The California Academy of Sciences is buzzing with excitement for Spring in the Garden— a seasonal event with giant bug animatronics, outdoor water activities, and special programs.
Starting March 9, visitors to the Academy can experience Bugtopia in the East Garden – an outdoor haven where four super-sized animatronic insects “come to life.” In addition, they can spend time exploring giant nests, scrambling over giant logs and boulders, and meandering through mazes in Wander Woods—the museum’s outdoor play space designed to spark curiosity about the natural world. Plus, they can take part in limited-time-only programs like building a boat and exploring the physics of water with Riveropolis, and enjoying nature-theme puppet shows and interactive nature games.
SPRING IN THE GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
Outdoors in the East Garden:
Bugtopia: Get up close and personal with enormous, friendly insects that move and make sounds! Four animatronic bugs—a curious meadow grasshopper that moves its legs and mandibles, a seven-spot ladybird and Madagascan sunset moth raising their wings in greeting, and a fuzzy red-tailed bumblebee enjoying a nectar-rich flower–will pique your curiosity about their small but mighty worlds. And don’t miss an unforgettable photo opp with a giant spicebush swallowtail caterpillar.
Riveropolis: The beloved water playspace returns! Build a boat and play at this winding water table featuring multiple elevation changes—perfect for kids and adults to design, tinker, and explore the physics of water.
Children’s Puppet Theater: Arthropod Opera: Join puppet performers as they dazzle with songs about the amazing world of arthropods and how they help ecosystems around the world.
Create With Nature: Use your imagination to create spectacular, nature-driven works of art and engineering using found items such as pinecones, leaves, and stones.
Nature Bingo: Test your nature knowledge in this interactive game.
Junior Scientist Adventure-Daily Insect Investigation: Curious about what scientists do? Try your hand at science observations as you investigate the garden for insects.
Inside the museum:
Spider Flight Lab: Craft a spider and learn how they catch a ride on the wind with their silk by putting your creation into a wind tunnel.
Bug Trivia Wheel: Spin a giant wheel to choose a category and answer fun, interactive trivia questions about insects.
Skull Study: Investigate a variety of skulls to learn how different skull features contribute to successful feeding strategies.
