During Dino-mite Summer, meet living dinosaurs (you call them birds), get messy making a marvelous mixture, take a closer look at incredible live bugs, or share a belly laugh with Marty the Moose during story time. All activities are free with admission, and you don’t need to make a reservation. Dino-mite Summer begins…NOW!
Here is a list of the exciting free programming over the next two months.
2:30 Naturalist Presentation
Weekdays, 2:30 p.m.
From feathers and jewels to bugs, dinosaurs, fossils, and live animals, natural science is full of surprises! Learn nature’s secrets through these informal and interactive presentations
- Mondays: Up Close With Live Butterflies
- Tuesdays: My Cousin, the Dinosaur
- Wednesdays: How to Prepare a Fossil
- Thursdays: Bug Appetit Invertebrate Feeding
- Fridays: Training an Animal
Mondays With Marty
Mondays, 1 p.m.
Auditorium
Marty the Moose loves nothing more than a story time spent entertaining the crowds with his terrible jokes and goofy sense of humor. Join Marty and his favorite humans to hear a special story and meet a live animal.
Invertebrate Cart
Tuesdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–close
Beaver Diorama
Use cutting-edge technology to explore the miniature world of everyone’s favorite live backyard bugs at this interactive cart!
Science Now
Tuesday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Science Live
Science Now is an interactive, hands-on look at current science news! Visitors of all ages can find our enthusiastic volunteers ready to chat about news related to climate change, evolution, biodiversity and extinction, and water. Drop by for a brief activity or conversation!
Investigation Station
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Moose Diorama
In July, learn about the many different sounds animals make in order to talk to each other. Design your own sound-making devices!
In August, investigate buggy behavior and learn how to design an experiment with a live colony of animals.
Scientist Saturday
July 14 and 21 & August 18
1 p.m.–4 p.m.
Science Live
Discover current research and meet real scientists at Scientist Saturdays. See hands-on demonstrations of scientists’ exciting research and ask all the questions you want. The program welcomes guests of all ages to interact with the scientists, who are happy to converse with you about their current research. Get more information on dates and topics.
Messy Marvelous Mixtures
Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
BEES Classroom
Make a mess with science as you investigate different mixtures. From ooblek to playdough, we’ll learn about the science behind making these concoctions as we measure, scoop, and stir.
Members Only! Dinos and Donuts
Saturday, July 14 and Saturday, August 18, 9–10 a.m.
Attention all Kids Club members! Enjoy donuts and hang out with Eddie the T. rex before the Academy opens. Free for members. Registration is required and space is limited.
Registration for July 14 is sold out. Register for August 18 today!
More Summer Fun!
Bug Fest
August 11–12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Join us for our annual celebration of insects! Talk with real scientists, learn about insects from all over the world, and see specimens from the Academy’s behind-the-scenes collections. Eat bugs, get your face painted, and relax as you enjoy a buggy show!