The time is right for a senior group trip to the Cook Museum of Natural Science

You are never too old to go on a field trip! Looking for a fun day trip idea, during the months of August and September may be the perfect time to take a “hop, skip and jump” to Decatur and experience the Cook Museum of National Science. While area kids go back to school and adjust to the new school year, the museum is focused on seniors with special discounts just for them.

“During these months we will offer special discounted field trip pricing to groups of 15 or more seniors,” said Joy Harris with Cook Museum. “This is a wonderful time for people to visit since school is just getting back in session and we have less field trip groups in the exhibits.”

More than a decade ago, a plan to replace Cook’s Pest Control’s small bug museum gradually blossomed into a vision that became tangible five years ago with the opening of the Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur.

Since then, almost 410,000 visitors have seen a chuckwalla, an eastern indigo snake, a Mexican alligator lizard and many other live animals and other exhibits at the museum on Fourth Avenue Northeast.

The nonprofit Cook Museum of Natural Science, which opened June 7, 2019, celebrated its fifth anniversary last month.

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state-of-the-art natural science museum. It provides a hands-on, immersive experience where kids and adults can explore, interact with, and learn about nature. “Families leave the Cook Museum feeling fulfilled by their time together and inspired by the things they saw and learned,” Harris said. “It truly is an amazing experience for families and children of all ages!”

Cook Museum Executive Director Scott Mayo said the museum features North American species and gives visitors a chance to get close to the bugs, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

“I grew up in the panhandle of Florida where if it rains a baby alligator will be found in a mud puddle,” Mayo said. “We have two alligators here, and it amazes me how many people here have never seen a live alligator.”

Harris said last year was the first year the museum offered the discount for senior groups. “We had several local churches, senior centers, and assisted living facilities take advantage of the opportunity, so we are hoping even more groups will get involved this year.”

The groups will need to register for their visit at least one week in advance. Box lunches or catering options from Nature’s Table are available when ordered in advance. Bringing in sack lunches? No problem! Either way a designated area to eat lunch may be reserved when you book your group reservation pending availability.

To make a reservation or for more information, contact the group sales department at (256) 898-6312. The special senior field trip pricing is $12 per senior adult (usually $17), with a minimum group of 15 or more.

About Cook Museum of Natural Science

John Cook Sr., the founder of Cook’s Pest Control, opened the museum’s predecessor in 1980. It welcomed over 750,000 guests to view its collection of insects, rocks, minerals, seashells, coral, and more before it closed in 2016. The Cook family decided to reinvent the museum with interactive, engaging, and hands-on experiences. The new museum opened in June 2019.

The museum has a large variety of live animals including many different species of saltwater fish, live coral, moon jellyfish, and numerous species of freshwater turtles and fish. Their terrariums house snakes, turtles, alligators, and more, and their Wonderful World of Insects exhibit is home to various kinds of terrestrial and aquatic insects.

They have a number of interesting and educational exhibits to give guests a closer look at some of the amazing creatures and environments in nature. Many of the exhibits include interactive activities, such as a meteorite from outer space, digital seashell generator, kinetic sand table, and a tree with a rope bridge to climb.

Nature’s Table serves up fresh, tasty food for dining in, carry-out, and catering. Located inside the Cook Museum, Nature’s Table is open to the general public without an admission ticket.

For more information, go to www.cookmuseum.org. The museum is located at 133 4th Ave. NE in Decatur.