NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – A new, interactive exhibit opens in a matter of days at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. It’s called “TreeHouses: Look Who’s Living in the Trees.”

The Virginia Living Museum released a statement on the interactive exhibit, saying, “The TreeHouses exhibit includes fun, hands-on ways to explore the important roles that trees play in providing homes for all sorts of wild things. Incorporating all of the senses, this popular exhibit engages forest explorers of all ages in indoor nature exploration and the ecology of sustainable harvesting of these important natural resources. The indoor exhibit will run January 27 through May 5, 2024.”

The executive director of the museum, Rebecca Kleinhample, told WAVY the exhibit is for all ages and is a great way for families to learn together.

“This will support part of our mission, which is the nature in your backyard. It’s sponsored by Canon Virginia, and we’re having a photography contest. What is in your backyard? You might want to snap a photo of that and share with our contest. You’ll come in here, and you’ll walk into a tree house, and you’ll be able to experience a tent, and a campfire, and outdoor activities. We’re also including museum collections so that you may see some of the skeletons and pelts of the animals that might be in your backyard connecting the opportunity to make comparison, and to perhaps contrast, your own bones with that of one of those small mammals you would see in your backyards,” said Kleinhample.

Every Saturday and Sunday, you can expect educational public programs. The Museum’s Animal Ambassadors will have meet-and-greets at 11:30 a.m., where you can watch live creatures show how they interact with trees. At 1:00 p.m., check out the “Camouflage Chronicles” Science Pop-up. The museum says it, “unravels the secrets of native animals and their skillful use of trees for camouflage.”

For the duration of the exhibit, you are encouraged to share pictures of the animals and insects living in their trees on social media, using the hashtags #VirginiaLivingMuseum and #VLMWildWednesdays. TreeHouses is a traveling exhibit that is included with Museum admission.