Family Activities
Family-friendly events for families with children of all ages. Looking for Summer Camp information, visit our Summer Camp page?
In Gallery Activity
Offering different in gallery activities as part of admission. During extended hours on Thursdays, starting June 4th and on Saturdays during the Summer. Thursday activity begins at 5:15 pm, Saturday activities will be at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Below are the potential in-gallery activity, dependent upon which staff is working.
- Children's Reading & Activity Time - Join Hailie, educator, for a children's story and associated activity.
- Garbology - Join Stephanie, anthropologist, to find out about the scientific study of trash, including its origins, patterns, and society and the environment.
- Basket Weaving Bracelet - Join Kristal, local artist, in creating your own unique bracelet from cornhusk.
- Origami - Join Sarah, local artist, to guide you through the process of making your own origami animal
Snake Encounter
July 19, August 16
12 to 3 pm
Dr. Charles (Chuck) Peterson will be on-hand to change our view of snakes with this afternoon snake encounter. Snakes are important for many reasons. They are important elements of biodiversity with over 4,000 species of snakes worldwide. They play key ecological roles as both predators and prey. Snakes benefit humans because they help control rodent populations thus preventing the loss of crops and the spread of some diseases. They also provide important model systems for biological research and are symbolically important in many cultures throughout the world.
After interacting with a Great Basin Rattlesnake, made secure by Dr. Peterson, join us for making "snake skins" crafts and other related snake activities.
Storytime with Elizabeth Shreeve
August 2, 2025
12 to 2 pm
Regular Admission
Join the Idaho Museum of Natural History as we host Storytime with author Elizabeth Shreeve. Shreeve will read from two of her books, Oceans Journey and Out of the Blue. We will have children's activities, Dr. Leif Tapanila will be on hand to answer questions about the Buzzsaw shark, and you can purchase books to be signed by the author.
Learn more about author Elizabeth Shreeve:
Shreeve grew up in a family of writers and scientists who taught her to pay attention to horseshoe crabs, songbirds, and other wonderful creatures along the Atlantic coastline. University studies with well-known scientists Stephen Jay Gould and E.O. Wilson inspired Shreeve's lifelong love of the natural world.
These days she lives near the Pacific Ocean where she enjoys reading, sketching, growing a garden, and hiking the hills with her husband, kids, and goofy, sweet dog, Hector. Shreeve is crazy about traveling and cooking—but has been known to burn dinner when a story idea comes to mind.
After a wonderful career as an urban planner, she is thrilled to be writing nonfiction and fiction books for youngsters—and fortunate to be represented by the fabulous Ammi-Joan Paquette of Aevitas Creative Management/ACM Kids.