CALM has birthday plans

calmbday032: CALM has birthday plansWhile it is unlikely CALM has a bald eagle that can sing “Happy Birthday” or a bear that can blow out candles, everything else about the California Living Museum’s 20th birthday celebration on May 3 and 4, is pretty special.

The gates swing open at 10 a.m. each day and until they close at 4 p.m. the combination native zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum, located between Hart Park and Lake Ming in Bakersfield, has quite a party planned for the public.

For the price of admission, visitors will be able to see featured guest Julie Scardina, Sea World’s wildlife ambassador, who has been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC’s Today Show and Good Day New York. She is also a weekly contributor to Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.

“She’ll be working with everything from alligators to mountain lions,” said CALM Manager Debby Kroeger,. “Julie is a world renown wildlife animal trainer and educator, and her knowledge of animals is obvious by her enthusiastic presentations.”

Scardina will be working with animals from Paso Robles’ Zoo-to-You at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m., each day. Zoo-to-You is a nonprofit organization that brings live animals to schools and other venues to educate students of all ages about wildlife and the environment.

“CALM’s audiences have been enthralled and entertained by Zoo-to-You for years and what they have planned for the birthday celebration should be extra special,” Kroeger said.

CALM’s natural landscape will be in full bloom. Its great collection of animals will be on display and there will be nature stories by Russo’s Books and food provided by Chuy’s.

CALM has a new bear cub that will debut later in May. In the meantime, more than 500 Kern County children have submitted possible monikers in CALM’s “Name Our Bear” contest. The top names will be narrowed down to a few finalists, and visitors to CALM’s birthday party, with a monetary donation, can vote for their favorite. All of the money raised will be used to support CALM’s animals and the day-to-day costs of operating the nonprofit facility.

Admission prices for the birthday celebration are $6.50 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children ages 3-17. Children ages two and younger will be admitted free.

CALM is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Since it opened its doors in 1983, CALM has accepted only native animals that are injured, orphaned or unable to care for themselves in their native environment.

“In 20 years, CALM has proven it will be around and has something special to contribute to the community,” Kroeger said. “We still have room to grow and as time goes on CALM will become an increasingly more valuable attraction to the community. Strong public support will help us continue to be an entertaining and educational resource for everyone.”

For more information, contact Richard Hewett, director, at (661) 872-2256.
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