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.

Fall Daily Activities

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. 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.

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! 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!

So Wild Diorama Discovery Challenge
Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
African and Asian Halls, Level 2

Turtle Talks

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

Come out of your shell at the Academy of Natural Sciences 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 own backyard or local park and what you can do to keep their habitats healthy. These animals might be hard-shelled, but they still need you to make life easy.

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!

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.

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. 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.

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.