Outdoors, in the open air,seems like a natural place to study natural science.It also makes sense in a place like Southern Californiawhere people like to be outside a lot.Now the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles Countyis working to bring the indoors to the outdoorsfor its visitors.The museum has redesigned an outdoor spaceinto a living exhibit.This is a big change for the one and a half hectare area.It used to include a parking lot.Now, instead of cars, it welcomes birds,butterflies and other living things.EVA ENG: "What else do the plants need, Jaime?"CHILDREN: "Sunshine!"Teacher Eva Eng and her young studentsrecently visited the museum's outdoor campus.Ms. Eng says they enjoyed their experience.The children were learning about plant science in school.EVA ENG: "They really like hands-on things,getting their hands in the mud, and planting seeds,watering them, watching them grow."Scientists who work at the museum come outsideto describe plants and insectsin the natural setting of this outdoor laboratory.Greg Pauly specializes in studying turtles,like the western pond turtle.He tells the students how developmenthas changed its natural habitat.He says these turtles are happiestaround small bodies of water that growand shrink with the seasons.GREG PAULY: "You know, one hundred fifty years ago,before there were very many people here,all the streams were just seasonal streams.And the western pond turtle loved that habitat.And with people, we have changed the habitat."Today, he says, there is a lot more permanent water,like a pond at the Natural History Museum itself.And he says the changing habitat is one reasonwhy western pond turtles are shrinking in number.In addition to science lessons,the open-air exhibit can provide contact with naturein a way that some city children rarely get.Landscape architect Mia Lehrer sayschildren can get real-life answersto questions they may be wondering about.MIA LEHRER: "What does it meanto see what strawberry plants look like,that they do not come from a container in the store?And a tomato -- children have been asked,'Where does ketchup come from?' They do not know."Only parts of the new outdoor campus are open now.But Karen Wise says more changes are coming.Ms. Wise is the museum's vice presidentfor education and exhibits.KAREN WISE: "Now we are opening up the whole museum,making it an indoor-outdoor experience,so that our visitors can be a part of the experience."The work is expected to be completedby June of twenty-thirteen.Next year is the museum's one hundredth anniversary.And that's the VOA Special English Education Report.You can watch a video about the new outdoor exhibitat the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles Countyat 51voa.com.You can also read, listenand learn English with our programs and activities.