Manitoba Museum’s adults-only expedition filled with fun, food and photography

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This article was published 10/02/2016 (2990 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was night to put on your safari hat, grab your camera and head out to the Manitoba Museum for an adults-only evening of wild photography and civilized fun.

At the first Safari Night on Thursday, a sold-out event of 350 tickets, people trekked to the museum for an expedition of fun, food and photography.

Photographer Dave Benson, who retired after a 33-year career as a teacher, was one of several guides on hand to provide tips to photograph wildlife. Visitors were encouraged to go on a “safari” by touring the museum’s galleries.

“The wildlife here is very co-operative. It does not run away or hide,” Scott Young, the museum’s manager of visitor experiences, joked as he referred to the taxidermy animals in the exhibits. “It’s a great way to learn wildlife photography. You know you’ve got something to look at and you can practise the same techniques you’d use in the wild. At this event, we really put the focus on the social aspect to give people an experience they wouldn’t have if they came here on a regular day.”

The $15 admission ($12 for members) included free pizza along with a cash bar and a DJ playing music in the foyer. Tilley hats were spotted on some visitors and a bartender while several museum employees were dressed in safari clothing in the spirit of the evening.

The event also included free admission to the Earth Explorers, a special exhibit taking place at the museum until April 24, during which some famous National Geographic photographs are displayed along with interactive displays.

“It’s such a great thing that they have these discovery programs for people who are not children. A lot of things are catered to kids but adults want to have fun and explore too,” said Darcee Lytwyn, 23, who attended the event with her partner Sam Giesbrecht.

“There’s just a whole bunch of stuff here that we like. We both follow NatGeo on Instagram, we like beer, we like pizza and we’ve been to the museum a few times so it just seemed like a whole bunch of stuff that we liked in one place,” said Giesbrecht, 26.

He brought his camera along and planned to photograph some of the animals in the galleries.

Last November, an adults-only night called Ice Night was held. It had a sustainability theme as it focused on how climate change in Canada’s North has been impacting people and animals.

“We piloted the adult evenings this year and we look forward to having a full roster of adult evenings throughout the year,” said Debra Fehr, the museum’s director of marketing, sales and programs.

“Based on the success of tonight’s event, we might have another event (in the museum) before Earth Explorers closes. Adults seem to love it, you’ve got a DJ, some food and drinks and a more relaxed atmosphere. They get to be kids themselves without kids around and there’s a freedom for them to be adventurous.”

Young said the idea for the Safari Night came in response to feedback from adult visitors, particularly in the 25 to 40 age group.

“It’s something that is completely and utterly different. I’ve never seen anything like this in Winnipeg or in any other museum so I thought, Let’s take a look,’” said Joel Mucha, 22, who attended with his partner Brittany Bartram, 26.

“It’s kind of neat to have a drink in the museum. It’s just a whole new experience,” Bartram said.

The next scheduled adults-only event, called Yuri’s Night, will take place April 12 in the Planetarium and Science Gallery.

It will be themed around the first human in space, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who made the first human space flight on April 12, 1961.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca