The North Education Center expansion Special Expansion Edition at The Bishop is now open — 2019 Explore Our New Backyard! Letter to Our Supporters CONNECTIONS SPECIAL EXPANSION EDITION 2019 Campaign Update

ON THE COVER The bark of the Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation Mighty Oak in the new Mosaic Backyard Universe was hand sculpted over a steel frame. The result is an oak so realistic you’ll wonder whether A Grand Students from Myakka Building the Best Backyard the tree grew inside City Elementary were the our new Backyard! first group of kids to try Celebration out the Mosaic Backyard Universe on Oct. 1. What a fantastic, exciting year this has been for the Museum! We launched The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature our new logo and name, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, we celebrated the major expansion of the North celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with special events in Education Center and Mosaic Backyard Universe our revitalized Planetarium and, now, we’ve opened our new wing: the North with a special preview party on Sept. 24 and the Education Center with its cornerstone exhibition, the Mosaic Backyard Universe! grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 1. I couldn’t be more pleased to share this special issue of our newsletter, Connections, that is focused on our expansion. The renovation that we began planning in 2011 and undertook in earnest with the kickoff of our Connect Capital Campaign in 2015 has resulted in 1 new classrooms and the Backyard, a permanent exhibition that is a major new contribution to the educational landscape of the region. We now have 201 10th St. W., BOARD OF TRUSTEES Bradenton, FL 34205 a robust way to serve younger children and their families — the students Brian Carter who come as part of school or youth groups as well as the thousands of 941.746.4131 PRESIDENT families who visit from our surrounding communities and as tourists to our www.BishopScience.org Matthew J. Lapointe [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT region. In addition, our expansion will have big impacts on our community’s tourism and economic sectors. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. John V. Quinlan Tuesday-Saturday VICE PRESIDENT We couldn’t have done it without the donors who helped make it all Jennifer Turner Gans possible, especially The Mosaic Company Foundation, which encouraged Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday SECRETARY us to dream big when we began planning for the Museum’s future. Along Chris Perkins Closed on Mondays, the TREASURER the way, others joined in to support our success. We now have the Willis first Saturday in 2 Smith Construction Classroom Suite, which will allow us to expand our November, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Elizabeth Baran programming, including field trips and homeschool classes. The Ralph S. New Year’s Day. Dr. Jennifer Bencie French Charitable Foundation supported the Mighty Oak and the Manatee Raymond Dweck Charles F. Elzer III River Garden Club supported our landscaping. CORPORATE PARTNERS Dr. LeMoyne Johnson But we’re not finished yet! Already we’re looking forward to the next Marti King 5 phase of our expansion: the outdoor components that will become a part of Blake Medical Center Raj Mathur BMO Harris Bank Michael C. Moore the Backyard. Thanks to the Founders Garden Club of Sarasota, we’ve already Bradenton Herald Cristina Najmy started and have installed raised planting beds, which marks the beginning Manatee Herald-Tribune Spurgeon Nisbett Mosaic of our next phase of progress. Christopher Peacock NetWeave Social Andrew Smith I hope you’ll join me in thanking all of our supporters — from the Networking Ryan Thomas Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, to the City of Bradenton, Northern Trust Gary Tibbetts SRQ Media Alisa Westberry the state of Florida and the many private foundations and individuals — WUSF Public Media Charles Zajaczkowski 4 who shared and supported our vision for the future of the Museum. (Please 3 see the full list on page 10.) What an incredible milestone this is for The Bishop and for the community. On behalf of our Board of Trustees and the many, many staff THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE, INC. IS A members who helped bring this vision to life, I thank you! 1 From left to right, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston; Kelly 2 Tom Breiter, Board President when the 4 Trustee John Quinlan, supporter Bob 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION — FEDERAL TAX I.D. #59-0598726. Blalock, former Board President Bill CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ALLOWED BY Strong, Vice President, Mosaic; Brynne Anne Besio, CEO, expansion was envisioned; Current Board LAW. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION #CH199 The Bishop; Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton); Brian Carter, President Brian Carter and Bill Blalock, Blalock, Trustee Raj Mathur and current AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM President, Board of Trustees, The Bishop; Tom Breiter, former Chairman of the Connect Capital Campaign President Brian Carter. THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL- President, Board of Trustees, The Bishop; Dave Sessions, that made the expansion possible. FREE 1.800.435.7352 WITHIN THE STATE AND AT WWW. President and CEO, Willis Smith Construction; Dave Otterness, 5 Former Museum Trustee Jackie FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT Vice President, Willis Smith Construction; Bill Blalock, former CEO Brynne Anne Besio and Eleana Hall Barron, Public Affairs and Media IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION 3 Brynne Anne Besio BY THE STATE. THIS ORGANIZATION RETAINS 100% OF ALL President of the Board of Trustees and former Chair of the (center) with members of The Bishop’s Strategy Manager, Mosaic, with Mosaic Chief Executive Officer CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED. Connect Capital Campaign, The Bishop. Board of Trustees. Vice President of Minerals, Kelly Strong. Mosaic Backyard Universe SPECIAL EXPANSION EDITION 2019 CONNECTIONS

