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
Please note:
Screening times are subject to change; please check for the current daily schedule when you arrive at The Academy.
July 2009: “Life in a Lawn”
Paradise is a well-tended lawn, according to the creatures that make it their home. It provides soft, succulent growth to eat, protection from the blazing sun, and a refuge from nasty predators.
“Life In A Lawn” takes you underground where you'll see grubs destroying turf from the bottom up and moles moving mountains. See grass growing before your eyes and watch as skunks and raccoons use their smarts and dexterity to turn the tables on the bugs hiding below.
August 2009: “The Old Oak Tree”
Every 17 years, alien creatures emerge from below the old oak tree. With enormous red eyes and lacey wings these creatures ascend the trunk and branches to mate and lay eggs. They'll die within days.
These cicadas are among the many creatures drawn to the oaks. Moths, caterpillars, wasps, bees and other creatures make the oak tree their home. In this episode we explore the diverse world and symbiotic relationships found in these impressive trees.
Other Auditorium Programs
On selected evenings during the Fall, Winter, and Spring, the Auditorium is also the venue for our Adult Programs and Town Square series. Adult Programs is an evening series of authors and other speakers presenting of a range of natural history topics. Town Square is a series of lectures, debates, workshops, and forums on issues in science, sustainability and the environment.