For Families
Visitors with children may find this information on Exhibits, Programs, and Facilities useful.
Exhibits
- The Big Dig
- The Big Dig is a hands-on exhibit where budding paleontologists can dig for dinosaur bones. It's located on the Mezzanine in Dinosaur Hall.
- Butterflies!
- Come to to Butterflies!, walk in a tropical garden and discover a variety of live butterflies on the flowers, leaves, wall and floor?
- Butterflies! is located on the Main Floor.
- Changing Exhibit Hall
- Creatures of the Abyss, our family-friendly exhibit on the deep sea, runs through September 6, 2010. Our next exhibit, Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway with Artist Ray Troll and Paleontologist Kirk Johnson, will run from October 23, 2010 through January 2, 2011.
- The Changing Exhibits Hall is located on the Main Floor near Butterflies!.
- Dinosaur Hall
- If you're into dinosaurs, this is obviously a place for you. Dinosaur Hall has dozens of full skeletons and skulls, as well as other fossil specimens to see; some of the displays on the Mezzanine provide a more hands-on experience. There's also a green-screen video studio where visitors can place themselves into a prehistoric scene with a variety of dinosaurs. Budding paleontologists can dig for dinosaur bones in The Big Dig. Budding dinosaur hunters may also be interested in the Fossil Prep Lab where paleontologists work on real dinosaur fossils.
- Dinosaur Hall is located on the Main Floor near the main entrance to the museum.
- Live Animal Center
- The Academy uses many live animals for its educational programs, naturalist shows and in Outside-In, our Children's Nature Center. Visitors to the Florence R. Foerderer Live Animal Center can view the spaces where these animals live.
- The Live Animal Center is located across from the Ecology Cafe (Dining) on the Ground Floor.
- Outside In
- Outside In is our Children's Nature Center. It features many hands-on activities and provides frequent opportunities for visitors to meet live animals.
- Outside In is located on the Third Floor.
- Science Live
- Watch and talk to scientists while they work on most weekday afternoons during July and August. On weekends, Science Live frequently features live animals and museum specimens.
- Science Live is located in front of the Auditorium on the Main Floor.
Programs
- Academy Explorers Camp
- Campers learn about natural sciences in a safe, fun and engagning way during Spring Break and the Summer.
- Birthday Parties
- The Academy offers two packages for Birthday Parties.
- Family Workshops
- You and your family can connect with nature and each other during workshops held on selected weekends throughout the year.
- Festivals
- Join us for four special weekend festivals when we celebrate bugs, fossils, shells, and the Earth.
- Naturalist Presentations
- Naturalist presentations featuring live animals and museum specimens are held at 11 am and 2:30 pm.
- Nature Videos
- Short nature videos are shown in the auditorium at 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm.
- Safari Overnights
- Safari Overnights are museum sleepovers for kids age 7-14 and their adults.
- Tiny Tot Explorers
- Tiny Tot Explorers is a summer program for children ages 3 and 4 and their favorite adult.
- Wild Weekends
- Wild Weekends are special events that feature themed interactive presentations, kid-friendly crafts, and live animals.
Facilities
- Coat Room
- A Self-Service coat room is located behind a wall across from the Auditorium on the Main Floor.
- Food
- A wide variety of meals and snacks is available in the Ecology Cafe, a dining facility located on the Ground Floor.
- Lockers
- Self-Service lockers are located near the Coat Room on the First Floor.
- Restooms
- Boys and girls restrooms are located on the Ground Floor, the Second Floor, and the Third Floor.
- The Ground Floor restrooms are located behind the Ecology Cafe. You can also reach them from the Main Floor by taking stairs near the Coat Room and Lockers (behind the wall opposite the Auditorium).
- The Second Floor restrooms are located across from the tiger (boys) and yak (girls) dioramas.
- All restrooms have changing tables and wheelchair-accessible stalls.
- Shopping
- The Academy Shop sells a variety of educational kits, natural history books and other items appropriate for children. It's located next to the Admissions Desk on the Main Floor.
- Strollers & Stairs
- The museum is stroller accessible, but there are many stairs. You may want to consider the elevators.
- The Front Elevator connects Dinosaur Hall, the Auditorium and North American Hall, the Mezzanine, and the Second Floor.
- The Back Elevator connects you to the Ground, Main, Second, and Third Floors. Use this elevator to reach Outside In.