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5. THE SCIENCE SHED 6. THE CARDBOARD 1. THE RALPH S. 2. THE DIG PIT 4. THE TREE HOUSE ROCKET FRENCH CHARITABLE PLATFORM Take discovery to the Explorers can dig in and FOUNDATION next level by using Remember that examine the Earth’s This discovery platform MIGHTY OAK scientific tools to refrigerator box you past in a search for nestled next to the explore the Backyard. used to make your This 30-foot-tall fossils. Mighty Oak’s canopy Inside, you can also own rocket ship when beautiful sculpted steel includes binoculars and check out Learning you were a kid? Ours tree is a masterpiece of a telescope perfect for Expeditions, backpacks takes that to the next mimicry with each bit of 3. THE POND viewing the realistic stocked with supplies level using immersive bark and each individual solar system in the and tools to help you media that allows you The freshwater Pond is leaf hand-crafted to Backyard’s ‘sky.’ The explore astronomy, to take off on virtual home to some real- imitate the live oaks Platform is accessible biology, engineering, adventures of your life Florida natives: found in Florida. so everyone can enjoy geology and own — from viewing Welcome freshwater plants the view. paleontology. the microscopic world and turtles — a pair of around us to the outer yellow-bellied sliders. 3 to our New reaches of the Universe! Backyard! The elements in the Mosaic Backyard Universe were reimagined from our favorite childhood memories.

PHOTO BY SCOTT ODELL SPECIAL EXPANSION EDITION 2019 CONNECTIONS Mosaic Backyard Universe

