Exhibits at children's museums mix learning, fun
When the weekend brings summer rains, you can still get a taste of outdoor fun indoors. Temporary exhibits at local children's museums let kids imagine running a summer festival or camping in the forest, providing a great place to play, pretend and learn.
Block Party at Chicago Children's Museum: 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (312) 527-1000; chicagochildrensmuseum.org
Price: $10 for children and adults; $9 for seniors; free for kids under age 1
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; through Aug. 15
In 2006, the Chicago Children's Museum created a picnic in the park exhibit meant to be a kids'-sized version of summer activities in the city. It proved so popular that they expanded it into Block Party, an annual celebration of Chicago's neighborhood festivals.
Kids start out at a pretend ticket booth where they can "pay" to get into the party. At a pizza stand, a realistic-looking wood-burning oven features lights that serve as roaring flames. Kids cover their pizza with toppings and can sniff shakers filled with oregano and Parmesan cheese.
"It just adds to the authenticity of the imaginative play," said spokeswoman Natalie Kreiger.
More play food is available at a hot dog cart, complete with felt buns and hot dogs, a fryer and a cash register. A big favorite is the wok where kids throw in pieces of felt and yarn to represent a variety of ingredients.
No summer festival would be complete without live music, so kids can put on costumes and play drums, guitar or make the noise of scratching records on turntables at a DJ stand. Benches and seating areas are scattered throughout the exhibit so adults can watch the entertainment or enjoy their pretend lunches. There is also an area provided for infants and toddlers.
Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home: Kohl Children's Museum, 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, (847) 832-6600; kohlchildrensmuseum.org
Price: Adults and children $7.50; $6.50 for seniors, children 1 and younger free
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, through Sept. 26
The traveling Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home Exhibit is designed to encourage kids ages 8 and younger to spend time outdoors and work to protect the planet. The space begins with the great forest, an area with a forest mural and leafy canopy. The United States Forest Service's mascots greet visitors who learn about how to make a campsite and properly put out campfires. In the ranger's station, kids can don costumes and find out what a forest ranger does.
After exploring the home of the animals, visitors cross a carpeted bridge that looks like it is made of wood planks on one side and concrete on the other, showing the transition from wilderness to an urban environment. A pretend stream is lined with prints that kids can identify as animals that might live along a riverbank. There's even a little boat they can play in. An interactive area lets children learn about the flow of water.
In the urban zone, children see how they can help the environment in their everyday lives. A golf ball takes the place of water in a rain garden, where kids can watch the process that would play out as rain falls into a bucket, which empties into a trough to water plants.
A pretend kitchen emphasizes eating healthy, organic products and reusing and recycling. Kids can also get a hands-on feel for energy efficiency by turning a crank to power up a radio, lights and an electric fan. The more appliances that are on, the harder it is to push out enough electricity to keep them running.
"The whole concept of the exhibit is to let children explore important messages about the environment," said Sheridan Turner, museum president.