Visitors explore wildlife, fossils, farming

KENANSVILLE — The Cowan Museum of History and Science in Kenansville welcomed guests Saturday for ecoBLAST: Green and Wild, an interactive outdoor event focused on nature, science and environmental education.

Exhibits stretched across the museum lawn, featuring hands-on activities from local and state organizations. The NC Fossil Club offered dirt from eastern North Carolina quarries for visitors to sift through in search of shark’s teeth. Ecological Marine Adventures, based at the aquarium in Surf City, brought marine life samples and a live corn snake. The Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center displayed turtle shells and provided information on sea turtles. The Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary brought a live parrot and offered T-shirts.

James Sprunt Community College featured hydroponic pods, allowing visitors to plant and take home kale seedlings. WNCT-9 presented storm demonstrations and information on weather preparedness. Duplin County Beekeepers shared information about different types of bees and hive care.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences brought a live lizard and snake and shared information about reptiles. The exhibit also included animal pelts from species once native to the region. Additional exhibitors highlighted native plants with live samples.

Throughout the event, visitors enjoyed hands-on activities and free samples, including butterfly crafts from the Cowan Museum and hydroponic plant samples from JSCC. Attendees enjoyed frozen treats and savory farm to table options from food trucks on site.

The Cowan Museum also was open free to the public. Inside, exhibits showcased agriculture and rural life with artifacts used in kitchens, homes, outdoors and businesses. A large fossil and rock display was featured on the main floor, with additional exhibits upstairs.