If you’re familiar with the Nature Museum, you probably know that we have a number of specimens in our natural history collection. Natural history collections are important because they provide […]
How do smooth greensnakes care for their young?
Setting the prairie on fire!
We’re closing out Earth Week with a very special Curious By Nature! We recently conducted a prescribed, controlled burn on our grounds. Why did we do that? Does it help or hurt […]
Let’s design a butterfly garden
Learn more about pollinators, plants, and how to create a butterfly garden with this activity from our educators! Summary: Students will work individually or in groups to design a butterfly […]
Bird migration through the Windy City
You might not associate a big city like Chicago with a nature lover’s hot spot, but the Windy City is a great location for bird watchers. Chicago sits in one […]
In the field with Dr. Allison
Since early March, curator of herpetology Dr. Allison Sacerdote-Velat has been monitoring various field sites in Lake County. In this special blog post, she’s walking us through the work she’s […]
All about squirrels!
We’re closing out our season of Curious By Nature learning all about squirrels! Join Marjorie and our friend Joel Brown (Distinguished Professor of Biology, Emeritus at the University of Illinois, Chicago) to learn all […]
Margaret Morse Nice
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re taking a closer look at the life and work of some of the women who were important figures in the history of the […]
Don’t dump & don’t disrupt
We all love spending time in Lincoln Park and around North Pond, but we often forget that there is a right and a wrong way to interact with the species […]
Invasive birds in Chicago?
In previous blogs, we’ve focused on the impact of local invasive species in the Chicago area. But how is the bird community impacted? To get a better sense of how […]
Do you ever wonder how a butterfly gets its colors? Or how turtles hibernate? Do you wonder how birds know where to migrate each year? For over 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has served a unique role in the city of Chicago connecting children of all ages to nature and science through immersive exhibits, fun family events, important conservation research and in-depth education programs, inspiring the wonder in all of us.