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.

Saurian Seasons
Weekdays
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Through May 4, 2025

Dinosaurs have always been cool. Learn about the strategies that allowed them to survive a challenging climate and get hands-on examples of their amazing adaptations. Explore the connections dinosaurs and birds share and see how scientists were able to reconstruct this lost world by diving deeper into the exhibit with Academy staff.

The Big Dig
Daily, 10 a.m. to close

Calling all (future!) paleontologists; if you dig dinos, then The Big Dig is the place for you. Visit the mezzanine of Dinosaur Hall to pick up a brush and a map ID card to practice real paleontology skills in locating, unearthing and identifying 6 different species of popular dinosaurs. Dino-loving staff are on hand to answer all your dinosaur and natural history questions.

Action and Impact
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
2 to 4 p.m.
Through August 31, 2025

Change is hard. Making a difference can feel difficult. There are a multitude of small ways, however, to alter your clothing habits that can make a measurable difference. Learn what you can change in your style, as well as some new ideas to try to get the most out of what you wear and reduce your fashion footprint.

This activity takes place in the Panda Lobby.

Ask Me About...!
Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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! Featuring new specimens and science stories daily, you can see something new each time you visit and enjoy sharing your excitement for the natural world with experts who love the planet as much as you do!

What Was That?
Thursday and Saturday
2 to 4 p.m.
Through August 31, 2025

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 ideas about what to do with your favorite shirt you don't want to throw away.

This activity takes place in the Panda Lobby.

Where does rainwater go?
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
2–4 p.m.

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. Be prepared to support flood resilience initiatives in your own neighborhood!

Bugs on the Big Screen
Saturdays and Sundays
2:30 p.m.

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 that are larger than life! Have a conversation with Academy experts and ask them everything that's been bugging you!

This activity will take place in the Auditorium.

Dinosaur Academy Tour: The History of Paleontology at the Academy
Saturdays and Sundays
11 a.m.

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. Join knowledgeable and excited guides on a tour to uncover the mysteries of the Academy’s renowned Dinosaur Hall. Explore the history of paleontology, check out famous fossils and discover how our understanding of dinosaurs has changed over time. If you dare to head back to the past, join us under the towering T. rex, where the tour will begin.

This activity will take place in Dinosaur Hall.