We are raising some money to rebuild the Amuseum, and right now we have a crowdfunding campaign. You can head over here to learn more and make a donation. Donations from individuals are an important part of our funding, especially on a fast-moving project like this where the money can be put to use right away. Thanks for supporting us and we will be following up as the fundraising—and the museum rebuilding—continue!
We came across a bunch of photos that had gotten stuck together after getting wet. What can you do with a brick of old photos? Can they be saved? After Hurricane Irma, maybe you’ll want to watch this video to save some of your memories. Unstuckable! is the latest in our series of Amuseum Naturalis how-to videos.
What’s a propagule? And what do you do with it? Our Amuseum Naturalis how-to video series continues as we start work on our native plants nursery.
As we prepare to launch Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House, we’ve held a series of clean-up events with volunteers from Les Fruits de Mer. The progress has been astounding and we are really proud of what this team has done. After several years without upkeep and one of the worst hurricanes on record, the place was a jungle. Today, it’s starting to look like the right place to tell the stories of St. Martin.
Check out some videos from our clean-ups and be sure to join in at the next one! Look us up on Facebook for coming volunteer events.
Tuesday was the last Mardi de Grand Case street fair of the season, and also the launch party for our new special exhibit: Women, People of Color, and the Making of Natural History in the Caribbean. We were delighted to have over 600 visitors to the museum for this special event! If you didn’t make it, you can check out the exhibit Tuesdays and Thursdays between 4-8pm until May 2nd, or at the 2017 Endemic Animal Festival on Sunday, April 23rd from 9am-3pm. The exhibit was made possible by a grant from Be the Change SXM. Visit their site to learn how you can support great projects on St. Martin.
If you haven’t scheduled a group visit to the Amuseum with your school class, the time is now! Amuseum Naturalis is scheduling daytime visits for school classes or any group, young or old. You can email us or use the form on the Amuseum website. It really is a lot of fun. Check out some photos from a recent class visit from the Montessori school.
We are lucky to have some gorgeous new paintings at the Amuseum thanks to Sélénia Sanner. Now, each of the exhibits in our main room has a companion painting, and they are gorgeous. The concept was to have paintings related to the theme of each exhibit at ground level in the Amuseum to capture the imagination of our youngest guests. In fact, they are an amazing addition for all our guests. Here are images of the most recent paintings we added, although photos don’t really do them justice so please visit the Amuseum to see them in person!
Caribbean Curiosities is a brand new ebook highlighting specific animals and plants you can see in the Amuseum. It’s free, and you can download it from the Les Fruits de Mer website. Learn more about the Gaïac, Spotted Woodslave, Green Iguana and more. We’re also starting scheduling for school classes and other groups at the Amuseum by appointment. Get details here.
In celebration of World Wetlands Day, Amuseum Naturalis is launching the Crabitat, a fascinating new exhibit showcasing the fiddler crabs that can be found in great numbers around virtually all of St. Martin’s ponds. The Crabitat will be a special attraction on Tuesday, January 31st during the Mardis de Grand Case street fair.
World Wetlands Day is a global program that raises awareness about the importance of wetlands. On St. Martin, salt ponds and other wetlands are one of the richest ecosystems, hosting a wide diversity of life. They also provide the valuable service of processing organic material, keeping our seas crystal clear and our coral reefs vibrant. Fiddler crabs, which are the featured stars of the Crabitat, are key players in this system, sifting organic matter from the sand.
“The Crabitat is a great way to get an up-close view of these adorable and ecologically important critters,” explains Mark Yokoyama, co-curator of Amuseum Naturalis. “World Wetlands Day is the perfect opportunity to give them a turn in the spotlight.”
Amuseum Naturalis, a free nature museum in Grand Case created by the Les Fruits de Mer association, also showcases wetlands in Gut Life, an ongoing exhibit about freshwater wildlife. In the Amuseum Naturalis theater, short films about the freshwater animals of St. Martin and fiddler crabs will also be in rotation. The Amuseum’s special exhibit room will be featuring displays about wetland birds and the impact of drought on wetlands.
“The chance to learn about the island’s natural heritage is something we’re excited to share with our employees, our customers, their families and everyone on St. Martin,” commented Christian Papaliolios, President and General Director of Delta Petroleum, the primary sponsor of Amuseum Naturalis. “It’s a fun and meaningful way to give back to the community that supports us.”
Amuseum Naturalis is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-8pm, and is located at 96 Boulevard de Grand Case. Completely free thanks to the support of Delta Petroleum and the Friends of the Amuseum, the Amuseum welcomes residents and visitors of all ages to discover St. Martin’s natural heritage.
Take a peek inside the Crabitat:
Amuseum Naturalis is always changing and growing. We’re serious about delivering New Wonders Every Week, and the little changes we make day by day keep the Amuseum alive. Check out a few photos of the Amuseum as it was yesterday—tomorrow things will be different again.
Also, we are always looking to add new Friends of the Amuseum to help us realize our vision. Please talk to your employer or join as an individual.
