Butterflies, Birds and Bees, Oh My! - Pollinator Family Night

This program is offered as part of Smithsonian Solstice Saturday.

Celebrate the first Saturday of summer and the end of National Pollinator Week with a Family Night at the National Museum of Natural History! 

Visitors of all ages are invited to explore their connections to pollinators and plants through interactive activities, crafts, demonstrations and conversations with scientists.

When?

Saturday June 23, 2018

What time?

5:30 – 8:30 PM

Where?

Natural History Museum
10th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Ground Floor, Q?rius; 1st Floor, Q?rius jr.; 2nd Floor, Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Zoo

The event is free, but registration is recommended. CLICK HERE to register.
Guests who pre-register will receive a welcome gift at the check-in table.

Please note that the Butterfly Pavilion requires timed, fee-based tickets, which may be purchased here. All other activities are free.

Accessibility: wheelchair accessible

What's happening?

• ...In Q?rius

       Hands-on activities from 5:30 – 8:30pm 

• Create your own paper orchid. 
• Draw a portrait of your favorite butterfly. 
• Build a home for your neighborhood bees with expert Nate Erwin. 
• Snap a photo of yourself at the “Bug-ify Yourself!” photo station. 
• Learn how your family can get butterflies to visit your home at the “Get Involved” station.
• See “Pollinators Under Pressure” film and meet experts from the film directly afterwards (Duration: 20 minutes).  Showtimes at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm

  Bring your bees, bats, butterflies (oh my!) questions to our experts!

• Sean Brady – bees – 5:30 – 7 pm 
• Suzy Peurach – bats – 5:30 – 7 pm 
• Caroline Judy – hummingbirds – 5:30 – 7 pm 
• J.P. Hurtado Padilla – pollen & butterfly microscopy – 5:30 – 8:30 pm 
• Holly Walker – pollinator gardens – 7 – 8:30 pm

• Tour the Pollinator Garden outside of NMNH with expert Sylvia Schmeichel from Smithsonian Gardens at 6 pm.

• ...In Q?rius Jr.: a discovery room, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center and the Center for Innovation in Early Learning (5:30 – 8:30 pm):

• Spread your wings in an interactive Story Time, starring you! Features the book, "Waiting for Wings" by Lois Ehlert. 
• Discover how a caterpillar turns into a beautiful moth with insect expert Dr. Dave Adamski. 
• Learn how your family can attract pollinators to your home. 
• And experience more playful hands-on activities.

•  In the Insect Zoo and Butterfly Pavilion (5:30 – 8:30 pm):

• Touch a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach and an Eastern Lubber Grasshopper in the Insect Zoo. 
• Feel the flutter of live butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion (timed fee-based tickets required: purchase tickets here).

• Shop in our stores from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
• Grab a bite to eat at Café Natural, on the Ground Floor from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Event Sponsor: Natural History Museum

Event Co-Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center