A Mighty Tree Grows in the Mosaic worked with Woodside and other Museum staff to learn Backyard Universe about their vision for the tree — its height, its girth, the size of its canopy — then went to work, first on an artist’s rendition and then on engineering plans that would bring their vision to life. The Mosaic Backyard Universe started with the kernel of an The Mighty Oak is a cantilevered design with a steel and idea: To create a welcoming space where kids could be free mesh structure fabricated into trunk, limbs and branches to explore, investigate and revel in the beauty of nature and built as a series of telescopically interlocking parts initially that would set the stage for future discoveries throughout built at the NatureMaker studios in California, then the Museum. disassembled, shipped and rebuilt on site. The tree bark is As staff envisioned this new space, they were rooted in a malleable, slow-curing sculpture medium developed by the idea that the first place young children are free to explore NatureMaker that was hand-applied to the structure. The on their own is often a backyard, neighborhood or park. So silk leaves — more than 100,000 of them — were also made they went to work creating the best backyard from their own and applied by hand. childhood imaginations: A Cardboard Rocket here, a Dig Pit The building process included a team of artists, engineers, there; a Science Shed on the other side and a Pond for good welders and sculptors. measure. “There were probably 20 people who helped create the Of course, they also remembered a foundational truth Oak,” Hanick said. “We don’t use molds and we have installers of childhood: The best backyards have massive trees with on site to finish the trees, to touch everything up and make custom-built tree houses. And so the centerpiece of The sure the sections blend naturally. We want to make sure that Bishop’s Backyard — the 30-foot-tall Ralph S. French every tree we design looks like it grew in place.” Charitable Foundation Mighty Oak — began to take shape. From trunk to branches, the Mighty Oak had more than “There are a lot of fabricated trees out there, but 250 sections — so many that it took two 53-foot tractor- we wanted something that was as realistic as possible; trailers to move it from the studio in California to the something that looked and felt like the live oak tree on the Museum in downtown Bradenton. “It’s probably in the Top north end of our own campus,” said Matthew Woodside, 10 in size of all the trees we’ve ever built,” Hanick said. “There The Bishop’s Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions, who And, just like trees in nature, The Bishop’s Mighty Oak are a lot helped to conceive the tree and served as project manager is an individual like no other, he said. “From the nuances in of fabricated for the interior build-out of the Backyard space. “That’s why the bark and the special drawers that pull open and reveal a trees out there, we reached out to NatureMaker Steel Art Trees. They have a secret, to the graceful flow of the branches and leaves, every but we wanted unique process that allows them to mimic nature down to inch of the Mighty Oak in the Mosaic Backyard Universe something that was the tiniest details.” represents someone’s handwork. Every tree we build is as realistic as possible; From consultation to final installation, the creation of different, and no two trees are alike. Our whole process is something that looked and The Bishop’s Mighty Oak took more than a year, said Gary designed to ensure that we’re creating a realistic, seamless felt like the live oak tree on the Hanick, President of NatureMaker. The arboreal auteurs sculpture — it’s the magic of what we do.” north end of our own campus.” PHOTO BY SCOTT ODELL SPECIAL EXPANSION EDITION 2019 CONNECTIONS Mosaic Backyard Universe

TAKE A LEARNING EXPEDITION Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a biologist? Or maybe your sights are set on the stars and you want to explore astronomy?

Now you can explore both — and more — thanks to The Bishop’s new Learning Expeditions.

