May 2015: Programs and Events for Children and Families at the California Academy of Sciences

Newest exhibit
Whales: Giants of the Deep (April 3 – November 29, 2015) – Get ready to explore this whale of an exhibit! Dive deep below the ocean’s surface and explore the fascinating biology of some of the Earth’s largest and most elusive creatures. Marvel at enormous sperm whale skeletons, crawl through a life-sized replica of a blue whale heart, and learn how scientists are working to study and sustain whale populations around the world and in our own backyard. Discover the cultural traditions surrounding whales and get a rare glimpse at ancient whale artifacts from the Maori people of New Zealand. Developed and presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

A SELECTION OF PROGRAMS IN MAY

Operation Whale Rescue
Daily at 11:00 am
Help save the day! Join an exciting, on-stage whale rescue based on the real-life experiences of local marine mammal heroes, and discover how rescue workers untangle animals caught in fishing gear.

Pollinator Power
Daily at 12:00 pm
Birds bats, and bees—oh my! Join presenters atop the Academy’s Living Roof for a fascinating peek into the lives of the local pollinators that keep habitats healthy.

SSSSnake Encounter
Friday-Monday and Wednesday at 1:30 pm
Meet some of the Academy’s live snakes in-person! While viewing these fascinating (and harmless!) animals in the flesh, we will learn about snakes’ unique natural history, their predatory behavior, and their surprising special senses.

Outdoor Exploration
Weekends at 2:00 pm
Join us for a 30-minute nature walk through the lush gardens and groves that surround the Academy. Learn how Golden Gate Park’s plants, trees and animals depend on one another in this unique ecosystem.

Habitat Earth
Playing daily; see planetarium entrance for show times and passes
Living networks connect and support life-forms large and small—from colonies of tiny microbes and populations of massive whales to ever-expanding human societies. Discover what it means to live in today’s connected world with the Academy’s latest full-dome show. Planetarium shows recommended for ages 7 and above.

Extreme Life
Weekdays at 12:40 pm
Weekends at 10:40 am (playing every 45 minutes)
Meet the creatures that thrive in Earth’s most inhospitable spaces in this live, 15-minute program hosted by Academy planetarium presenters.

Sea Cruisers: Rays and Their Relatives
Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30 pm
Meet an Academy biologist and see rays glide beneath your feet. Explore the fascinating adaptations of these ocean cruisers and their relatives, and learn about what you can do to keep their ocean homes healthy and blue.

Penguin Feeding
Daily at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm
The Academy’s African penguins are always especially animated during meal time. Watch the birds dip and dive in their tank at the end of African Hall as a biologist dons a wet suit and hands out vitamin-stuffed herring and capelin. Each feeding takes about 10 minutes, and questions are encouraged!

Coral Reef Dive
Daily at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm
Watch as a diver suits up in SCUBA gear and plunges into the world’s deepest living coral reef exhibit! Outfitted with an underwater microphone, the diver will answer all of your reef-related questions.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Science Classes and Courses In Partnership with NASA Opportunities in Visualization, Art, and Science (NOVAS)
Playshop: 3D Design for Outer Space (Students grades 6-12 only)
Saturday, May 2 from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm | Academy Classroom
Playshops are an exciting monthly series of youth science and technology workshops at the Academy. Teen leaders from NASA’s NOVA teen program based at UC Berkeley will lead this playshop on 3D design and space exploration. Learn how to use simple but powerful 3D design tools to create tools and instruments as part of a NASA design challenge for space exploration. No previous 3D design or astronomy/astrophysics knowledge required. Tickets: General $40, Members $35. Space is limited and advanced ticketing is required. Purchase tickets at www.calacademy.org/digital-learning-playshops or call (415) 379-8000.

Whale Alert – West Coast
Tuesdays May 5 and May 19 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | Academy Swamp
Meet conservation scientists from Point Blue who help to collect and analyze “Whale Alert” data. Endangered whales are killed by ship strikes each year along the West Coast of the United States. Prime collision areas are concentrated around busy shipping lanes in the San Francisco and Channel Islands regions. By contributing whale observations through the use of downloadable apps, Whale Alert 2.0 and Spotter Pro, nature lovers, fishers, and mariners can help protect these giants of the deep. Free for museum guests.

Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover (Ages 5-17, with adult chaperones)
Friday, May 15 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 am
Why count sheep when you can count geckos, butterflies, sharks, and penguins? Now kids can camp out for a night at the California Academy of Sciences—and see the museum in a whole new light. Sleepovers include after-hours access to Academy exhibits, a special penguin talk, live animal demonstration, planetarium show, story time with cookies and milk, parking, breakfast, and more. Tickets: $109 per person ($89 for Academy members). Group rates and ticketing information available at www.calacademy.org/sleepovers, or call (415) 379-5854 for more information.

Whale Entanglement Team (W.E.T.) Demonstration
Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
How do you free a 40-ton whale from entanglement? Ocean debris like fishing gear is a formidable threat for marine mammals. Entanglement often causes whales to tow heavy gear, and can be life-threatening. The Whale Entanglement Team (WET) is a group of more than 30 volunteer-professionals assembled and trained for the purpose of disentangling whales in central and northern California. Meet members of the team, and learn how to keep your cool while practicing freeing a entangled whale! Free for museum guests.

Author Presentation: We Dig Worms!
Sunday, May 24 at 11:45 am | The Swamp
What do worms do all day? How do they see? And why are they so cold and squishy? Find out by going on an underground tour through the hidden world of earthworms in Kevin McCloskey’s new book, We Dig Worms! Join the author for a special presentation (and post-talk book signing), and learn what’s happening inside a worm’s body— brain, crop, gizzard, and more. Free for museum guests. Visit www.calacademy.org/events for more information.

Behind-the-Scenes Academy Tour (Ages 8+)
Available daily at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm
Explore the Academy like an insider! In one exciting hour, you’ll walk among whale bones on the living roof, examine our breathtaking research collections and working labs, and delight in the sparkling sights of geology specimens in our high-security Vault. Tickets: General $24.95, Members $19.95. Inquire at the Service Desk upon arrival, or visit www.calacademy.org/tours or call (415) 379-8000 for more information.

Behind-the-Scenes Aquarium Tour (Ages 8+)
Available daily at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
Learn more about Steinhart Aquarium and the 40,000 animals that call it home. Visit the food prep kitchen, see how we make our own salt water, and more—all as part of this exclusive, hour-long tour. Tickets: General $24.95, Members $19.95. Inquire at the Service Desk upon arrival, or visit www.calacademy.org/tours or call (415) 379-8000 for more information.

IN THE NATURALIST CENTER

Quest for Curiosities
Daily at 2:15 pm
Join an Academy guide and embark on a quest for curiosities. The Naturalist Center has thousands of natural history specimens—visit and explore this hands-on space packed with nature’s wonders.

Naturalist Know-how
Sundays at 11:15 am
Become a naturalist-in-training and learn a new skill each month!
May 3 and 10: A Tale of Two Fisheries
Investigate how humans and ocean life intersect.
May 17, 24, and 31: Past and Present Peoples
Dive deeply into the Maori and other human cultures.

Beyond Habitat Earth
Weekdays from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Weekends from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Get a closer look at the connections explored in Habitat Earth! Drop by a 10-case display featuring the animal stars of the planetarium show, plus specimens like whale baleen, krill, and more.