The Discovery Museums April Vacation Programs
| Hours: | Hours Vary see below |
| Ages: | Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults |
| In/Outdoor: | Indoor, Outdoor |
| Cost: | Free see below |
| Category: | School Vacation |
April Vacation Week: April 16-23
April vacation week is made up of nature inspired fun! Both museums open extended hours, 9am – 4:30 pm. Closed Easter Sunday, April 24th.
Nature-Inspired Fun!
The Discovery Museums are celebrating Earth Day (April 22) by offering a series of nature-inspired programs during April Vacation Week that you can share with your children. These fun activities are designed to inspire you to incorporate nature play into your daily lives.
The outdoor programs are weather dependent, but an indoor version of the programs will be offered if the weather is poor. Below is a list of event highlights:
Saturday, April 16
DINOSAUR DIG
ALL DAY Children’s Discovery Museum
Conduct your own paleontology dig in our giant outdoor sandbox. Bring a dinosaur and join in the fun! We’ll provide the sand, tools, and fossils.
ENGINEERS' EXCHANGE WITH A-B ROBOTICS TEAM
Drop-in 11 AM to 1 PM Science Discovery Museum
Meet a FIRST Tech Challenge robot and its designers from the Acton-Boxborough Robotics Team. Watch the robot maneuver and learn about the design process and competition. Celebrate National Robotics Week as you try a simple engineering challenge and experience the design process.
Sunday, April 17
SPRING-INSPIRED FACE PAINTING
Drop-in 10 AM – 12 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Be a butterfly, a flower, or anything else you can imagine as we decorate your face with spring inspired designs.
FETCH! Thrill Ride
Drop-in 1 to 4 PM Science Discovery Museum
Join with others and build a variety of roller coaster marble runs in our education room. Create tracks with tubes, cardboard, and wooden pieces to add to a community marble run inspired by Ruff Ruffman! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Monday, April 18
SPRING BUTTERFLIES
Drop-in 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Beautiful butterflies made by you! Mix some colors, add water, and you have your own specially designed butterfly.
Tuesday, April 19
VEGGIE PRINTING
Drop-in 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Have you ever tried printing with a pepper or a potato? Come use ordinary vegetables and tempera paint to create a colorful veggie print.
SPRING TREE WALK
1:00 PM Science Discovery
Spring brings buds and new leaves to all plants including trees. Find out about these massive plants on a walk around the grounds with beloved science teacher Frank Meehan. See the variation in bud shapes, sizes, and colors, and learn how to identify trees in your own backyard. Rain or shine; dress appropriately. Note: the walk is not handicap accessible.
Wednesday, April 20
SUNCATCHERS
Drop-in 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Collect an assortment of natural materials from the Museum grounds to create a dazzling collage to hang in a window at your home.
SMART Gals: Learning about Louise Nevelson
Drop-in 12 to 2:30 PM Science Discovery Museum
Join us as we learn about Louise Nevelson, an American artist who created sculptures out of everyday materials that she found. Her work is featured in museums around the world, and she was awarded a National Medal of Arts in 1985. Using her work as an inspiration, join us to collect our own “found objects,” to create a sculpture that you can take home with you! The SMART (Science-Math-Art) Gals Series is sponsored by The Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation.
Thursday, April 21
MUD PIE DINER
Drop-in 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Rediscover the classic childhood activity of making mud pies. With the help of dirt, rocks, pinecones, branches, and other natural materials, our Mud Pie Kitchen will be open and ready for customers! Explore and experiment with natural materials while dishing up some delicious-looking dishes.
FETCH! Crazy About Kites
Drop-in 1 to 4 PM Science Discovery Museum
Challenge yourself to build a kite that’s different from one that you’ve ever seen before. What changes can you make so that it flies even better? Up, up, and away! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Friday, April 22
EARTH DAY SOCK WALK
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery Museum
In honor of Earth Day, pull on a pair of our socks over your sneakers, walk through our nature trail, and then explore the natural wonders stuck to your feet.
REACTION STATION: Adventures for Young Chemists
Drop-in 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Science Discovery Museum
Imagine yourself a chemist as you use laboratory glassware to do experiments. Use a natural indicator to identify mystery acids and bases that we use everyday. Try your hand at doing wet chemistry in a model glove box! Learn why some chemists use glove boxes and hoods. Reaction Station is funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Saturday, April 23
MESSY MASTERPIECE
Drop-in 10 AM to 12 PM Children’s Discovery Museum
Spring is in the air! Use water colors to capture the essence of this beautiful time of the year.
FETCH! Train Your Brain
Drop-in 1 PM to 4 PM Science Discovery Museum
Design your own fun challenges that use words and colors that confound your brain! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Note: outdoor walk is not handicap accessible.
| HOURS | ↑ top |
Several programs start at 10 a.m. and other start in the afternoon. Check the website for details.
| COST | ↑ top |
Free with admission
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
177 Main St. - Route 27, Acton, MA, 01720 map
Phone: 978-264-4200
Parking is free and we are easily accessible from Route 2 and Route 495.
| TIPS | ↑ top |
- Feel free to call ahead with questions.
| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
- Profiles
- Localities
Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with The Discovery Museums April Vacation Programs before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...