These special backpacks hold tools and activities for different topics of scientific inquiry — biology and astronomy, of course, along with paleontology, geology and engineering. Because hile the opening of The Bishop’s North having caring adults involved in kids’ learning Education Center brings the coolest is so important, the Expeditions are designed backyard to the community, the cornerstone for children and grown-ups to use together. (Of course, you don’t need to be with a kid to use one!) exhibition in this major expansion — the Mosaic Backyard Universe — is more than The Learning Expeditions — which you check out just a series of neat activities for young learners. It’s a new in the Backyard — help spark curiosity and include portal for discovery that allows people of all ages to explore activities to try out in the Backyard, ways to explore one of the topic areas in other sections of the world around them as they follow their own interests the Museum and special activities to do at home. and paths to wider discoveries about the Universe. In this microcosm of a real backyard, the young and The Bishop’s educators have also developed young-at-heart are free to follow their imaginations as they Sensory Scientist backpacks for visitors with sensory differences. They include a Social Story try their hand at paleontology in the Dig Pit, look through the that helps visitors understand what to expect, binoculars from the Tree House Platform or find out what a Visual Vocabulary with pictures of Museum secrets the Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation Mighty features, ear defenders, sunglasses, a magnifying Oak holds. The youngest visitors also have the opportunity glass, binoculars and Museum-themed textured items. (The Sensory Scientist backpacks can be to develop their physical, mental and emotional dexterity — checked out and used throughout the Museum.) essential elements of early childhood development. “We specifically did not design this area to include typical exhibition components that require reading labels Museum’s school field trip offerings. Starting in November, or understanding directions on how to use something,” said the Museum will offer four different themed field trips for Matthew Woodside, The Bishop’s Chief Curator and Director each grade in pre-kindergarten through third focused on: of Exhibitions. “Instead, we designed our Backyard as an open- ended space where where different generations of adventurers Life Science can let their curiosity guide them as they explore the area. Earth and Space Science In this way, we’ve provided the community with a unique Physical Science resource that capitalizes on the developmental benefits that Connections come from early exploration, while at the same time helping to facilitate fun and fascinating adventures for everyone.” Whether for the youngest learners or high school students, The Backyard is built on the importance of place, change all of the Museum’s field trips are designed to support age- and the fact that life adapts over time. It serves as a portal appropriate developmental skills and state educational for people to gain an awareness of natural history and the standards. The newest offerings may also include classroom natural sciences and how the world functions on a basic level. time, interactive exploration in the Backyard and visits to other For children who visit, learning these concepts also helps to Museum spaces. Educators facilitate creative exploration connect them to the larger experiences they can have in other while promoting important skills such as questioning, areas of the Museum — continuing their appreciation for the hypothesizing, observing, recording and communicating. wonders of science and nature. “This is a developmentally appropriate learning space The overall North Education Center expansion also where early learners can imagine, play, make and share as allows the Museum to provide more daily opportunities they interact with interesting materials and possibilities,” said for public programs, expanded homeschool courses and is Dr. Robin Thompson, Director of Early Learning Curriculum home to collaborative endeavors with the School District and at the School District of Manatee County. other public schools, private schools and the Early Learning But that doesn’t mean older folks are left out of the fun. Coalition. The opening of the accessible Backyard also Early reviews indicate they find The Bishop’s Backyard coincides with the development of some new additions to the “Wicked Awesome,” “Amazing” and “Out of this World.” Honor Roll CONNECTIONS SPECIAL EXPANSION EDITION 2019

