Young visitors to the Springfield Science Museum will be able to take a virtual excursion deep into the rainforest, thanks to the Museums’ newest traveling exhibit, Rainforest Adventure. The exhibit, designed by Stepping Stones Museum for Children, will be open January 25 through May 11, 2014, and is sponsored by United Bank.

Rainforest Adventure is a multi-sensory exploration of one of our planet’s most precious resources. Through a variety of interactive experiences and hands on displays, visitors will learn about the amazing diversity of life in rainforests and the many challenges they face today. Using vests, flashlights, and binoculars provided, young visitors can explore a gorilla nest identify endangered species and more. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Rainforest Adventure is that it is designed for both children and adults, allowing families to share in the enjoyment of learning together.

A special Opening Day Celebration on Saturday, January 25 will feature hands-on activities, Family Science Adventure, and “The Wild About Rainforest Balloon Magic Show” by Jungle Jim at 1 p.m. The event begins at 10 a.m., with Museum members allowed to enter one hour early for exclusive live animal demos and a light breakfast. The Opening Day Celebration is part of the Museums’ Family Fun series, which is supported by the TD Charitable Foundation.

Rainforest Adventure will also serve as the focal point for the Museums’ February school vacation programs. Dubbed “Sights and Sounds of the Rainforest,” the week- long program will include a host of live animal demonstrations and musical family shows all tied to the rainforest theme. The vacation week programs are funded by United Bank, with additional support from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation.

Visitors to Rainforest Adventure will also be able to enjoy the Science Museum’s South American living collection in the Solutia Live Animal Center, which features an understory exhibit with a Boa constrictor, a nocturnal red-eyed tree frog exhibit, and a rainforest floor exhibit with bumblebee poison dart frogs. Rounding out the Museums’ ancillary programs are guided school tours of the exhibit, with interactive activities and gallery games designed to tie the exhibit to the curriculum frameworks.

There is a special exhibition fee of $5 for all visitors ages 3 and up to view Rainforest Adventure in addition to museum admission.