Kids love to learn. The more opportunities they are given to expand their knowledge base, the more excited they become about learning. With many centers in Pittsburgh dedicated to providing educational activities for children, your child can tap into new areas and expand their mind.
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium
A visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is a learning experience unto itself for children of all ages. Throughout the year, the zoo offers a variety of family programs, field trips, and classes to learn about nature, animals and their habitats, and conservation.
Kids have the opportunity to interact and socialize while learning during the summer for a week at Zoo Camp. There are programs for teens, too, that focus on biology, wildlife, environment and conservation, and the potential for zoo careers.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh offers a variety of educational programs and field trips for all ages. Within the museum, the exhibits are an ongoing educational experience designed with a focus on hands-on interaction and exploration for a more in-depth experience. Kids can learn about edible plants in the Garden, explore animation in the Makeshop, climb a three-story tape building at TapeScape 3.0, and get creative at the Studio.
Heinz History Center
The Heinz History Center offers unending access to 250 years of Western Pennsylvania history. The center’s numerous exhibits paint a colorful picture of the past. At Kidsburgh, the interactive environment inspires kids to participate in a learning experience focused on history, creativity, and fun.
Located on two floors within the center is the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, and on the 6th floor the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives is open to the public and accessible to students interested in learning about sports history. The center is also an interesting destination for informative tours and educational programs designed for all ages.
National Aviary
It’s never too early to get children interested in birdwatching. With more than 500 birds to observe, kids will learn about birds and their habitats from around the world at the National Aviary. From pink flamingos to penguins, there’s plenty to keep kids engaged with their new-found feathered friends.
Through informative programs, classes, camps, and field trips, the focus is on the environment, how changes to the environment impact bird species, how humans are involved in issues affecting the environment, and what we can do to help.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Think “Jurassic Park” and that’s the environment at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, home to one of the most expansive dinosaur collections in the nation. The permanent exhibition is impressive, the paleontologists onsite are interesting, and hands-on activities within the museum are entertaining.
Kids can learn about lizards, snakes, turtles, and more at Reptiles: Live!, see reptiles on field trips, learn about dinosaurs and DNA on Super Science Saturdays, and socialize and learn with others with a sleepover at the museum surrounded by dioramas of African and North American wildlife.
With a visit to places offering educational opportunities, there’s no limit to expanding a child’s imagination and creativity.
Image via Pixabay
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