Museum May: Fun for the Whole Family
As May comes to an end, we are going to wrap up our look at the incredible Museums in our area. As spring blends into summer, new exhibits, events, and opportunities spring up, and the Champaign County Museum Network has been kind enough to share with us some sneak peeks at what to expect from now through August.
In the final entry of our blog series, Museum May, we turn our final entry to the various ways the CCMN is offering opportunities that prove to be fun for the whole family. No matter the age of your family members, these all ages events around our area are sure to provide memorable days and summer fun.
Opportunities at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum
The Orpheum Children's Science Museum is always a great spot to take kids interested in the scientific side of life. The Orpheum will be hosting many fun and educational activities for the biologists and naturalists at heart during Pollinator Week from June 18-23! Each day from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, the Orpheum staff will lead a different arts-and-craft and/or science activity relating to pollinators in celebration of those tiny but mighty contributors to our ecosystem. The programs are included with general admission.
Later in the summer on July 27th from 2-4 p.m., The Orpheum Children's Science Museum is excited to once again host the 3rd Annual Orpheum Kid's Archaeology Day. C-U families will have the opportunity to learn about ancient peoples and cultures, experience real artifacts, and learn how to be amateur archaeologists. This celebration marks the anniversary of the Archaeology Field Station and Excavation Unit exhibits. The event is included with general admission as well. Visit www.orpheumkids.com/contact/ for admission pricing details.
Celebrating the Anita Purves Nature Center’s 40th Birthday!
The Anita Purves Nature Center opened its doors on June 3, 1979. For 40 years, the programs and galleries at Anita Purves have educated and entertained families from all over the area. Stop by and check out all the center has to offer, especially if you have not been by in awhile! Enjoy some birthday cake while you are here, and enjoy time spent in this invaluable attraction in our area.
Summer Fun at Strawberry Jam
Summer is a time to take it slow and easy. There is no better way to celebrate that feeling than with live music and your favorite summertime treat! Enjoy musical performances by local musicians and taste fresh strawberries over ice cream (while supplies last). This year is the district’s 30th Strawberry Jam event, and fits great with the Anita Purves Nature Center’s 40th anniversary. Blast-from-the-past activities include:
- The ever-popular hayrack ride through Meadowbrook Park
- Tours of Spomer Prairie
- Fabulous Face Painting brought to you by Health Alliance
- Kite flying, rocket demonstrations and other Up, Up and Away activities.
- Country Dancing with the Urbana Country Dancers
The full schedule of the day is below. Be sure to enjoy all the day has to offer, including stargazing, live music, and most of all, a great way to spend the day as a family. This free event features overflow parking is available at Stone Creek Church at the corner of Windsor Road and Race Street, and golf cart transport will be available as needed.
Time Band
4-5pm The Young and Fretless
5-5:30pm Spomer Prairie Tour
5:30-6:30pm The Chickadee Sermon
7-8pm Big Bluestem String Band
8-9pm Stargazing with CU Astronomy Club
Finally we’d like to wish the most heartfelt thank you to the Champaign County Museum Network for offering all of these programs, including the information that went into writing these blogs! History is all over the greater Champaign County area, so take advantage of these events, or pop into the museums for a regular visit! When you have an itch for history or learning, here are the summer hours for Champaign County Museum Network attractions:
KRANNERT ART MUSEUM:
May through Aug:
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 10–4
ORPHEUM CHILDREN’S SCIENCE MUSEUM:
Tue-Fri, 10 am to 4 pm, Sat-Sun 1 pm to 5 pm; CLOSED Jul 4, Aug 19-23
ANITA PURVES NATURE CENTER:
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm {CLOSED: May 27, July 4}
MUSEUM OF THE GRAND PRAIRIE:
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 1-5pm
HOMER LAKE INTERPRETIVE CENTER:
June-August: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm (CLOSED: May 27, July 4)
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM:
Wed--Fri 1pm-5pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 1pm-5pm
SPURLOCK MUSEUM:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12:00 pm–5:00 pm
Wed-Fri: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm–4:00 pm
STAERKEL PLANETARIUM:
Show Hours:
Friday–Saturday, 7 pm and 8 pm
(June/July: No shows on Saturdays; Kids’ Matinees on Tuesdays, 1 and 2 pm and Thursdays, 10 and 11 am)
POLLINATARIUM:
Saturday 1:30- 4:30 pm
Weekdays (Tuesday through Friday): By Appointment
Closed Sundays and Mondays
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HISTORICAL ARCHIVES:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 10am-6pm
Wed: 10am-9pm
Sun: 1-5pm
SOUSA ARCHIVES & CENTER FOR AMERICAN MUSIC:
Monday – Tuesday: 8:30am – 12pm & 1 – 5pm
Wednesday: 10am – 12pm & 1 – 5pm
Thursday – Friday: 8:30am – 12pm & 1 – 5pm
CLOSED weekends and some Federal Holidays, but can be opened for special tours with advanced request.