Make Memories at the First Family Sleepover to be held November 9

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah families are invited to an event they will not soon forget – to spend the night in a sleeping bag beneath a case of sparkling butterflies or under the watchful eyes of an elk  at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Registration is open through Oct. 31, for the Museum’s first Family Sleepover event at the Rio Tinto Center, to be held from 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 9, to 8:30 a.m. Saturday, November 10. Sleepovers are for children from five to 13 years old with an adult.

After unloading in front of the Museum, stowing gear, and an orientation, the adventure begins. In addition to exploring the Museum’s galleries and many interactive exhibits, families will be able to participate in a variety of hands-on science activities designed to engage children and adults alike, such as making paper airplanes to fly from a balcony; learning how paleontologists protect the fossils they discover in the field and creating a fossil jacket around a member of their group; getting up-close with live insects; or designing their own ancient Fremont figurine. After an evening snack, parents and kids will gather around a virtual campfire to listen to cozy bedtime stories by flashlight before they drift off to sleep in the Museum’s Life Gallery. 

“Family Sleepovers provide a great opportunity for parents and kids to spend time together discovering the science around them and having fun,” says Lisa Thompson, Museum public programs manager. “Research shows that when children have positive experiences with science and their parents engage in their explorations and support their natural curiosity, kids are much more likely to develop a passion for science. That’s just one of the reasons we’re excited to offer Family Sleepovers.”

Registration for Museum Family Sleepovers is now open at www.nhmu.utah.edu, and the deadline for the November event is October 31. Every group of four children at the sleepover must be accompanied by an adult 25 years of age or older. The cost of the event is $50 per person. Museum members receive a discount on this fee. Additional Family Sleepovers will be offered in January and March.

About The Natural History Museum of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah, the University of Utah, is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the Intermountain West. Established in 1963, the Museum cares for over 1.2 million objects and offers innovative exhibitions and educational programs to thousands of residents and visitors each year, including traveling and permanent exhibits, special events and other programs.  The Museum also offers a variety of outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state annually. The Museum has an active research program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field expeditions each year. A variety of images with captions are available on the Museum’s News Desk at http://newsdesk.nhmu.utah.edu