Released on July 6, 2015
Science-crazy kids don’t have to worry about being bored this summer. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) has coordinated an array of activities for active, curious, young people.“School is out, but that doesn’t mean that learning stops,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Mark Docherty said. “The RSM works hard to offer engaging programming all summer long. In fact, the summer months are often the museum’s busiest.”
Families who are interested in learning how scientists work out in the field and in the lab can visit the RSM for special drop-in field days held July 10 with Palaeontology Field Day, July 28 with Biology Field Day and August 18 with Archaeology Field Day. People will be able to participate in hands-on activities, such as catching bugs and excavating fossils or artifacts in a special “dig box.” Field days run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The RSM’s summer exhibit, “Insects, Flowers and Food,” explores the importance of pollinators, such as bees, and the history of pollination. Every Wednesday at 2 p.m. families can participate in the Pollination Station, a 30-minute drop-in program based on the exhibit aimed at kids five and older. Participants may build butterfly feeders, discover what would happen in a world without bees and learn how flowers attract pollinatorsThere are four different programs to experience over the summer. Those five and under can enjoy Summer Storytime Thursdays at 10 a.m. They will listen to a story read by RSM staff, participate in related activities and wrap up the program with playtime in the Paleo Pit, a space full of toys and interactive activities such as puzzles, books and a colouring table. Staff will share a new story every week.
For the second year in a row, the RSM is offering Star of the Week, a program well-suited to kids who love collecting special souvenirs. Participants borrow a pair of binoculars and search the museum for a gold star. Those who find it will receive a collectable trading card—there are five in total— featuring the animal that the star is beside. Every two weeks, the star will move to a new location.
The Friends of the RSM are once again offering their summer camps for kids entering Grades 1-5. Four and five-day camps are available. Camps are themed and explore topics such as dinosaurs, marine life and geography. For more information or to register, call 306-787-7271.
Family-friendly activities are also taking place at the T.rex Discovery Centre in Eastend, located 400 kilometres west of Regina, throughout the summer. A variety of drop-in programs take place seven days a week, including Palaeo Practice, Slime, What Big Teeth you Have and Trace Fossils in Clay. Every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., kids aged 2-6 can participate in Storytime with Scotty. Tuesday afternoons at 2 p.m., visitors aged 7-12 can participate in Discovery Club, which features a variety of themed activities throughout the summer.
From August 9 until August 13, guests who visit the centre at 9 p.m. will be able to enjoy the annual Perseids Meteor Shower. The meteorite displayed inside the centre, which was recovered from a meteor that streaked across the sky in 2008 near Lloydminster, will also be available for viewing.
The RSM, located at 2445 Albert Street, is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca or call 306-787-2815. Admission is by donation.
The T.rex Discovery Centre, located at 1 T.rex Drive, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until September 7.
For more information, call 306-295-4009 or visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/trex. Admission is by donation.
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For more information, contact:
Sean St. George
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9087
Email: sean.st.george@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8635