Talk about an adventure off the beaten path…STAR Eco Station, an Environmental Childrens Museum, is a hidden treasure tucked away in Rocklin. I had no idea what was in store for us when we visited with our whole family, Grandma included. The plan was to go on an outing the kids would enjoy but the grown-ups loved this place just as much! We experienced hands-on lessons of ecology and environmentalism as we encountered beautiful tropical birds, exotic reptiles, and ocean life in a tropical jungle setting.
STAR ECO Station is an internationally award-winning non-profit environmental education and exotic wildlife rescue center, dedicated to the mission of Preservation Through Education. STAR ECO Station provides a last chance for illegal or abandoned at-risk exotic wildlife, as well as environmental education outreach programs.
What makes the STAR ECO Station such a great experience is the fact that a knowledgeable tour guide offers information about all the wildlife you see. Your guide takes you through the reptile room, the bird room, and the ocean life room, telling interesting facts about each animal. Our guide, Jamie, not only educated us but was able to answer all of the questions we had throughout our visit. We were continually surprised by fun facts she shared with us. We never knew that the Bearded Dragon only shows his beard when he feels threatened and that Parrots bond and mate for life. We all loved that we were able to get so close to the wildlife and even touch a couple of the reptiles.
I am a fan of places that offer fun and education wrapped up in one and STAR ECO Station does just that! Each one of the kids was fascinated by all that they saw and learned and, well, we grown-ups were too!
Click here to learn more about the STAR ECO Station and to see their upcoming events. They also offer great birthday parties.
Hours:
Friday 1pm-4pm, Saturday 10am- 4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm
Tours start every hour on the hour. Last tour starts one hour before closing.
Admission:
$6.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Kids under 16, 2 years and under are Free
STAR Eco Station
4465 Granite Drive, Suite 700
Rocklin, CA 95677
(916) 632-5437
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Written by Keilah Woodard
My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!
