FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Destination Science: Choose Your Own Summer Adventure at

the Museum of Nature & Science in Fair Park Fly back to prehistoric skies with the pterosaurs, drive into the present on the Magic School Bus™,

venture under the sea and journey through space with fun films, exhilarating exhibits, camps, live

shows and Discovery Days family festivals

(FAIR PARK, DALLAS – June 27, 2012) — Planning a summer vacation and picking a summer destination has never

been easier! Pack your suitcase and head over to the Museum of Nature & Science (MNS) in Fair Park to experience the

ultimate destination for science this summer. Destination Science: Choose Your Own Summer Adventure at MNS

allows families, children and adults of all ages the freedom to map out a summer adventure unlike any other—all under

one roof! With the support of 2012 Season Sponsor Time Warner Cable, there’s no doubt that the Museum is the No. 1

destination for science this summer with adventures for all age groups and catering to various interests.

Budding scientists to those passionate about nature and science are empowered to enjoy a uniquely fun,

interactive journey at their own pace by exploring the permanent hands-on exhibits or the latest traveling exhibits

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey and The Magic School Bus™

Kicks Up A Storm. When it’s time to kick back, visitors

can watch the Museum’s larger-than-life National Geographic IMAX® films Flying Monsters and Whales or see the

Texas night sky in a Planetarium show, all offered daily during the summer. For those looking to map out a full weekend

of family fun, the Museum offers select weekend-long family festivals with hands-on activities, demonstrations and guest

exhibitors at Discovery Days. For caregivers who want their children to experience enriching, science education after the

school books and backpacks have been put away for the summer, MNS offers weeklong, half-day and full-day drop-off,

educator-led programs and camps for children 6 months-6th grade. Even better, visitors get an extra hour of exploration

with the Museum’s extended hours during the summer, which are Monday-Saturday from10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday

from noon-6 p.m.

Why stop there when the adventures continue into the night with the Museum’s Sleepovers, which offer a unique

glimpse of MNS after the doors have closed to the public. Children ages 6-12 and their adult chaperone(s) can snore and

explore by experiencing what it’s like to sleep among fascinating exhibits and take part in a scavenger hunt, participate in

workshops and watch an IMAX®

film all while learning team building.

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Media Contact:

Melinda Wenk, Communications Manager

Direct: 214-426-4629

Main: 214-428-5555 x1387

mwenk@natureandscience.org

Destination Science: Choose You Own Summer Adventure/Page 2

Choose Your Own Summer Adventure – Underwater Traveler

The ultimate destination for the “underwater traveler” is the Museum’s exhilarating Planet Shark exhibition

where one becomes submerged in the wonders of the ocean and its marvelous creatures. Educational and appropriate for

all ages, the 12,000 square-foot traveling exhibition consists of five galleries containing real fossilized shark’s teeth;

fossilized, frozen sharks displayed in a glass tank; shark poo artifacts and memorabilia from the movie “Jaws,” including

miniature replicas of the shark cages used in the filming.

The Planet Shark: Just for Kids area allows younger travelers to warm up to sharks with an imaginative, hands-

on creativity area where they can contribute to daily art murals and assemble underwater-themed puzzles. Ocean

aficionados of all ages can take their passion for “all things sharks” to the next level with exhibit enhancements including:

Shark Dissections held Saturdays at 1 p.m. through September 15; weekly, live Shark Feedings held Wednesdays and

Fridays at 11 a.m. through September 14, and Sharky Sundays held two Sundays a month where visitors learn more about

sharks and topics related to the underwater world, including ocean wildlife, engineering and conservation. All three

exhibit enhancements are free for MNS members and included with the cost of general exhibits admission for non-

members. The Planet Shark Speaker Series, which features discussions by oceanography field experts, ends Thursday,

July 19 with David Gallo, Director of Special Projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and featured in

Underwater Universe on “The History Channel.” The final Speaker Series event on July 19 is free and includes access to

Planet Shark before the lecture, from 6-7 p.m. A reservation is required for admission to the Speaker Series event.

Admission to the Planet Shark exhibition requires a surcharge to general exhibits admission and includes access to all

MNS buildings.

