PHILADELPHIA, March 30, 2017

This summer a new family exhibit offers an intimate look at the forces of nature in our backyards, and a popular festival marks 10 years of successfully eking out respect for roaches, beetles, honey bees, and other amazing insects.

Backyard Adventures opens Friday, June 9, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and runs through the summer. The exhibit aims to educate young children about the fascinating workings of science through outdoor play indoors, including miniature golf and a whirl on a bee bike. Budding science enthusiasts will learn about plants, insects and their interesting interactions through a host of hands-on games and activities.

On Aug. 12 and 13, the Academy celebrates its 10th Bug Fest with hundreds of live insects, conversations with Academy entomologists, bug tastings, and rewarding activities museum visitors have picked as their favorites over the years. They include getting up close to the scariest and grossest insects, communing with a cockroach as it creates a painting to keep, and sitting back and enjoying a series of live bug shows.

In July and August, there will be special dinosaur-themed activities and live bird encounters as Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum gets ready to open another exhibit about dinosaurs in late September.

Here’s what’s coming up. For updates and to purchase discounted tickets online, visit ansp.org.

Backyard Adventures
Friday, June 9, through Sunday, September 10

Step into a garden of wonders and experience the fascinating science that’s literally in your own backyard. Discover the amazing interactions between insects and plants and solve simple physics challenges by playing mini-golf. Ride a bee bike, collect nectar, copy critter calls, investigate a food web pond, dress up as your favorite creature, and stroll through a digital garden to witness plants growing in super time. Through active outdoor play you’ll discover there’s so much more going on in your backyard than you ever imagined.

Backyard Adventures Opening Weekend

Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11

Celebrate the opening of Backyard Adventures with special live animal shows, fun educational activities, crafts, and specimen displays from the Academy’s world-renowned research collection of plants and animals. For details, visit ansp.org.

Dino-mite Summer

Wednesday, July 5–Wednesday, August 30

Explore your world and the life of dinosaurs at the Academy’s Dino-mite Summer. Meet living dinosaurs (birds!); get the scoop on favorite North American Hall dioramas; join fellow Lego-lovers and build buggy and dino-inspired creations, and share a laugh with Marty the Moose during story-telling time. For details, visit anp.org.

Academy Explorers Camp

Monday–Friday, July 5 through September 1, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Academy Explorers Camp invites campers, ages 5-12, to learn about natural science in a fun and engaging way. Each week explores a different theme and features an off-site field trip. From fossils to extreme earth to amazing animals, there is something to fit nearly every child’s interests. For details, registration and fees, visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Camp Dates and Topics

Superhero Science, July 5–7

Digging Dinosaurs, July 10–14

Dinosaur Discovery, July 17–21

Animals Alive, July 24–28

Animal Antics, July 31–Aug. 4

Dinosaur Detectives, August 7–11

Extraordinary Insects, August 14–18

Dino-rama, August 21–25

Outdoor Adventures, August 28–Sept. 1

Tiny Tot Explorers

Select Mondays and Wednesdays, July 10–August 30 and

Select Mondays, September 4–25, 11 a.m.–noon

Children ages 3–5 and their favorite adult will explore nature through songs, games, hands-on fun, and museum adventures. Small groups of 10 adult/child pairs ensure a special experience and individualized attention. Register for a single session or the entire series. For details, visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Academy Explorers Teen Camp

 July 10–14, 17-21 and August 14-18, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Academy Explorers Teen Camp is a new camp for where kids ages 13–16 can explore their passion for science. In each week, teens will learn how to handle certain live animals, take a field trip, and much more. Optional before- and after-care available. For details, visit ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Camp Dates and Topics

Animal Training and Husbandry: Beginner July 10–14

Get hands-on animal care experience during this unique opportunity. Learn about the basic care of the Academy’s live animal collection and assist keepers and educators in the general husbandry, feeding, and training of mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. Learn about positive reinforcement and use clicker training methods to train a live animal.

Animal Training and Husbandry: Advanced July 17–21

Learn about the advanced care of the Academy’s live animal collection and assist keepers and educators in advanced techniques of the general husbandry, feeding, and training of mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates.

Invertebrate Husbandry August 14–18

Tap into your inner entomologist during this invertebrate-intensive summer program. Assist keepers and educators in the general husbandry, feeding, and handling of the live invertebrate collection at the Academy. Prepare displays for various live invertebrates including insects and arachnids and learn about responsible collection.

Access to Science: Opening the Doors to Autism

Saturday, July 22, 9–11 a.m.

Children on the autism spectrum and their families are invited to experience the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University before the museum opens to the general public. Visit with the dinosaurs, meet live animals at Outside In, and wander through the dioramas without the extra visitors. Fee: pay what you wish. Pre-registration is required; same-day registration is available at the door. Contact

215-299-1060 or reservations@ansp.org.

Bug Fest

Saturday and Sunday, August 12 and 13

Celebrate the 10th annual Bug Fest with hundreds of live insects, conversations with Academy entomologists, bug tastings, and rewarding activities museum visitors have picked as their favorites over the years. Eat a cooked bug; examine the scariest and grossest insects up close; commune with a cockroach creating a painting; enjoying a series of live bug shows; make an awesome buggy craft to take home. For a full list of activities, visit ansp.org.

Special Exhibits Gallery
Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies

September 30, 2017–January 15, 2018

Take a rare and exciting look at dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and embryos. Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies blends the arts and sciences in an astonishing array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from around the world, including examples from each of the major plant- and meat-eating dinosaur groups. Visitors can touch dinosaur fossils, play paleontologist and dig for dinosaur eggs, examine real dinosaur embryo skin and eggshells under magnification, get up close to a Protoceratops family, and much more.

Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies Opening Weekend

Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1

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