Lectures    Field Trips     Family Night Out     Adult Workshops     Children's Programs     Special Events     Spike's Club     Girlscouts

Lectures and Presentations

“Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder,”
Dr. Cheryl Charles, President of the Children & Nature Network
Tuesday Oct. 21, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Have our children lost touch with the natural world and as a result now live a “denatured” childhood? Why is it important to reconnect children and nature by providing opportunities for them to explore and imagine? The focus of this free public program is Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

 

Field Trips

 

Adult Field Trip: Invertebrate Fossil Dig Field Trip
Friday, Oct. 3, 7 to 8:30 p.m., and
Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m.
Join invertebrate paleontology curator Steve Westrop and museum staff for an exciting journey into Oklahoma’s Paleozoic past. Explore life in Oklahoma’s ancient oceans through an informative talk on Friday evening with a close-up look at some of the museum’s finest invertebrate specimens. On Saturday morning, we will meet at the museum at 9 a.m. and travel in museum vans to the dig site where you will find a variety of marine fossils. Bring a sack lunch, snacks and plenty of water for this field trip. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712. Cost: members $60 per person, Non-members $70 per person

Family Night Out Fall Series: Becoming an Eco-Family

Enjoy a fun night out with the family at the museum. Don’t worry about dinner and entertainment – it’s all here! We’ll introduce a topic, enjoy pizza and drinks for dinner, and complete a project to take home. These programs are a part of the museum's "Becoming an Eco-Family" series, where families can learn more about Oklahoma's diverse natural areas and find new ways to enjoy them together.

Family Night Out: Name that Tree!
Friday, Sept. 26, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Ever wanted to know more about the trees and plants in your yard or at the park? Join OU biologist Phil Gibson for a nature walk and fun lesson on plant identification. After we learn some plant naming basics, we’ll make an art project to take home and enjoy through the winter.
One adult for every two children is requested. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712.
Cost: $10 per person members, $12 per person non-members (Cost includes one craft project per person and dinner)

Family Night Out: Nature Printing
Friday, Oct. 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
We’ll take a nature walk around the museum grounds and collect natural items. Then we'll return to the classroom to learn how to use these objects to make prints on fabric or paper. Each person will use their new skills to create a one-of-a-kind canvas tote bag. These bags are great when you need to BYO (Bring your own) Bag to the grocery store, sports practice, the library, or a friend’s house.
One adult for every two children is requested. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712.
Cost: $10 per person members, $12 per person non-members (Cost includes one craft project per person and dinner)

Family Night Out: Natural Dyeing
Friday, Nov. 14, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Need some color in your life? Bring the colors of nature to your dining room table with this fun program. We’ll learn to collect and prepare wild plants, then turn the plants into dye to make your own placemats or napkins.
One adult for every two children is requested. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712.
Cost: $10 per person members, $12 per person non-members (Cost includes one craft project per person and dinner)

Adult Workshops

Archaeology…Ethnology…and Native American Languages: The Whys and Hows
Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
An adult workshop that will explore the fundamentals of archeology, ethnology and native languages. Participants will find out the how and why our curators collect data in these areas and learn the benefits of preserving Oklahoma’s natural history heritage and native languages. The scientists who curate the various collections will lead each topic utilizing artifacts from the museum’s treasure chest. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712.
Cost: members $15; Non-members $25.

Photographs: Preserve, Conserve and Store
Thursday, Nov. 13, 7to 8:30 p.m.
Museum conservator, Victoria Book, will discuss the different types of historical photographic techniques (tin types, ambrotypes, albumen); traditional silver and color prints; and digital prints. You will learn do-it-yourself restoration of silver prints, and the care and storage of all types of photos. Please bring some sample photos of your own. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712.
Cost: members $15; Non-members $25.

Children's Programs

Science in Action
Mondays, Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec. 1 and 8
4 to 6 p.m.
Students in grades 6, 7 and 8
Discover how science is used in your life by investigating real world careers that use science every day. Students

will spend two hours each week exploring some of the great scientific discoveries that are part of every aspect of

our lives. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at

405-325-4712. Cost: Members $35; Non-members $45

Animal Artist
Thursdays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20
4 to 5:30 p.m.
Children in grades 3, 4 and 5
Are you an animal artist? In this 3-class workshop, students will discover new ways to create art from the

animals we find in the museum and outside too! Each class will focus on one type of art: painting, sculpting and photography. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To enroll, please call the education department at 405-325-4712. Cost: Members $20; Non-members $30

Special Events

Members Night Behind the Scenes

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Don't miss this one-night-only opportunity to visit museum collections and laboratories, talk with curators and other staff members and view demonstrations throughout the museum.  An exclusive members-only event for the whole family!  Not a member yet?  Click here and join today! This program is made possible by Sonic, America's Drive-In and Republic Bank & Trust.

Holiday Happening

Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 to 9 p.m.
Free museum admission, live music, photos with Santa and one-night-only discounts in Excavations, the museum store. This program is made possible by Arvest Bank and the TIAA-CREF Oklahoma College Savings Plan.

Spike's Club

Spike’s Club is for kids who are wild about science and nature. Come join us this fall as we examine eggs, and this winter as we investigate sound! Now registering for fall and winter sessions. Click here for more information.

Girl Scouts

The museum offers badge workshops for Girl Scouts of all ages. These workshops target many, if not all of the requirements for the completion of a badge. Registration is handled through the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma. Call 405-528-3535 or 1-800-698-0222 for details. If you would like to schedule a different badge workshop, please contact the education department at 405-325-4712. Click here for a full list of Girl Scouts activities offered by the museum.

 

    While you are at the museum, join us in the Discovery Room for these fun programs for kids and families. 

Discovery Room Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tues-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

All Discovery Programs are free with paid museum admission!

Daily Discovery Programs