As summer’s climax approaches, many once-fun activities like swimming and ice skating become played out for students on summer vacation. In Tucson, there are plenty of indoor options to keep kinders engaged and entertained.
After playing poolside, kids duck indoors to escape summer's midday heat in Tucson. The fun and educational activities at these kid-approved museums are sure to keep them interested until the school bell rings. Tucson Children's Museum helps kids learn about nature, science, and safety while having fun at 10 galleries of hands-on exhibits, including Dinosaur World and the Fire Station. The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures displays an array of antique and contemporary miniatures and enchanting artifacts; self-guided tours travel through diverse lands and times, both real and imagined. International Wildlife Museum displays dioramas depicting wild animals in their natural settings, videos, interactive computers, and hands-on exhibits that promote wildlife appreciation and conservation. Discover more at the websites of the Tucson Children's Museum, the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, and the International Wildlife Museum.
At Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. visitors can discover Museum Docents and Jr. Docents interpreting live animals, celestial wonders, fluorescent minerals, night pollinators, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, and bat, scorpion, or rattlesnake kits. Look for them at the following locations: The Earth Sciences Center, Yucca Ramada, Ancient Arizona, Entrance Patio, Vista Ramada, Desert Tortoise Ramada, Riparian Corridor, Desert Garden, Pollination Garden, Fish and Amphibian Room, Grasslands, Orientation Ramada, and at the Amphitheater.
What child doesn’t love a good kid-friendly movie? When scorching temps abound, an indoor activity that commands attention and relaxation is the ticket. The Fourth Annual Tucson International Children’s Film Festival presented by Tucson Medical Center and hosted by Mrs.Tiggy Winkle’s Toys is a festival for the movie-lover’s eyes. Kids (and adults) can catch classic children’s flicks throughout the nine day event held at The Loft Cinema beginning Saturday, July 24th through Sunday, August 1st.
In addition to watching films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Muppet’s take Manhattan and many others played through out the week, the film festival will also include foreign features, cartoons, shorts, sing-a-longs, fun interactive activities, prize raffles, popcorn, giveaways and surprises. Admission is free, but seating is limited to availability on a "first come-first seated" basis.
To Learn More
Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, www.desertmuseum.org.
Tucson Children’s Museum, www.tucsonchildrensmuseum.org.
The Loft Cinema, www.loftcinema.com.
