The Great Valley Museum Foundation at Modesto Junior College invites the community to “Walk for the Animals” on Saturday, May 4 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the MJC West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto. The fundraising walk supports the care of the live animals in the Great Valley Museum. The 2.25-mile walk is open to all ages and is held on the closed loop road on MJC’s West Campus.

Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Science Community Center, with the walk beginning promptly at 8 a.m. The average time for completion is 30 to 45 minutes. The museum’s live animals will be stationed throughout the walk to cheer on the walkers. There are also free pre- and post-walk blood pressure checks available by certified nurses.

All registered participants receive a medal, boxed water and free admittance to the museum that day. Cost is $25 per participant, ($20 of which is considered a tax deductible donation), and a signed waiver is required at check-in. Early registration is encouraged. Registration is available at the museum or online at: www.mjc.edu/gvm.

Children in strollers are permitted with a paid adult. Leashed and people friendly dogs are welcome. (Please bring waste bags to clean up accidents.) The event is a non-timed walk.

Each year, thousands of young minds receive the benefit of hands-on science activities at the GVM. The museum’s Traveling Teacher programs include live reptiles and insects, current environmental issues and local Native American artifacts, to name a few. The museum also offers group tours, Science on a Sphere shows and planetarium presentations. These programs enhance the educational experience for school children in the Central Valley and assist in addressing the Next Generation Science Standards for California.