{"id":163476,"date":"2026-06-16T10:49:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T15:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=163476"},"modified":"2026-06-16T10:49:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T15:49:56","slug":"ms-museum-of-natural-science-invites-visitors-to-a-summer-of-discovery-from-world-snake-day-to-ice-age-fun-fridays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/ms-museum-of-natural-science-invites-visitors-to-a-summer-of-discovery-from-world-snake-day-to-ice-age-fun-fridays\/","title":{"rendered":"MS Museum of Natural Science Invites Visitors to a Summer of Discovery \u2013 From World Snake Day to Ice Age Fun Fridays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This summer, <strong>Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS)<\/strong>\u00a0is bursting with exciting events, unforgettable exhibits, hands-on adventures, and fun designed to inspire visitors of all ages. Located inside scenic<strong>\u00a0LeFleur\u2019s Bluff State Park<\/strong>\u00a0in <strong>Jackson<\/strong>, the Museum offers a full summer lineup that connects visitors with Mississippi\u2019s incredible natural world. From\u00a0<strong>slithery snake encounters<\/strong>\u00a0and interactive workshops to\u00a0<strong>Ice Age giants\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>fossil discoveries<\/strong>, the Museum invites guests to experience a season\u00a0<strong>\u201cWhere Nature Comes to Life\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Summer Events and Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Families can look forward to exciting annual favorites like&nbsp;<strong>Snake Day on June 12<\/strong>, where guests can meet live snakes, interact with Museum herpetologists, learn to identify venomous and non-venomous species, see snake fieldwork photos, get guidance on first aid for snake bites in both humans and pets, enjoy crafts and educational activities for all ages, and attend the \u201cBeing Snakewise In Mississippi\u201d lecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake-1024x683.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-163478\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4992820977858385;width:828px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20220715-SnakeDayWeb-027-katie-with-snake.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the summer, the Museum will also host:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fun Fridays<\/strong>\u00a0packed with themed activities and interactive experiences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspiring\u00a0<strong>science lectures<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professional development opportunities through\u00a0<strong>teacher workshops<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Girl Scout workshops<\/strong>\u00a0designed to connect young explorers with nature<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Meet the Giants of the Ice Age<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visitors can journey back in time in the spectacular&nbsp;<strong>Giants of the Ice Age&nbsp;exhibit<\/strong>, featuring towering prehistoric creatures in an immersive experience that brings the ancient past to life. From mammoths to saber-toothed predators, the exhibit offers visitors an awe-inspiring look at animals that once roamed Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strike Gold at the New Gem Mining Sluice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adventure seekers can also experience the Museum\u2019s brand-new&nbsp;<strong>LeFleur\u2019s Mining Company Gem Sluice<\/strong>, a permanent outdoor attraction where visitors can pan for gemstones and fossils like real prospectors and paleontologists (additional fee).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Discover Mississippi\u2019s Natural Wonders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the summer events, Museum visitors can enjoy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A stunning network of\u00a0<strong>aquariums<\/strong>\u00a0featuring native fish, reptiles, and amphibians<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permanent\u00a0<strong>exhibits exploring Mississippi habitats, fossils, wildlife, conservation, and natural history<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cThe Swamp,\u201d a lush indoor greenhouse teeming with life<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The popular outdoor\u00a0<strong>Dinosaur Trail<\/strong>\u00a0with life-sized dinosaur models<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More than 2.5 miles of\u00a0<strong>scenic nature trails<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of the Museum\u2019s summer programs and special events are&nbsp;included with&nbsp;<strong>MMNS Foundation Membership<\/strong>, making membership one of the best ways for families to enjoy a full year of discovery, learning, and adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visitors are encouraged to&nbsp;<strong>check the Museum\u2019s online calend<\/strong>ar regularly for dates, admission\/registration information, and additional events added throughout the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ABOUT THE MUSEUM:<\/strong>&nbsp;The Museum is located at 2148 Riverside Drive in Jackson, Mississippi in LeFleur\u2019s Bluff State Park. Admission is: $9 for adults, $7 for youth ages 3-18, and $8 for senior citizens ages 60 and up. Plan your adventure at: 601-576-6000 or&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mdwfp.com\/museum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>www.mdwfp.com\/museum<\/u><\/a>. Connect with the Museum at:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/msnaturalscience__;!!Dhw9WWooB8bE!oyN3ZyeSyFS-_27dKcvdEtjW3QGjyiru43stNzevK5BEi0W3I7UBtrlbWVJirnX99zqkCuEX0V1k_xwNQZeJ6Q$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>www.facebook.com\/msnaturalscience<\/u><\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/MSScienceMuseum.__;!!Dhw9WWooB8bE!oyN3ZyeSyFS-_27dKcvdEtjW3QGjyiru43stNzevK5BEi0W3I7UBtrlbWVJirnX99zqkCuEX0V1k_xyTgnc0Yg$\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>www.instagram.com\/MSScienceMuseum.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mission of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is to conserve and enhance Mississippi\u2019s wildlife, fisheries, and parks; provide quality outdoor recreation and engage the public in natural resource conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"25\" height=\"16\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg?resize=25%2C16\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14544\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This summer, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks\u2019\u00a0Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS)\u00a0is bursting with exciting events,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":238,"featured_media":163477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17331],"tags":[366,29416,35104,15258,34827,33884],"class_list":["post-163476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-museums","tag-jackson","tag-lefleurs-bluff-state-park","tag-lefleurs-mining-company-gem-sluice","tag-mississippi-department-of-wildlife","tag-mississippi-museum-of-natural-science-mmns","tag-mmns-foundation-membership"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SnakeDay_Social_v1.png?fit=2165%2C2166&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163476"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":163479,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163476\/revisions\/163479"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}