Your Guide to Family Summer Fun at the ROM

Posted: June 19, 2014 - 15:22 , by royal
http://www.rom.on.ca/en/support-us/inspiring-stories/barrick-gold-family-day-at-the-rom

1. CIBC Discovery Gallery  

After passing through the Dinosaur and Mammal Galleries, head towards the dynamic CIBC Discovery Gallery on the second floor of the museum. This dedicated kid’s zone for fun learning has all sorts of exciting activities! With the help of trained facilitators, kids can: dig for dinos in ROM purple sand; dress up as Egyptian princesses or medieval warriors; or kick back and relax in our giant tipi! There are even costumes and toys for our smallest visitors.

Visit the gallery page for more details.

Children playing dress-up in the CIBC Discovery Gallery ROM

2. Bat Cave 

On your way to the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity, take a detour through the Bat Cave if you dare! Modelled on the St. Clair Cave in Jamaica, this spooky habitat houses hundreds of bat models and specimens hidden in the shadows. Learn about their lives in the dark and the formation of their cave. 

Visit the gallery page for more details.

Family in the ROM Bat Cave

2. Patrick and Barbara Keenan Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery & The Explorers Club Den

If you make it through the Bat Cave alive, head towards the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Hands-on Biodiversity Gallery and the ROM Explorers Club Den. Kids can visit a thriving bee colony, climb through the foxes den, and even sketch real animal specimens! Our trained facilitators will help your family examine various specimens through telescopes, observe live bugs up close, and discover the importance of our natural world.

Visit the gallery page for more details.

Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity

4. Meet the Aquarium Keeper:

Sunday, June 22nd – Sunday, August 31st, 2014, 11am – 1pm
Outside the coral reef tank, in the Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, Level 2

Every Sunday until the end of August the ROM’s resident fish-keeper, Sheldon John, will be meeting the public in the Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity Gallery. While there are numerous species of fish in our abundant coral reef tank, there are also a variety of marine invertebrates including snails, hermit crabs, sea stars, tube worms, anemones and giant clams. Learn how he cares for life in this 550 gallon ecosystem.

Visit the event page for more details.

Family observing fish tank in Schad Gallery

5. Discovery Corners: Canadian Animals:

WHEN: Saturday, June 28th, 2014, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
WHERE: Rotunda, Level 1, Main Entrance

In celebration of Canada Day, come learn about the incredible animals that inhabit our country! Our educators will be sharing unique animal specimens from our collections for families to see up close. Then, make your very own beaded creation inspired by moose, loons, beavers, wolverines, and blue whales!

Meet special guest Bethany Kempster from the learning department.

Visit the event page for more details.

Kids looking at Beavers at the ROM

6. Animal Explorers

WHEN: Every Sunday until August 31st, 11am to 3pm
WHERE: Earth Rangers Studio, Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity Gallery, Level 2

Kids ages 12 and under can set-out on a scavenger hunt with their favourite plushy friend. Go to the Earth Rangers Studio to meet the Animal Explorers! 

Visit the event page for more details.

ROM Animal Explorers

7. Discovery Corners: Summer Solstice

WHEN: Saturday, June 21, 2014, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
WHERE: Canada Court, Currelly Gallery, Level 1

Celebrate the Summer Solstice in the Starlab at the ROM! Learn about summer Constellations and help your kids make their very own sun catcher. Shows in the Starlab are approximately 30 minutes long and require a free time ticket for entrance. Visit the event page for more details.

Visit the event page for more details.

ROM Discovery Corners Banner

8. Native Bees & Indigenous Storytelling

WHEN: Saturday, June 21st & Sunday, June 22nd, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
WHERE: The Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-On Biodiversity (Level 2)

Learn about bumble bees in the Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-on Biodiversity during Pollinator Appreciation Week. Meet Indigenous storytellers and real bee scientists and discover more about our buzzing buddies. Let the shadow-puppet show inspire your inner creativity at the craft table with your kids.

Visit the event page for more details.

Living displays of mossy frogs, fish, and our active beehive shed light on animal behaviour and relationships

9. Curator’s Corner: Whale Tales

WHEN: Saturday June 28th, 2014, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
WHERE: Earth Rangers Studio in the Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity, Level 2

Bring the whole family to the Earth Rangers studio to learn all about the exciting yet stinky salvage process of the Blue Whale in Trout River, Newfoundland. Despite the sad circumstances that instigated this project, our Biodiversity team is intent on sharing their research with the public in hopes that everyone will better understand this majestic species. You’ll hear Dr. Mark Engstrom’s (ROM Senior Curator and Deputy Director of Collections & Research) first hand account of the experience, hold real whale specimens, and enjoy some fun activities.

Visit the event page for more details.

The ROM-lead team approaches the carcass of a dead blue whale lying near the town of Trout River, NL. | Image by Jacqueline Waters © Royal Ontario Museum

10. Druxy's Café

In between all these fun activities don’t forget to take a much-deserved lunch break at Druxy’s, our Museum café! Some of our most popular kid-friendly menu items are:

  • Mac n’ Cheese
  • Pizza
  • Chicken Strips
  • Slushies
  • Cupcakes

Visit the café page for hours and menus. 

Kid-friendly food at ROM's Druxy's

11. ROM Boutique

Finish off your visit in the Museum Boutique where you’ll find many ROM keepsakes for you and your family!

Most Popular Treasures for Kids:

  • Bag of Tumbled Rocks
  • Rock Candy
  • Butterfly and Bat Wings
  • Minerals and Agate Slices
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Pinchers (Chomping Dino Heads!)

Visit the ROM Boutique page for more details.

Please Note: A smaller kids-only boutique is located in The Patrick and Barbara Keenan Family Gallery of Hands-On Biodiversity (Level 2)

ROM Gift Shop Treasures