Thank You! Pattie Clendenin $250-999 Brian and Lisa Hoban Collins Family Fund of the Ayco Robert and Donna Anderson David Hoffman Building the North Education Center and Foundation the Mosaic Backyard Universe was truly Ann W. Atwood Jeffrey Hooper a community endeavor made possible Corona Brewery Robert Ayers Thomas and Sherry Koski through gifts from long-time supporters Greg and Jean Farrington Donna R. Bailey Robert and Ricki Lindsay and new friends that helped to COL James A. and Barbara Fraley Jr. Garret Barnes Robert and Martha Logan transform Bradenton’s much-loved Richard and Jennifer Gans Fund of Jackie Barron Brightman Logan $10,000-24,999 the Community Foundation of attraction. We want to offer a special Peter and Gudrun Bennett Manatee Community Foundation thank you to those who supported Dan S. Blalock* Sarasota County, Inc. Kristin A. Carter Susan McCart us along the way through the John and Sharon Bozman Gold Coast Eagle Distributing L.P. Connect Capital Campaign… John J. Gorr Foundation of Conrad and Ruth Ann Szymanski Michael and Marie Pender Fund of The Community Foundation Fund of the Manatee Community the Community Foundation of of Sarasota County the Manatee Community Foundation Foundation Sarasota County The Frank E. Duckwall John* and Tina Crawford Rose S. Pajerski Foundation, Inc. Sam and Jill Hershfield Virginia Davenport Truman Perry Florida Power and Light Company John and Amanda Horne Rae Dowling John and Mary Quinlan Joe and Debbie Gigliotti Virginia E. Judge $50,000-99,999 James and Jeré Dye John and Carol Rice Jeffrey and Helen King Doug and Donna Jungman Anonymous Eugene and Julie Fogarty Howard and Dorene Seider Marti King Bruce and Kate Langsen Tom and Kathy Breiter Lynn E. Lineman G. Robert and Sharon Blanchard Jeffrey Stokes Robert E. and Susan T. King Fund of the Community Johnston Family Fund of William and Eloise Lisch Trice Family Fund of the Manatee the Manatee Community Chuck and Sarah Moore Foundation of Tampa Bay Community Foundation Michael and Sarah Mackie Foundation The Patterson Foundation Harvey* and Sue Gleeksman Widewaters Bradenton, LLC Manatee River Garden Club Koski Family Foundation Service League of the South Hall Architects, PA William Beall Webster Grantor Trust Mosaic Florida Museum John and Anna McClure Herman E. & Helen H. Turner Mark E. McLaughlin $1,000,000 + Old Hickory Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation Foundation Harold and Johncyna McRae Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Santilli Gift Cliff and Susie Walters Dick and Jane Olson Florida Community Loan Fund Fund Woodruff & Sons Christopher and Ellen Peacock Manatee County Board of County Jim K. and Lori M. Toomey Commissioners Chris and Betsy Pennewill Expanding Your Impact $1,000-9,999 Francis E. and Gaile A. McCracken Chris and Lynn Romine Trust $25,000-49,999 Anonymous Major General (USAF-retired) The Connect Campaign supporting The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature’s major expansion continues as we enter our next phase, which will focus on outdoor The Mosaic Company Foundation Beckstein Charitable Fund of Harry and Betty Bakker John Schoeppner and the Manatee Community Ted and Elizabeth Baran Dr. Martha Monagan-Hart spaces and other improvements supporting our overall campus master plan. Foundation Brewster and Priscilla Seewald We’re very excited to share the news that an anonymous donor has pledged $100,000-999,999 Sylvia S. Barber William and Pam Blalock Gardner and Dannie Sherrill up to $2 million to triple each donation made to this ongoing Campaign. That John and Dorothy Alexander Trust Mark and Marianne Barnebey Cookie Boudreaux — Mark Kamin Andrew Smith means each $1 donated to the Connect Capital Campaign will be matched with Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation, Inc. & Associates Pete and Brynne Anne Besio $2 and have triple the impact! Blalock Walters, PA Gary Sweetman and Linda City of Bradenton Charter Communications DiGabriele-Sweetman If you’re thinking ahead to your end-of-year gift planning, don’t forget that you Bob and Marlene Blalock can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA and pay no income Ralph S. French Charitable Charles and Victoria Elzer Gary and Alice Trice Foundation Trust Gary and Janice Bogart tax on the gift. The Qualified Charitable Distribution allows individuals older than Founders Garden Club of Sarasota Bob and Dottie Turner W. Paul Hoenle Foundation, Inc. Jim and Sandy Boyd Charitable 70½ to make direct distributions from their IRAs to qualified charities without Greene Hamrick Quinlan & Linda Wakeman Sandy and Jeanie Kirkpatrick Schermer, P.A. Fund of the Manatee having to count the distributions as income for federal tax purposes. The gift may CommunityFoundation William Webster count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. Moore Charitable Foundation Old Florida Investments Tom and Jacqueline Braxtan Weichel Family Fund of the Please contact your financial adviser to begin the process of directing your M. Elizabeth Moore Fund Stephen G. and Ricinda H. Perry Buchanan Family Foundation Manatee Community distribution to The Bishop. Contact the Museum for a convenient form you William G. and Marie Selby Peter Reinheimer Foundation can use to make your request or to explore your many options for making a Foundation Mark and Josephine Burnett Charles and Marilyn Slater Randy and Martha Wells difference atThe Bishop Museum of Science and Nature today. For more Frank and Emily Buskirk Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. Slater-Kassan Charitable Alisa Westberry information about making a gift, please contact Development Director Ashley Larry and Edith Bustle State of Florida Fund of the Manatee Charles Zajaczkowski Berridge at [email protected] or (941) 216-3457. Community Foundation Ron and Rose Carlson Dawn M. Sweeney Brian and Bethany Carter *deceased NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT NO. 529

PO Box 9265 Bradenton, FL 34206

New Event Space A VENUE LIKE NO OTHER Planning an enchanted wedding, a corporate retreat or a holiday celebration? The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature’s newest space, the Mosaic Backyard Universe, is now available for booking. This new space features stunning architecture and all the elements of the outdoors — and you won’t have to worry about the weather!

For more information, booking or to schedule a tour of our venue please contact FacilityRentals@ BishopScience.org or 941-746-4131, Ext. 155.