A Field Trip of Biblical Proportions
By Jim Day
Field
trips, where teachers take an entire class outside the classroom for an
educational experience, have almost become part of the curriculum for most
schools today. In St. Louis, the Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, Art Museum,
Missouri Botanical Gardens, City Museum and other attractions, all offer field
trip experiences and most offer on-site classroom instruction.
Unfortunately, liberally sprinkled in with some good content at these
popular field trip attractions, the impressionable minds of young people are
subjected to a (subtle and not so subtle) barrage of politically correct rhetoric,
designed to indoctrinate them with view points, philosophies and outright
propaganda that is diametrically opposed to biblical teachings. The two top
areas of indoctrination are radical environmentalism and Darwinian evolutionism.
For
Christian students however, there is an incredibly wonderful alternative.
The Answers In Genesis Creation Museum, located just 6 hours from St. Louis
in the Cincinnati area, is an ideal destination for a Christian school or
homeschool field trip. Since its opening on May 29, 2007, the 65,000 square
foot museum has welcomed over 300,000 people and has been featured around
the world as a top attraction.
Experience
to Learn
Just
a few of the seemingly unlimited learning experiences available at the Museum for
young and old alike include:
*
The ‘Men in White Theater.’ Serving as a starting point for the Museum
experience, students can begin with a visit to the ‘Men in White’ Theater where
they’ll be treated to the sights, sounds, and thrills of the Bible and science in an unforgettable manner.
*
The Stargazers Planetarium. This cutting-edge Planetarium features the most
up-to-date technology (a Digistar3-SP2 digital projector), which will take
students on a thrilling 22-minute highly informative ride billions of light
years away to the vast outer regions of our universe.
* In the Flood Geological Area students will learn how canyons (such
as the Grand Canyon) can be formed in practically no time at all as opposed
to millions upon millions of years.
* When it comes to fossils the museum’s collection is incredible. Students
will have the opportunity to study a wide selection of animal and plant fossils
and see how the fossil record confirms biblical history. There’s also a fossil
dig site, complete with two animatronic researchers, where students will learn
about fossils from a naturalist and a biblical perspective.
*
In learning about dinosaurs students will find life-size replicas of these
creatures (some animatronic) and see how they lived, what happened to them
after the Fall, and how they play a part in legends and myths in cultures
the world over.
*
Walking through the museum’s Garden of Eden, students will learn about the
‘kinds’ of animals, how Adam named them, and how Eve was created. They’ll
also learn about the Temptation and Fall, how God’s perfect world became corrupt
through man’s rebellion, why there was (and still is) a need for a Redeemer,
and much more.
*
By visiting Noah’s Ark students will learn about the tools Noah used, how the
Ark was constructed, how two of each kind came aboard the Ark and how they all
fit in the Ark. They’ll also learn how the Ark is actually an illustration of
Christ.
*
The expansive Botanical Gardens, with nearly a mile of walking trails,
waterfalls, meandering streams, and bridges are an absolute must for every
class. Students will be able to stop along the trail to study exotic trees and plants
from numerous climate zones, investigate a fascinating bog complete with
carnivorous plants, and explore the Garden’s huge lake with a variety of aquatic
plant and animal life. (Watch out though for the sea serpent!)
*
Students and teachers alike will want to make sure they bring plenty of
notebooks because, as is the case with other museums, arrangements can be made
in advance for visiting classes to meet and learn from on-staff PhD scientists regarding
a variety of subjects and relevant topics.
*
When it’s time for a lunch break or dinner, the class doesn’t have to leave the
museum because there are plenty of options for dining on-site. There’s Noah’s
Cafe which overlooks the Botanical Gardens, and several pavilions and picnic
areas where everyone can enjoy God’s great outdoors while dining.
* No field trip to the Museum would be complete without a visit to
the museum’s Dragon Hall Bookstore and Gift Shop! Once you cross the threshold
you’re transported back in time to a world of knights and dragons in this
‘museum within a museum.’ Of course, the Dragon Hall carries a wide selection
of mementos and gifts, which may be purchased to remind one of their visit
but, more importantly, young scholars (as well as teachers and parents) will
find an incredible selection of books, tapes, DVD’s, visual aids, and other
educational materials for use at home or back in the classroom.
Don’t
Wait – Plan Now
Since
you’ll be in the Cincinnati area, you’ll want to be sure to take in some of the
sights and sounds of a city that shares many similarities to St. Louis. Like
St. Louis, Cincinnati has a rich German heritage, a beautiful riverfront, and
plenty of cultural attractions for just about any taste. Cincinnati attractions
and information can be found by visiting www.CincinnatiUSA.com.
Something
you might want to keep in mind when you’re planning your visit is the fact that
the Creation Museum will be sponsoring this year’s Faith Day at the Ballpark when the Cincinnati Reds play the St.
Louis Cardinals on Sunday, August 17th. For more information about Faith Day, visit www.reds.com/faithday.
I
guarantee you, a visit to the Creation Museum will be a learning experience
students, teachers and parents alike will never forget.
