San Bernardino museum to host Earth Day activities

The San Bernardino County Museum will celebrate Earth Day on April 20 with a full day of planet-friendly activities.

The museum has partnered with the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District to welcome Krystle Hickman, who organizers described as a “renowned photographer, speaker, and community scientist.” Hickman will speak about melittology, which is the study of bees, community science and using photography to aid scientific discovery and ecosystem sustainability.

“The day will be buzzing with excitement as Krystle will take us on a journey to a deeper appreciation and understanding of nature’s charismatic creatures, native bees,” according to a museum statement. “Through her stunning macro photography, you will learn what makes them so special and recognize the signs of a healthy garden.”

Following the presentation, attendees can tour the museum’s “water-wise” garden with Hickman and attempt some scientific photography themselves, then learn how to upload to this year’s City Nature Challenge project on the iNaturalist app, museum officials said. During the tour Hickman will impart tips for taking pictures of native bees in backyards, city parks and nature preserves with both cameras and mobile phones. She will also discuss basic camera settings, how to use the histogram and offer advice on choosing a lens. 

Organizers said event participants should bring their cameras and cell phones to take photos and be eligible to win one of seven “Native Bees of The Western United States” flashcard decks that feature Hickman’s photography.

In the afternoon museum visitors can learn how to make seed bombs with native plant seeds while supplies last and meet the museum’s Curator of Integrated Biology Mackenzie Kirchner-Smith, “who will be outdoors in our courtyard talking about citizen science and teaching visitors how to use the iNaturalist app to document the wildlife in our local region,” organizers said.

The museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands, and the Earth Day event will go from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to organizers. General admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for military or seniors, $7 for students and $5 per child ages 6-12. Kids 5 and younger and Museum Foundation members get in free. 

For more information visit museum.sbcounty.gov.

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