Auditorium Shows
The Auditorium, located on the first floor between the Lobby and North American Hall, regularly features Naturalist Shows and the nature video series “The Secret World of the Garden.”
Naturalist Shows
Join our teacher-naturalists as they explore natural history in these informal and interactive presentations involving live animals and/or museum specimens. Shows run for 20 minutes and topics vary daily.
- 2:30 pm on Weekdays; morning shows will be announced
- 11:00 am & 2:30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
Showtimes and location occasionally vary. Listen for announcements of location changes during your visit.
Nature Video Series: “The Secret World of Gardens”
This award-winning series explores the extraordinary life found in a common garden. Stunning macro-videography and time-lapse photography lets you get up-close and personal with insects, rodents, birds, plants, mushrooms and other inhabitants.
- 11 am, 11:45 am and 12:30 pm on Weekdays
- 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
- Runtime is 22 minutes
- Appropriate for ages 8 to adult
Screening times are subject to change; please check for the current daily schedule when you arrive at The Academy.
March 2010: “Weevils”
They crawl, they fly, and some even swim. Coming in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes, weevils make up one of the largest insect families in North America. Join us as we explore the diverse and daring world of these remarkable beetles.
April 2010: “Garden Mimics”
Walking sticks that appearing like twigs, spiders that blend-in as they wait to pounce, and caterpillars that simply look like poop. These are the stars in this episode of “The Secret World of Gardens.” And it's not only your eyes that you can't trust. Some of these creatures can also fool your ears and your nose.
May 2010: “Sap Sucking Hopper”
They are the astronauts of the garden: small bugs called hoppers that are able to blast off with so much power that they have to withstand 400 G-forces!
Most gardeners have never seen one, but that is all part of the hopper plan. They're masters of disguise with some being dead-ringers for thorns while others look like buds or leaves. Hitch a ride on the back of a leafhopper or hide out with a spittlebug in this episode of “The Secret World of Gardens.”
Other Auditorium Programs
On selected evenings during the Fall, Winter, and Spring, the Auditorium is also the venue for our Urban Sustainability Forums and Town Square Programs. Urban Sustainability Forums, typically held on the third Thursday evenings of the month, are panel discussions focusing on environmental and sustainability in Philadelphia and the region. Town Square Programs, which are held on selected weeknights throughout the year, may feature panel discussions or guest speakers and can cover the environment or other topics involving science and the public. Both are free and open to the public.