The Natural History Museum of Utah Launches Summer@Home, Powered by NHMU with Four Home-based Summer Experiences Featuring NHMU Scientists and Educational Exploration—Outside!

June 2, 2020— The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) just launched a new set of four screen-sensible interactive learning experiences called Summer@Home Powered by NHMU for kids to get outside and learn this summer, perfect for parents and caregivers looking to keep their family engaged and entertained despite the cancellation of traditional summer camps due to COVID-19. Summer@Home, Powered by NHMU was made possible by funding from Rio Tinto Kennecott to support the Utah community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are thrilled to debut these custom-built summer adventures,” said Jason Cryan, executive director of The Natural History Museum of Utah. “Kids deserve some semblance of summer, and our adventures in-a-box and downloadable activities are a new, innovative way for us to connect with the community and provide high-quality content to expand the minds of elementary and middle school kids from a safe distance. We appreciate the support we’ve seen so far and have no doubt our new programs will be a welcome resource this summer.”

Programs include:

·       Four Day Adventures

o   Perfect for 2^nd-5^th graders, this program encourages kids to explore their own neighborhoods alongside NHMU scientists and educators with science experiments, art projects, games and activities mailed directly to your house with all materials included. Topics include Bugs, Birds, Plants, Water, and Engineering in Nature. Adventures start at $65 per session.

·       Kids Club

o   Designed for 2^nd-5^th graders, each club Zine will be mailed to your house and include three weeks of activities along with all materials included. Kids Club members also will have an opportunity to compete in challenges and win prizes. Kids Club starts at $30 per child.

·       Grab & Go Science

o   One of the free options, these downloadable, ready-to-use science activities come with instructions and provide hours of engaging science fun.

·       Neighborhood Naturalists

o   At no cost, your kids can learn about the nature all around you and become neighborhood naturalists while contributing to the museum’s research. This option includes scavenger hunts, backyard birding, science-based crafts and creative cooking.

Registration is open now for the second half of June, as well as July and August, but it’s filling up quickly. Both free adventures are available online and can be downloaded at any time. To learn more and register for a Summer@Home program, visit nhmu.utah.edu/programs/summer-home.

“We are proud to support the new catalog of digital education programs and resources offered by The Natural History Museum of Utah,” said Gaby Poirier, managing director, Rio Tinto Kennecott. “These programs – both fee-based and cost-free – will help to support families in this unprecedented time by inspiring children to keep learning, through access to creative, educational content.”

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About the Natural History Museum of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the Museum’s collections contain over 1.6 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 at our home at the Rio Tinto Center on the University of Utah campus. With an expected attendance of 300,000 visitors a year, 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 science program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field exhibitions each year.