Displays

In March 2007, I set up a four-table display for the Lititz Christian School science fair (Lancaster County, PA). Thematically, I stuck to fossils and dinosaurs, though I did include a few modern-day reptile artifacts (and a live snake). My primary goal was to determine the level of interest in creation-based displays within a local Christian audience, to see if it was feasible as an educational tool and to gauge potential interest in a permanent location. Overall, reception was good, though there were some interesting age-related patterns I'll have to consider in the future. Here are a few pics of some of the display's components.
I was pleased with the fiberglass T-rex model, though it is a bit bulky for traveling (and I've had to touch up some scraped paint). It is lightweight, and at 6 feet long, 4 feet high, makes a very nice introduction to dinosaurs.

The life-size skull (and track) sillhouettes are another matter. While they came out looking OK, the styrofoam chips easily and they are too fragile for constant travel. If I use the concept again, I'll make them out of plywood.

I was very pleased with the "life-sized" dinosaur model, Compsagnathus. This is an inexpensive, readily-available model illustrating that not all dinosaurs were gigantic. The Protoceratops skull replica works on that level, also.
As far as specimens go, I wanted to specifically show examples of the different varieties of dinosaur fossils. For real fossil specimens, the display showed tracks, coprolite, a hadrosaur egg, agatized gembone, and a nice large piece of Sauropod bone (with bite marks). Replicas included a dinosaur skin impression, claws, teeth, tracks, and eggs.

Signage included basic identification labels, a few topical labels (e.g., What is Coprolite?), a few Q&A labels (Do Claws Mean Carnivores?), and a more detailed series of sheets discussing dinosaurs, birds (including Archaeopteryx), and a comparison of the chronologies of Evolutionary Theory and Biblical Creationism. Tas Walker's downloadable Biblical Geology charts came in handy.
The display was rounded out with a variety of fossils (turtle, sea urchin, coconino trackway), and replicas (sea scorpion, Archaeopteryx, etc.)

What's next? At this point, I am interested in potential locations for a permanent creation-based attraction. There are difficulties with traveling displays that suggest a permanent display is more feasible, but I'm open to suggestions (zoocreation at gmail.com). I made a few contacts at this display - did a follow-up with one teacher, giving a talk to an eighth-grade Bible class.