# Philly Dopers -- Natural History Dopefest 5/21/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619 "2011-04-08T02:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/21 "2011-04-12T00:08:11Z")
I’m in. I’m booked Saturday the 7th; any of the other dates should be OK. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/22 "2011-04-12T00:20:44Z")
Can anyone who wants to come NOT make Saturday the 21st? ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/23 "2011-04-12T03:45:44Z")
I should be good for the 21st. I’m interested in the behind-the-scenes tour. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/24 "2011-04-12T23:58:08Z")
We’re at 9, I think, 10 if my friend M. comes. I think we can probably get 10 people together for this. But what is “this”? We need some more votes on which tour. gallery: twickster (+1?) olivesmarch4th (+1) behind the scenes: pricciar Cleophus no preference stated: Schrodinger’s Platypus MsRobyn Emily Litella ryobserver ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/25 "2011-04-14T23:52:17Z")
My preferences: 1. Behind the scenes 2. Library 3. Gallery. I don’t really care how the vote goes, though; they all sound pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/26 "2011-04-15T00:25:58Z")
I haven’t been to Philadelphia in a couple of years. Maybe it’s time for another trip. How soon do you need to know to sign up? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/27 "2011-04-19T02:16:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I haven’t been to Philadelphia in a couple of years. Maybe it’s time for another trip. > > How soon do you need to know to sign up? Sorry, I was out of town for a couple of days, I lost track of this. As soon as we have ten people more or less firm, I’ll call to get more info – haven’t done so, because I wanted to wait until it looked like it was something we’d actually do. I think you should come – and I think you should give someone your cell number so you can actually meet up with us. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/28 "2011-04-19T02:20:11Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Sorry, I was out of town for a couple of days, I lost track of this. I’m glad. I was worried I had killed the whole idea. > [@twickster](#): > > I think you should come – and I think you should give someone your cell number so you can actually meet up with us. 😉 It shocks people to hear this but generally speaking I don’t have a cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/29 "2011-04-19T02:25:29Z")
Heh. I have one but never turn it on. Anyway – I don’t need a firm commitment right now, but if you think you’d want to do this on Saturday the 21st, say so. Also indicate a preference, if any, for which tour. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/30 "2011-04-19T03:27:41Z")
Saturday the 21st works for me. The only plans I have for the month of May are I’m scheduled for jury duty. I expect that will be over by the end of the month but I suppose I could get caught up in some long-winded case. As for preferences, I vote: 1. Behind the scenes 2. Gallery 3. Library ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/31 "2011-04-20T04:34:10Z")
My preferences in order: 1. Behind the scenes, 2. Library 3. Gallery I always forget to charge my cell phone, but I’ll try to remember for whatever day we pick. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/32 "2011-04-20T12:14:17Z")
Okay, I’ll call to find out about Behind the Scenes for the 21st. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/33 "2011-05-06T15:27:22Z")
A bump. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/34 "2011-05-06T15:52:06Z")
Sorry, I’ve been swamped – and will not have time to do this today. If someone else could make the phone call, I’d be very grateful. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/35 "2011-05-06T16:17:42Z")
Don’t worry, **twix.** I got this. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/36 "2011-05-06T16:23:52Z")
Okay, so this is the deal. ‘‘Behind the Scenes’’ tour isn’t really a canned tour, it actually means we choose from any of the departments that interest us. The nice man I talked to, Daniel, said it would be easier to send an e-mail then explain over the phone. I will share the results of said e-mail once I receive it, and we can go from there. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/37 "2011-05-06T16:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Academy of Natural Sciences] Here are the Behind the Scenes areas folks can go to. Going on a Behind the Scenes tour is $250 plus the cost of group admission ($7 per person for 10 or more people). Click the links to see more about what each department has to offer. The scientists and collections managers are generally not in on weekends. Occasionally they may be though. I know that on the 21st, there will be a collections manager in the entomology department. That’s are huge and amazing insect collection. Very cool and very popular. If a different area interests you, let me know and I then have to coordinate with the staff in that department to see if there is availability on the date you request. Also note, that as staff are not regularly in on weekend days in our science and collections departments, a weekend tour could incur an extra fee to secure the staff person’s availability. This would not be the case with the entomology tour on the 21st as the manager will be in that day for business already. I hope this helps. Take a look at the options below and then let me know what sound interesting to you. Collections Areas: · Botany · Diatoms · Entomology · Herpetology · Invertebrates · Invertebrate Paleontology · Ichthyology · Malacology · Mammalogy · Ornithology · Rotifera · Vertebrate Paleontology Environmental Research Areas · Biogeochemistry · Fisheries · Phycology · Watersheds and Systems · Publications · Scientists · Selected projects · Ruth Patrick [/QUOTE] Well, I probably don’t have to tell you my money’s on the bugs. I loves me some bugs. If anyone is interested in other departments, let me know and I’ll follow the links he provided to get more information. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/38 "2011-05-06T16:51:05Z")
They have an entire department studying Ruth Patrick? I hadn’t realized patrickology had so much interest. This $250 - is that per group or per person? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/39 "2011-05-06T17:00:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > They have an entire department studying Ruth Patrick? I hadn’t realized patrickology had so much interest. > > This $250 - is that per group or per person? Per group. Assuming 10 people attend, per person it would be $25+7 = $32.00, but as the letter says, it might be more if they have to wrangle weekend staff. Also, feel free to message me your e-mail if you want me to forward the links to you. That makes more sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619/40 "2011-05-06T19:44:40Z")
Thanks, **olives**! I kept thinking about this, but not at a time when I could make the call. Insects are pretty freaking cool – but vertebrate paleontology would be, like, dinosaurs and shit. (Literally “and shit” – I know they have fossilized dino poop there.) I believe you have my personal email address – or you can send it to my mod address (twicksterSDMB at gmail dot come). Thanks so much for doing this! And, BTW, it would be 250 for the group, so if we had more than 10 people our per-person rate would go down. I think one of my coworkers is interested, plus possibly my friend M. who’s been to several Doper dos in the past. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-dopers-natural-history-dopefest-5-21-11/577619.md?page=3)