Celebrate Earth Month with National Geographic & Disney: Meet ‘Hoppers’ Star Piper Curda and Dr. Sammy Ramsey at the Iconic La Brea Tar Pits

This April, National Geographic and Disney are extending an invitation to audiences to “Step into Wonder” during Earth Month. This initiative, spanning the entire company, aims to inspire people to engage more deeply with nature, biodiversity, and exploration.

As part of this endeavor, National Geographic has partnered with the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum in Los Angeles to offer a lively and complimentary pop-up event. This activation is designed to “inspire parents and kids to venture outdoors and explore the natural world through The Wonder List,” a series of playful prompts and activities that transform everyday experiences into moments of discovery.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore The Wonder List Experience at the La Brea Tar Pits through April 23. This unique experience leads guests through the grounds, where they can encounter seven iconic Nat Geo yellow frames strategically positioned around the park.

The event’s opening night was covered by On The Red Carpet, featuring an appearance by Piper Curda, the voice of Mabel in Pixar’s “Hoppers,” who hosted the festivities.

“Connecting with nature makes you a little more human,” Curda expressed. “It reminds you of things that are smaller and bigger than you. Being reminded of these things can make you a more caring and empathetic person, and we could always use more of those.”

The opening night also featured several interactive elements, adding to the engaging experience for attendees.

A dedicated kids area brought the theme of “wonder” to life, through nature-inspired art activities.

In celebration of National Geographic’s “Secrets of the Bees” docu-series, guests experienced an interactive honey tasting station, showcasing the diversity in flavors of local honey.

National Geographic Explorer and entomologist Dr. Sammy Ramsey, who is featured in “Secrets of the Bees” explained this about the essential pollinators.

“It’s important for people to recognize that even though insects, primarily like, bees, aren’t heavily represented in the tar pits themselves, you know that they were here because of some of the flowers and things that are represented in the tar pits. We know that these flowering plants were pollinated by bees, or insects related to bees, and so these things wouldn’t exist otherwise. We can see their presence, even though the tar itself isn’t actually the best chemical substrate to preserve the insects themselves.”

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