Indiana State University’s fun, educational, and family-friendly Bat Festival returns, post-pandemic, for its 16th year Saturday, September 17, 2022.
Indiana State University’s fun, educational, and family-friendly Bat Festival returns, post-pandemic, for its 16th year Saturday, September 17, 2022.
The programs and demonstrations are organized by ISU’s Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation. They go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ISU’s Science Building, adjacent to the Dede Plaza fountain, and from 6 to 9 p.m. at Dobbs Park, 5170 Poplar Street, Terre Haute.
“Bats are amazing mammals that swim through the air to catch insects and pollinate plants,” said Dr. Aaron Gooley, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. “Come with your whole family to have fun learning about these interesting creatures, the ecosystem services they provide, and the threats they face.”
The daytime program includes live bat demonstrations with fruit bats at 10:20 a.m., noon, and 2:10 p.m. Live raptor demonstrations are at noon and 2:10 p.m.
Other programs include ISU biologists talking on “Bats of the Midwest” and how scientists study bats. A Kids’ Activity Center will be open all day. Several organizations will have exhibits, including the Center for Science Education, TakeFlight! Wildlife Education, and the Wabash Valley Audubon Society.
The fun shifts to Dobbs Park in the evening with a live raptor program at 6:30 p.m., a guided nature hike at 7:30 p.m., and a walkabout for bats with acoustic bat detectors at 8:30 p.m.
Kids’ activities, including the BatVentures activity course, will go from 6 to 8:30 p.m.