Play River, Real Beehive, And More Coming To The Academy Of Sciences

The Academy of Sciences will host plenty of fun activities for kids at their Spring Festival from March 26-April 17.

Jamie Ferrell - Senior Staff Writer • February 22, 2023

A group of children play with an interactive touch pool at the Academy of Sciences patio. — Photo by Gayle Laird, courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences

Spring has sprung and San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is ready for it! The Academy recently announced new programming as part of the Spring Festival happening from March 26-April 17. Activities abound for kids and families including a tea sampling from Cafe Ohlone, an interactive play river for kids to tinker and explore, an up-close look at a real beehive, and more.

Read on to get inspired about visiting the Academy of Sciences this spring.

A group of children watches a puppet show at the Academy of Sciences patio. — Photo by Gayle Laird, courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences

The Academy’s all-new outdoor Wander Woods and East Garden will take it up a notch this spring with even more hands-on activities to encourage children’s curiosity about the natural world. Look for these new interactive science exhibits for kids and special guest programs.

Nature Arcade (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – Self-guided nature games to test your balance on a “spider web” and play cornhole.
Insect Investigation (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – Learn how to collect insects safely out in nature.
Create With Nature (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – Make unique works of art and music using natural items.
Water Play (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – An interactive water installation for kids 0-5.
Children’s Puppet Theater – Watch Song of the Salmon, an adventure-filled puppet show about the fish’s role in California’s ecosystems.
Find Our Feathered Friends – Kids will learn about some of our native bird species and how to identify them.
Cafe Ohlone (Mar. 27, 2pm) – Cafe Ohlone hosts a tea sampling and teaches about the history and culture of the Ohlone people.
Riveropolis (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – An interactive play river for kids to design boats, tinker, and explore.
Dana Albany (daily Mar. 26-Apr. 17, 10am-4pm) – Help Bay Area artist Dana Albany to create a California nature-themed sculpture.
Planet Bee (weekends Mar. 26-Apr. 17) – Get an up-close look at a real beehive and learn about how it operates.

Stay tuned for more details about these special programs.

A child plays at an arts and crafts table. — Photo by Gayle Laird, courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences

Save the dates for the California Academy of Sciences’ Spring Festival, coming up from March 26-April 17. Keep the fun going at the Academy’s adult-only NightLife events on Thursday evenings.

Get tickets to the California Academy of Sciences.