No matter the age of your child, Alaska has some truly unique and inspiring educational activities for them to enjoy. From vibrant nature centers to interactive children’s museums, here are 10 great educational activities your kids will surely enjoy.
The Bureau of Land Management's Campbell Creek Science Center provides learning experiences for people of all ages, but it particularly excels at creating stellar youth and family programs. All programs and exhibits are free, so don't hesitate to enjoy their Midsummer Night Science Series during the summer and their Fireside Chats during autumn, winter, and spring.
Situated in Chugiak State Park a few miles north of Anchorage, Eagle River Nature Center offers educational opportunities designed to help facilitate the ongoing preservation of this stunning pristine wilderness area. Its stellar Junior Naturalist program teaches life skills such as bear and moose safety and what it's like to live life as a bear.
The Sitka Sound Science Center began as an aquaculture training program at Sitka's Sheldon Jackson High School in 1972. Be sure to attend Sitka Whalefest in November for the experience of a lifetime. You'll enjoy cultural activities, local wildlife cruises, interactive student sessions, art shows, and more.
Education-based scavenger hunts and Junior Ranger activities are just two examples of the educational opportunities provided by the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan. Explore the unique history of life in the Tongass National Forest and learn how local communities have lived in harmony with the forest for centuries.
Everything here is dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of children through exploratory, interactive play. You'll find exhibits here to spark young imaginations and foster lifelong interests. You'll find things like summer camps, astronomy shows, children's theatre, and arts and crafts classes.
You'll find a wide variety of family programs at UA Museum of the North in Fairbanks, including an incredible exhibit featuring the dinosaurs of Alaska. The Museum's Family Room has touchable exhibits that lets curious children explore without the fear of ruining breakables. You can also attend Creativity Labs and family workshops in a diverse array of subjects.
Adventure camps, field trips, scouting programs, and free science lectures are all waiting for fledgling wildlife enthusiasts. The Alaska Zoo even has programs such as story times and sing-a-longs designed to introduce toddlers to the wonders of the wild world.
Taking a scenic walk around the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer is a perfect way to spend a bright spring day in Alaska. As one of the few remaining Ice Age mammals, Musk Oxen are raised for the extremely warm wool they produce—it's eight times warmer than the best sheep’s wool. After all, it kept them alive during the brutal Ice Age.
Seward's Alaska Sea Life Center offers Family Science Nights dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the deep ocean. The facility also offers interpretive tours and maintains a Discovery Zone where every kid gets to be a scientist.
Takes the kids to the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery in Juneau and watch their eyes widen in wonder as they learn all about the lives of these fabulous fish. The saltwater aquarium also features over 150 species of marine life native to the Pacific Ocean.
