EarthFest at AMNH: Fun Family Events to Celebrate Earth Day
EarthFest is a great way for kids to discover all the amazing things our planet has to offer.
This Earth Day, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is hosting EarthFest, a full day of family-friendly activities designed to celebrate our planet and the fascinating ecosystems that make it so unique. On Saturday, April 5th, there will be a full day of family-focused events to help kids learn more about and appreciate the natural world, which is really what Earth Day is all about.
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Explore the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
From 11 am to 4 pm, visitors can start their EarthFest adventure in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, where they can dive into various engaging activities. At the Identification Stations, children can bring in their own specimens from the beach, park, garden, or even the backyard, and scientists will help identify their discoveries.
In the past, visitors have brought in everything from a 3,000-year-old hand axe found in Staten Island to a 72-million-year-old shark tooth discovered in New Jersey. The Museum’s scientists will be on hand to answer questions and share their expertise across various fields, including Anthropology, Paleontology, and Zoology.
After exploring the Identification Stations, families can challenge each other to some Identification Games, a fun way to test your knowledge with match games, trivia, and other interactive activities.
For those who like to get creative, the Craft Stations offer hands-on fun. In station 1, kids learn about local flowers and create their own pressed-flower art. In station 2, visitors can make friendship bracelets or animals inspired by different ecosystems using colorful beads and string.
Most kids will gravitate toward the Be a Shark Station, where they can step in front of the screen and watch as their movements are mirrored in real time, transforming them into a virtual shark.
There will be an InHerBeauty station where kids can get creative with marine-inspired hair, makeup, and nail art. They can draw inspiration right from the stunning colors and patterns of ocean life to design their own dazzling oceanic look.
Timed Activities in the Gilder Center
In addition to the ongoing activities, several timed events will take place throughout the day in the Museum’s Gilder Center. Radiolab’s Terrestrials: The Monsters Among Us will offer an interactive exploration of the “monsters” that share our world at 11:15 am, 12 pm, 12:45 pm, and 1:30 pm. The session encourages young minds to rethink what defines a “monster” and how perceptions shape our understanding of different creatures, from the pigeons that dominate New York City’s sidewalks to the deep-sea giants.
Microscopic Marvels: Exploring NYC’s Urban Ecosystem invites visitors to examine the hidden urban ecosystem of New York City from noon to 3 pm. Using microscopes, participants can discover tiny creatures that live in the city’s ponds and air. This hands-on activity provides a unique introduction to the often-overlooked world of microscopic life all around us.
At 2 pm, award-winning author and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal will lead a special storytime session featuring his book We Leap Together. The beautifully illustrated story celebrates movement, togetherness, and the connection between a child and a whale calf as they leap and dance in harmony with nature.
For more details on the event and the full schedule, check out the American Museum of Natural History website. American Museum of Natural History is located at 200 Central Park West; 212-769-5100.
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