At the Academy, we offer a wide variety of engaging daily activities that provide hands-on learning and fun for visitors of all ages. Below are our daily activities.

Dino-mite Summer Experiences and Activities

Connect with the wonders of the natural world through hands-on discovery, dinosaur exploration, and real science in action this July and August at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Unearth fossils like a paleontologist at The Big Dig, meet live turtles and insects, and chat with Academy scientists. From stormwater science and sustainability to fashion, dinosaur tours and a weekend-long celebration of insects, every visit brings new opportunities to investigate biodiversity, ecology, evolution and more.

The Big Dig

Daily, 10 a.m. to close
Dinosaur Hall, Mezzanine

Calling all (future!) paleontologists; if you dig dinos, then The Big Dig is the place for you. Pick up a brush and practice real paleontology as you unearth and identify six different species of popular dinosaurs.

The Scrap Lab

Daily, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ecology of Fashion, Level 2

Weaving, sewing, mending, dyeing, crafting – what will you imagine in the Scrab Lab today? BYOG (bring your own garment) to practice the art of visible mending, or use our supplies to make-and-take an upcycled fabric bag, mini woven mat or naturally dyed bandana. Use natural materials to explore the world of textile repurposing and discover how you can make both a fashion statement and a positive impact on the planet.

Ask Me About...!

Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location rotates

Do you have a favorite fossil, a preferred bird or a most-beloved bug? Academy experts are here to answer your burning science questions and share their passions and expertise! With a new specimen or science story daily, you can see something new each time you visit!

Parkway Pals at Sister Cities: Investigation Station

June 11 to August 13
Wednesdays,10:30-11:30 a.m.
Sister Cities Park, Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Join the Academy of Natural Sciences this summer, learn more about animals and dinosaurs and go wild with fun games, experiments and unique activities!

Action and Impact

Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, 2–4 p.m.
Panda Diorama Lobby, Level 2

Change is hard. Making a difference can feel difficult. But there are so many small ways you can make a difference through your clothing habits! Learn what you can change in your style, and find some new ideas to get the most out of what you wear and reduce your fashion footprint.

What Was That?

Thursday & Saturday, 2–4 p.m.
Panda Diorama Lobby, African and Asian Halls, Level 2

A piece of clothing is not the end point for fabric. Ingenuity and flexibility can lead to brand-new uses for that ripped pair of jeans or worn-down pair of shoes. See how clothing can be repurposed and take home some ideasfor your own wardrobe.

Where Does Rainwater Go?

Friday–Sunday, 2–4 p.m.
Living Within the Watershed, Level 1

Through hands-on model demonstrations, explore how storms affect individual homes and entire neighborhoods and how we can work together to reduce stormwater runoff. Experience how sewers and green spaces function and discover how flooding impacts neighborhoods such as Germantown.

Science Now

Sundays, 12–2 p.m.
Science Live, Level 1

Science Now brings today’s most exciting science headlines to life with interactive, hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages! Join us for lively conversations and activities exploring topics like climate change, evolution, biodiversity, extinction and water.

Live Shows and Tours

Academy Naturalist Presentation

Wednesday–Friday, 11:15 a.m.
Auditorium, Level 1

Natural science is full of surprises — from feathers and weather to bugs, dinosaurs, fossils and animal adaptations! Join our experienced Academy Educators as they explore natural history in these informal and interactive presentations.

Turtle Talks

Wednesday, Friday–Sunday, 1 p.m.
Dinosaur Hall, Lobby Level

Come out of your shell and discover everything there is to know about the live turtles, tortoises and terrapins that call the museum home. We’ll talk the talk while they (slowly) walk the walk! Find out how these highly adapted reptiles evolved to survive in habitats as diverse as the driest deserts or the watery depths of the ocean. Learn which species you can find in your local park and what you can do to keep their habitats healthy.

Dinosaur Academy Tour: The History of Paleontology at the Academy

Thursdays, 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.
Dinosaur Hall, Lobby Level

Make no bones about it, the Academy is the original dinosaur museum. For more than 200 years, the Academy has studied the ancient creatures that capture our imagination. Explore the history of paleontology, check out famous fossils and discover how our understanding of dinosaurs has changed over time. Tours meet under the T. rex in Dinosaur Hall!

Bugs on the Big Screen

Daily, 2:30 p.m.
Auditorium, Level 1

Have you ever looked an arthropod in the (compound) eyes? This unique, tech-enabled live animal show takes a high-definition peek at what makes bugs beautiful, amazing and important. Meet multiple live invertebrates and ask Academy experts everything that's been bugging you!

These activities are a part of Dino-mite Summer.