New Sternberg exhibit gives kids a chance to walk with the dinosaurs

Sternburg Dir. Dr. Reece Barrick and public relations intern Marcella McCluskey check out the safari jeep ride Friday. — Dr. Reese Barrick and public relations intern Marcella McCluskey demonstrate the safari jeep ride

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

A chance to virtually travel the land as a dinosaur is available at Sternberg Museum of Natural History thanks to a new exhibit called “Be the Dinosaur.”

The exhibit includes six interactive video games and a safari jeep-riding experience through a land full of dinosaurs.

Museum Director Dr. Reese Barrick said the exhibit allows participants to travel back in time and experience the life of a dinosaur.

“What it offers for everyone, kids and adults alike, is a chance to participate in being a dinosaur — T-Rex, triceratops or a monosaur.

“You learn a lot about the environment because you are in control of the dinosaur. … You have to figure out how to sniff out danger, greet friends, figure out what to eat — and you get to poop,” Barrick said with a grin, pointing out the button on the game that does, indeed, say “poop.”

Sternberg public relations intern Marcella McCluskey and Sternberg volunteer Jackson Stanton practice video games at "Be the Dinosaur" exhibit at Sternberg. — Sternberg public relations intern Marcella McCluskey and Sternberg volunteer Jackson Stanton practice video games at “Be the Dinosaur” exhibit at Sternberg.

Barrick said the operator of the game also has to find water and food so the dinosaur survives and avoid becoming the T-Rex’s dinner at the same time.

“You can attack the T-Rex or you can run away, or if you are the T-Rex, you need to learn how to hunt and know what to eat,” Barrick said.

Jackson Stanton, 13, museum volunteer, was one of the first in Hays to try out the exhibit games.

“Being a boy, I like video games and the fact that you get to learn, it is something your parents might approve of — and it is a fun game,” he said. “You get to do whatever a dinosaur would do on a normal day.”

The “Be the dinosaur” exhibit will remain at the museum until Labor Day.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m., and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.