Free Jurassic Gardens visit offered for teachers

Educator Appreciation Week set Aug. 7-15 at new, indoor dinosaur park

VOLO — Educators are invited to check out Jurassic Gardens the week of Saturday, Aug. 7, to Sunday, Aug. 15, free of charge, Volo Auto Museum officials announced.

“We want to show our appreciation for teachers, who certainly rose to the occasion through extraordinary circumstances over the last year and a half,” said Brian Grams, director of the auto and dinosaur museum complex at 27582 Volo Village Road. “We also want to show off what we have to offer.

“Jurassic Gardens is a great place for a field trip,” he continued, referring to the indoor, animatronic, life-like dinosaur park that opened in May. “It’s educational, it’s affordable, and outings can be done in a timely manner.”

Not only will teachers get in free during Educator Appreciation Week, but they might also win a free field trip for their entire class. Two free field trips for up to 40 students and staff each will be given away in a drawing of names submitted during the event. Regular cost is $13.95 apiece for groups of 15 or more, down from $15.95 for individual admissions.

Winners will be notified by email and will have up to one year to use the prize. Full details are available at jurassicgardens.com.

Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, and continuing through 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, educators currently employed at any accredited K-12 school, public or private, plus one guest will be provided free entry to Jurassic Gardens. Verification of employment must be provided at the time of entry, Grams said. If desired, participating educators may opt for discounted auto museum entry as well, at $3.95 off the regular $19.95 adult ticket price.

“We hope to see a lot of teachers, principals and other administrators take advantage of our offer,” Grams said. “Visitors who have seen Jurassic Gardens since we opened have been thrilled with what we’ve built. This is an exciting opportunity for teachers to check out a way to immerse students in dinosaur lore.”  

The Volo Auto Museum reopened in May after more than a year of pandemic-prompted closure. Numerous improvements to the grounds and exhibits were undertaken during the shutdown, Grams said.

The museum is following state COVID guidelines. Visitors who have been vaccinated are not required to wear masks. Those who have not been vaccinated are urged to mask up.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for both the auto museum and Jurassic Gardens. For other information, find Volo Auto Museum or Jurassic Gardens on Facebook, visit volocars.com or call 815-385-3644.

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Photo by Richard Coyne Schultz

Suggested caption: Visitors take in the sights and sounds at Jurassic Gardens, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. The indoor park features animatronic, life-like dinosaurs, a theater-quality sound system and plaques noting dinosaur facts throughout. Teachers are invited to enjoy a free visit Aug. 7-15.