Insects represent some of the planet's most bizarre – yet familiar – and enchanting life forms. Some can be as intricately delicate as a butterfly, while others can be as tough and gnarly as some beetles.

The community eagerly anticipated the Turtle Bay Auction, and this year's event did not disappoint. The theme was "Off to The Races," and guests arrived dressed in their finest Kentucky Derby-inspired ensembles. They were greeted by a stunning display of decorations that transported them to Churchill Downs.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA, partners with Coleman Fish Hatchery every year to raise and release chinook salmon to the Sacramento River as a part of the Head Start Program. This is one of the many ways Turtle Bay takes active part in conservation efforts for local wildlife.

This 1960s radiation kit, commonly found in fallout shelters, was an essential survival tool during the Cold War Era. Fallout shelters gained mainstream popularity during the 1950s due to the development and threatening presence of nuclear weaponry.

Unlike most of our exhibitions, where changes are made only after installation if a mistake is found, this exhibition is a living document that has had several updates regarding the status of the glaciers as Mt. Shasta experienced both a hotter-than-normal summer and had early snowfall in September 2023 that affected the short-term condition of these climate indicators. 

While curating the exhibition currently in the Mill Building at Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp called, Recreation: The Great Outdoors and More!, we came across a historic pair of snowshoes with interesting provenance. We decided to highlight them as Artifact of the Month while Snow: Tiny Crystals, Global Impact was on exhibit in the Museum, but we learned more (and less) than we bargained for.