INTERVIEW: Walk with the dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest
Photo: Jurassic Quest includes an up-close and personal visit with a T. rex. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest / Provided with permission.
Jurassic Quest is an interactive dinosaur experience that tours the United States, offering audience members the chance to interact with the world of paleoanthropology in an up-close and personal way. The fun and educational experience, which has multiple locations touring at the same time, will play this weekend, June 7-9, in three different areas of the country: Secaucus, New Jersey, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center; Billings, Montana, at the MetraPark Expo Center; and Omaha, Nebraska, at the CHI Health Center.
Safari Sarah is a spokesperson for Jurassic Quest. She’s entrenched in the world of these dinosaurs and helps audience members travel back in time for some experiential learning. Some of the activities that the young and young at heart get to enjoy include riding on an animatronic dinosaur, enjoying bounce houses, creating dinosaur crafts, digging for fossils and meeting baby dinosaurs. Perhaps the highlight of the experience is the walk with dinosaurs where everyone can have a closer look.
Recently Sarah exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about the dino-tastic experience. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
When did you first fall in love with dinosaurs?
I personally fell in love with dinosaurs once I started working for Jurassic Quest! I didn’t know much about them, only ever seeing them in movies or TV shows. Realizing up close and personal that these were real beasts that walked our earth … it was otherworldly!
What’s your favorite dinosaur? Why?
My favorite dinosaur is an aquilops, a type of Ceretopsian that was only about the size of a rabbit. I love tiny dinosaurs the most!
What can audience members expect from Jurassic Quest? What’s the experience like?
Walking through our dinosaur exhibit, people will come face-to-face with the life-size version of their favorite dinos and learn about some dinosaurs they’ve probably never met before. Expect to learn something new, and keep your eyes and ears peeled for our virtual tour while walking through to make the most of your time. After that, our activities will keep the youngsters entertained with dinosaur-themed rides and bounce houses!
Is the experience too scary for youngsters?
Every kid is different, but we always like to refer to our dinosaurs as thrilling, never scary!
What sets Jurassic Quest apart from other dinosaur / science programming that tours the nation?
The combination of fun and education is what sets Jurassic Quest apart. You can always dig up some knowledge at our fossil table or learn about it from a dinosaur trainer at our raptor training show. We find ways to make learning fun!
How important is it to promote science to kids?
Observation, placing ourselves, geology, paleontology, astrology — so many doors are opened by exploring into the world of dinosaurs! We call it a gateway science, and you’ll be surprised by the places you can go. We think that’s the magic of it!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Jurassic Quest is currently touring the United States, with upcoming stops in New Jersey, Oklahoma and Montana, June 7-9. Click here for more information and the full schedule.