The underwater journey wouldn’t be complete without a swim to see the IMAX®

film Whales now showing in the

79-foot-domed TI Founders IMAX®

Theater. The film explores the habitats and lives of the humpback, right, blue and

orca whales, and other entrancing sea creatures. With the Twin Fin ticket bundle deal, which includes admission to

Planet Shark and any IMAX® film, including Whales, visitors can save money all while experiencing the glory of the

underwater world.

Choose Your Own Summer Adventure – Curious Meteorologist

Those who prefer public transportation and don’t mind braving the elements can hop on board the Magic School

Bus™

with Ms. Frizzle™

and her class to experience the phenomenal world of weather with The Magic School Bus™

Kicks Up A Storm. Locally supported by Lockheed Martin, and based on the best-selling Scholastic books and the ever-

popular television series, this bilingual, hands-on traveling exhibit houses seven interactive computer stations and whisks

visitors to three interactive environments—Ms. Frizzle’s Classroom, the bus itself, which is transformed into a Weather

Observatory, and the Walkerville Weather Center.

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Destination Science: Choose You Own Summer Adventure/Page 3

Passengers with their “heads in the clouds”– curious to know what causes lighting and what it feels like to

experience a snowstorm and hurricane – will be in weather heaven with this science-based, educational exhibit, which

includes book readings with the Dallas Public Library on select Saturdays through the run of the exhibit. The Magic

School Bus™

exhibit and book readings are free to MNS members and included with the cost of general exhibits

admission for non-members.

Choose Your Own Summer Adventure – Traveling Nomad Turned Scientist

For the young, traveling nomad who thirsts for adventure and discovery, and longs to know “why?”, the

Museum’s theme-based summer programs and camps will help nurture the need to be in the know. Sponsored by

Texas Instruments, the Museum’s summer 2012 programs cater to children ages 6 months to 6th grade and include the

full-day, full-week Discovery Camp (kindergarten-6th grade) and the half-day, full week Discovery Camp, Jr. (ages 3-4

years).

“The Museum of Nature & Science is thrilled to be able to offer such a wide variety of programming this summer

allowing children to discover the area of science that moves them most,” said Steve Hinkley, vice president of programs at

MNS. “At the Museum, we understand how important it is to integrate educational instruction with hands-on, creative

experiments and activities catered to each child’s developmental level, and these camps are the perfect way to motivate

and engage children during their summer break.”

Camps began June 11, 2012, and, depending upon the camp, extend through August 17, 2012. Thanks to the

tremendous support of Texas Instruments, the Museum is able to offer enriching summer programs that allow children to

be creative and explore science in their everyday lives.

“We’re glad to partner with the Museum of Nature & Science to make summer fun for camp-goers through a

learning experience in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Andy Smith, Texas Instruments director

of corporate philanthropy. “The children who enjoy these summer programs may someday create the next technology

breakthroughs. But even those who don’t become the next generation of scientists or engineers will face jobs in the future

that require advanced STEM skills. We want to help support their academic success and excitement about STEM.”

Choose Your Own Summer Adventure – Sky-high Explorer

Boarding pass in hand, suitcase in tow and no time for a snooze on this flight, the next destination at MNS is for

the science-seeker who’s ready to fly back in time 160 million years to the prehistoric world of pterosaurs. The IMAX®

film Flying Monsters, with veteran filmmaker David Attenborough, is appropriate for all ages and uses cutting-edge

technology to take passengers to an environment where one pterosaur’s wingspan was the size of a small jet plain.

For those who prefer to soar through outer space, take a peek at the solar system or the sky at night in Texas, the

MNS Planetarium offers a variety of daily shows throughout the summer.

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Destination Science: Choose You Own Summer Adventure/Page 4

For a chance to witness hair flying high above one’s head as electrons travel over the body using a Van de Graaff

generator, visitors can stop by the Museum’s Live Stage Shows including the “electrifying” and highly interactive show

Electric Theater. Live Shows are held each Saturday at noon and 3 p.m. and often involve audience participation.

Additional Live Shows include Fire & Ice and Superhero Science. Descriptions, show times and ticket prices for IMAX®,

Planetarium and Live Shows are available online at natureandscience.org and are subject to change.

