PHILADELPHIA, May 29, 2020

Just because the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is temporarily closed because of the pandemic doesn’t mean kids and families can’t enjoy the antics of their favorite live animals and talk with friendly scientists about nature and the environment.

Starting in June, the museum presents two new free online programs aimed at connecting kids to science from their own homes in fun and educational ways. Plus, on Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, the Academy’s popular annual Totally Turtles Weekend makes its debut online.

Live! From the Academy will take place at 1 p.m. every Friday through the summer. Using the Academy’s Facebook Live for instant engagement, Academy experts will present different live animals and bugs (invertebrates!) from the museum’s collection at each 5- to 10-minute session. Participants get to enjoy the antics of romping opossums, squirmy snakes, acrobatic tarantulas, exotic-looking scorpions, and more. They’ll be encouraged to ask questions via the chat feature, and videos of each session will be available on Facebook for late viewing.

The first installment in the new Ask the Scientists! Zoom program for kids launches at 3 p.m. on June 16. For each lively half-hour session, Academy scientists and educators will set the stage with short presentations of the topic at hand, then let the kids take over with their questions. Sessions on June 16, 23 and 30 will focus on our world during the pandemic and will explore topics including My Backyard, Collecting for Kids, and Earth and the Environment. For more details about topics and how to register for each free session, visit https://bit.ly/2TNImCy.