Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

It's amazing how many people attend McGill and don't visit the other campus. Situated at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, "Mac" is beautiful and picturesque, and it houses the disciplines of agriculture, nutrition, and animal science. Knowing that "downtownies" are very "metro-centred," the directions on how to get to each of these places of interest are included. Contact Nicole Proulx (514) 398-7709

Revel in the Wild!

The Morgan Arboretum is a botanical garden with wild trees and flowers. It's open seven days a week, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and is quite inexpensive considering the breathtaking vistas. Admission prices are: $4 for adults, $2 for seniors / children and $10 for family.

Aside from taking in the sights and perfumes of the arboretum, at certain times there are activities and treats. In March, maple syrup on snow is served up. In early October they have the student staples: beer and food. If you think that sub-zero temperatures are a deterrent, then have some of the coffee in the shop sent up there on weekends during the winter. Moving about also helps keep you warm - so enjoy the cross-country skiing they offer.

Morgan Arboretum. North side of Macdonald Campus. Take 40 west, exit 41, take Chemin Ste. Marie to 150 Chemin Des Pins. Contact: Anne Godbout (514) 398-7812

Cattle Call! Get a sight of the cattle at the Dairy Barn, also known as the "R. Howard Webster Centre for Dairy and Beef Cattle Teaching." Too bad about the pigs. The Swine Research Complex is out of bounds. Seems pigs are susceptible to diseases from humans. Some 10,000 elementary school children visit the farm annually with school tours. Anyone is free to drop by for a visit to see the animals. Open from Monday to Friday, 9 to 4 pm, weekends, from 1 pm to 3 pm Macdonald Campus, 2111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue H9X 3V9 Contact: Nancy Lavigne at (514) 398-7701

Date with a Dinosaur (main campus) From ethnology and archaeology, to minerals and gems, to invertebrates and vertebrates, to paleontology - there's something for everyone. Most popular are the three dinosaur skeletons and the bound mummies. Admission is free. Hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm during the semester, and Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm, from June 25 to August 31. There are weekly events listed on the web page. Redpath Museum, McGill University 859 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Que. H3A 2K6 Information: (514) 398-4086 Web page: ww2.mcgill.ca/redpath

Get bugged And you thought that the Redpath Museum on the downtown campus was the only one we had. This one focuses on our six-legged friends - insects. The Lyman houses three million specimens, representing more than 40,000 species. It is the second largest collection in Canada and it's ours! Drop by anytime from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Guided tours are offered, but there must be a minimum of 15 people ($2.50 per person). During the summer, this museum is a bit more activity-oriented. Crickets have even been cooked for culinary pleasure. Lyman Entomological Museum and Research, located downstairs in the Centennial Centre, Macdonald Campus. For guided tours: Curator George Hsiung (514) 398-7914

See Stars!

Do people call you a "star-gazer"? Well, if you want to be in the company of people who do exactly that, check out the Observatory located behind the football bleachers near the hockey arena. The building belongs to McGill, but has been used by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 1954. There are more than 100 members, mostly amateurs, who are dedicated to enjoying the heavens.

The Society holds five meetings a month, has bi-monthly lectures, a library, and a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. How can you take part in all of this? Just call up the website and the membership forms are right there. Membership is $56 or $35 for those between 16 and 21.

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Forbes Field
(behind Molson Stadium), Montreal Centre,
P.O. Box 1752, Station B, Montreal, Que. H3B 3L3
Contact: Gary Angers at e-mail: gang@generation.net