Indiana State University’s Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation have announced details on their 19th Annual Bat Festival taking place on Saturday, September 28 at the Indiana State University Science Building followed by an evening event at Dobbs Park.
This year’s theme, ‘bats and their habitats’, echoes the center’s goal of fostering collaboration between scientists and students while educating the public on the history of bats.
The well-loved festival will once again take place in two parts. Between 10am to 3pm, attendees can expect to hear from researchers working on conservation efforts of bats and the importance they have to our ecosystem.
At Indiana State University’s Science Building, attendees can view a live bat demonstration by IncredibleBats, a bat education group, at 10:20 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2:10 p.m. in addition to live reptile and amphibian demonstrations at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m..
There will also be educational and environmental exhibits hosted by groups from across the Mid-West, and family-friendly activities including an echolocation maze, photo area, and face painting.
From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the festival will take place at Dobbs Park, Terre Haute, where attendees can participate in children’s craft activities and a guided hike to listen for bats using acoustic detectors.
Dr. Aaron Gooley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology said, “This annual event will help support conservation efforts to ensure that bats continue to thrive in our environment. Come along with your whole family to have fun while learning about these interesting nocturnal creatures.”
Carissa Lovett, Naturalist for Terre Haute Parks and Recreation collaborates with the Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation to link the two parts of the festival. She said, “this event helps demystify the dark world of bats through a positive learning experience for people of all ages. Everyone can learn something and come away with some appreciation for our only true flying mammal.”
Dr. Melinda Roberts, Dean of Indiana State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, where the Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation is located, stated, “the annual Bat Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the Fall semester. Students, faculty, staff, and local community members enjoy live bat demonstrations, learning more about bats and their place in the ecosystem, exploring bat caves, and interacting with a wide array of other animals, reptiles, and amphibians.”
The Bat festival will take place on Saturday, September 28 at the Indiana State University Science Building, Terre Haute from 10am to 3pm, followed by an evening event at Dobbs Park from 5pm till 8pm.This festival is free and open to the public with opportunities to purchase food and memorabilia with cash. For more information about the 19th Bat Festival, please visit www.indstate.edu/cas/isubatcenter.
