SUMMARY: Trains evoke nostalgic feelings during the Christmas season, symbolizing family journeys. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway shares holiday cheer in Mississippi, while the Traintastic Interactive Model Railroad Museum in Gulfport offers a festive experience with Holiday Lights from Thursdays to Saturdays in December. Admission is $25, including activities and access to the museum. Families can also enjoy the Possum Ridge model train exhibit at the Two Mississippi Museums, showcasing a 1940s railroad town, free of charge until December 31, 2024. Mississippi’s train museums celebrate the historical significance of trains in rural towns and their economic development.

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SUMMARY: Dr. Luke Pearson, a USM alumnus and biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is leading efforts to conserve the alligator snapping turtle, a species potentially facing threats. Collaborating with USM graduate students, Pearson aims to gather accurate data as Mississippi holds the highest density of these turtles. His team addresses challenges like illegal harvesting and nest predation by implementing strategies such as captive egg hatching. By tracking turtle populations with radio technology and tagging hatchlings for future monitoring, Pearson hopes to improve survival rates and understand primary threats to this largest North American freshwater turtle species.

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SUMMARY: As Christmas approaches, consider gifts that inspire children to explore nature. Instead of buying a complete naturalist kit, create a personalized smaller kit with items based on the child’s interests. Start with a simple bug box, which can be any container, and include a brightly-colored magnifier for closer observation. A local field guide, like the affordable Golden Guides, can spark interest in specific animals or plants. As their curiosity grows, you might add a butterfly net, an aquarium net, or binoculars with a guide for bird watching. Prioritize small, engaging gifts to encourage outdoor adventures and discovery.

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