum of Science is located at 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo. For more information, call 896-5200. thurs. 19 Pioneer Day Celebration - Collaboration between the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and the Amherst Museum, featuring hands-on activities for children. Amherst Museum will show how to dip candles, wash clothes using a washboard, churn butter and more. Two sessions: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at the Historical Society's Pan-American Building, 25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo; $. 873-9644 Spanish Especially For You Story Time - Event for children ages 5-11 held from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at Crossroads Books, Clarence Center; free. Registration required. 741-1355, www.StartSpanishNow.com Buffalo Zoomobile - Children in grades Pre-K through fourth will investigate and learn about birds, mammals, reptiles, arthropods and amphibians at 2 p.m. July 19 at the Julia Boyer Reinstein Branch Library, 1030 Losson Road, Cheektowaga; free, but registration required. 668-4991, www. buffalolib. org In Jest - It's a knoc k-your-soc ks-off, laugh-until-it-hurts show with classic comedy, flying objects, absurd theatrics, incredible acts of balance and assorted fruits and vegetables for ages 6-12 starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 19 at the Lancaster Public Library, 5466 Broadway, Lancaster; free. 683-1120, www. buffalolib. org.

fri. 20 The Stars of Summer - Look into the heavens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 20 at Buffalo State College's Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; $. 878-4911 Harry Potter Party - Miss Lucy and Miss Sarah host this special event for children 8 and older at 1 p.m. Friday, July 20 at the Audubon Library, 350 John James Audubon Parkway, Amherst; free. 689-4922, www. buffalolib. org Mr. J's Magic Show - Performance is open to children of all ages starting at 2 p.m. Friday, July 20 at Aurora Town Library, 550 Main St., East Aurora. A hands-on magic workshop for children 7 and up immediately follows the show; free, but registration required. 652-4440, www. buffalolib. org Private I Friday - Children ages 6 and older learn the tricks of the trade like gathering evidence and fingerprinting with police lieutenant and private investigator Mark Michalek at 1 p.m. Friday, July 20 at the Williamsville Branch Library, 5571 Main St., Williamsville; free. 632-6176, www. buffalolib. org

sat. 21 Children's Summer Theater - Ventriloquism and puppetry with Mike Randall and Friends, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21, Eastern Hills Mall, 4545 Transit Road, Williamsville; free. 633-1600, www.shopeasternhills.com Family Fossil Fun Day - Experts will identify your fossils, rocks and minerals at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center, 4050 North St., Blasdell. Fossil collecting will also be encouraged; $. 627-4560, www. penndixie. org Summer Wildflowers - Come search for the wildflowers of the summer season and learn their uses and folklore at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at Reinstein Woods, 77 Honorine Drive, Cheektowaga; free, but pre-registration required. 683-5959, www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html Walk at Knox Farm State Park - Learn the basics of "Geocaching," a technological treasure hunt, and search for some treasure in the park at 9 a.m. at Knox Farm State Park, Seneca Street, East Aurora; free. 585-457-3228, www.buffaloaudubon.com Observatory Public Viewing Night - Come join the Buffalo Astronomical Association as they look at the stars at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21 at the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java. 457-3221, www.buffaloaudubon.com

sat. 21-sun. 22 Airborne Art - This fun family weekend features kites and more beginning at noon Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22 at Artpark's Outdoor Amphitheater, 450 S. Fourth St., Lewiston; free. 754-4375, www.ar tpark.net

sun. 22 Birding in Letchworth State Park - Discover the variety of birds at this beautiful place in Castile with the Buffalo Audubon Society. $. 1-800-377-1520, www. buffaloaudubon. com Free Family Walks - Walk throughout the woods as naturalists help you seek out the wonders that abound at Beaver Meadow starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 22 at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, 1610 Welch Road, North Java; free. 1-800-377-1520, www. buffaloaudubon. com Super Sunday Performances - Clown around with Niagara Clown Alley at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 22 at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda; $. 693-1885, www.carrouselmuseum.org

mon. 23-Aug. 17 Kids 'n Arts Summer Art Camp - Children ages 6-11 can experience one, two, three or four weeks of Castallani Art Museum summer camp. At the end of each week, campers exhibit their artworks and perform for family and friends; $. 286-8367

tues. 24 Free Family Walks - Bring your stroller and share a sensory exploration of nature with your young child (ages 3 and under) during this Stroller Strut at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 at Reinstein Woods, 77 Honorine Drive, Cheektowaga; free, but pre-registration required. 683-5959, www.dec.ny.gov/education/1837.html Children's Summer Reading Club - The group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, Brighton Place, 999 Brighton Road, Tonawanda; free. 332-4375 Mike Randall and Friends Club - Special performance that includes puppets, magic and lots of fun for children Pre-K through fifth grade starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 at the Hamburg Public Library, 102 Buffalo St., Hamburg; free. 649-4415, www. buffalolib. org

tues. 24 & wed. 25 Night at the Museum - Summer children's movies continue at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24 and 25 at Flix SuperFlix Movie Theater, 4901 Transit Road, Lancaster; free. 668-1888

wed. 25 Glenn Colton - Special performance for children starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at the Clearfield Branch, 770 Hopkins Road, Williamsville; free. 688-4955, www. buffalolib. org