There is so much to do when you first enter the exhibit that it takes a moment to take it all in. You can ride a bee bike to collect nectar, be predator or prey in a food web pond, dress up like living creatures, walk through the seasons, or even try your hand at building a birdhouse, and more! The goal of the exhibit is to teach kids about biology, chemistry, and math, all while exploring things they may encounter in a park or their own backyard (depending on where you live).

The exhibit is definitely well thought out, but my son was a bit too small for some of the exhibits, so I definitely recommend going with kids that are slightly older to enjoy all the exhibit has to offer. I wouldn't make a special trip just for this exhibit, but if you plan on going to the Academy of Natural Sciences, it is a fun addition to check out while you're there. 

On the bee bike you use pedal-power to fly around and collect honey and make nectar. Unfortunately, my little guy was a bit small for the exhibit, but he did his best! We also explored some of the more physical play options, from a mini golf course to a place to try your hand at throwing or kicking a ball for speed, to a big dirt pile, my little guy was loving it!

 My son loved the texture of the "dirt."

The exhibit that I thought was the most interesting was their use of a treadmill to walk through time. As you walk, the seasons change and you can observe plants growing in super time.

 Walking through the seasons.

While we missed the live demonstrations, throughout the run of this exhibit there will be an opportunity to get hands-on experiences, including crafts and a microscope cart. The exhibit includes a chance to:

• Play backyard-themed mini golf
• Dig in the dirt of an augmented reality garden bed
• Find out how fast you can throw and kick a ball
• Dress as a spider, bee, or ladybug
• Take a walk through our digital garden and observe plants growing in super time
• Create the world’s biggest vegetable
• Using special lenses, see how different creatures such as bees and dogs see the world around us
• Step inside the shed and build something with the tools and objects on the work benches
• Help complete a garden path using oddly shaped pavers
• Try your luck at pollinating flowers and collecting pollen for honey production
• Match critter calls with their sources

Backyard Adventures runs through September 10, 2017. Tickets are available for purchase online. Backyard Adventures is free for members or an extra $5 on top of general admission for non-members. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

All photos courtesy of the author.