The Museum’s sleepovers are perfect for the “night owl” seeking adventure well into the evening and after the

Museum’s doors have closed to the public. Children ages 6-12, and an adult chaperone(s), will get a one-of-a-kind

experience at the Museum after hours. Each sleepover consists of a snack in the evening, scavenger hunt through the

permanent exhibits, hands-on workshops incorporating the sleepover theme, a live stage show, an IMAX®

film and a light

breakfast to send visitors soaring into the next day. The High Flyin’ Fun After Dark sleepover is offered July 21-22 and

August 4-5, and the newest sleepover called Mystery in the Museum will be held September 15-16. At Mystery in the

Museum, children become crime-solvers by using optical illusions, fingerprinting and the science of chromatography to

help locate a priceless Museum artifact that has gone missing due to the cleaning and packing for the January 2013

transition (of the current Museum) to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, located in Victory Park. This particular

sleepover offers the unique opportunity to view MNS collection items, brought out from the archives, which have not

been on display for years. Registration for the sleepovers closes one week prior to the event, and sleepovers also are

offered in combination with Scouting Adventures featuring badge/pin workshops.

Choose Your Own Summer Adventure – Gone In 60 Seconds

The mode of transportation doesn’t matter for the next stop on your MNS Destination Science adventure.

Families, children and adults will encounter a new discovery around each corner on select weekends with Discovery Days

family festivals. Back for the fourth year, Discovery Days are a series of weekend festivals that take place in November,

February, June, July and August. The entire weekend is filled with hands-on activities, guest exhibitors, live

demonstrations and interactive exhibits highlighting a specific theme. Upcoming Discovery Days family festivals include

Discover Underwater Worlds July 14-15 and Discover Going Green sponsored by Ernst &Young on August 11-12, 2012.

Discovery Days are free for members and included in the cost of general admission for non-members.

Museum/exhibition extended summer hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, noon-6 p.m.,

and the Museum will be open for Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day (September 3) holidays. Save time and avoid

lines by purchasing advance tickets online at natureandscience.org, now with no more online service fee. MNS members

receive access to special member-only events, free admission to the museum general exhibits and discounts on traveling

exhibits, IMAX® films and Planetarium shows. Visit natureandscience.org or call 972-201-0602 to join today! The MNS

campus is located in Fair Park. The Science Building is at 1318 South Second Avenue, the Nature Building is at 3535

Grand Avenue and the Planetarium is located is at 1620 First Avenue.

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Destination Science: Choose You Own Summer Adventure/Page 5

About the Museum of Nature & Science

The Museum of Nature & Science – the result of a unique merger in 2006 between the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The

Science Place and the Dallas Children's Museum – is an AAM-accredited non-profit educational organization located in Dallas's Fair

Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative

visitor experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers,

families and life-long learners. The facility also includes the TI Founders IMAX® Theater and a cutting-edge digital planetarium. The

Museum of Nature & Science is supported in part by funds from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission

on the Arts and HP. To learn more about the Museum of Nature & Science, please visit natureandscience.org.

The Museum of Nature & Science also is building a new $185-million museum on a 4.7-acre site in Dallas’ Victory Park, at the corner

of Woodall Rodgers Highway and Field Street, to complement the Fair Park facilities. The Perot Museum has been named in honor of

Margot and Ross Perot, the result of a $50-million gift announced in May 2008 by their children – Katherine Reeves, Carolyn Rathjen,

Suzanne McGee, Nancy Perot Mulford and Ross Perot, Jr. The architect is 2005 Pritzker Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm

Morphosis Architects. To learn more about the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, go to perotmuseum.org.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 90,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be – smarter,

safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from the

responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just the

beginning of our story. Learn more at www.ti.com.

About Time Warner Cable North Texas Time Warner Cable is bringing the best in technology, innovation and entertainment to the North Texas community. Thanks in part to

a recently completed improvement project, all North Texas residential and commercial customers passed by Time Warner Cable, now

have access to the latest technology delivered over a robust fiber rich network. Customers can choose to bundle Digital Home Phone,

Road Runner High Speed Internet service and digital video service from one local provider. Plus, Time Warner Cable delivers full-

time, local customer service and technical support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, visit

www.timewarnercable.com/dallas or call 972-PICK TWC (972-742-5892).

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people

worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced

technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

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