Hawver and Lacy Families Nature’s PlaySpace

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The Hawver and Lacy Families Nature’s PlaySpace is an interactive experience connecting our youngest guests to nature in new ways.

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Time of Year
Year Round
Location
Level 1

Splash, climb, and crawl your way through our brand-new play area! Bathed in natural light, this sprawling space brings the best of the outdoors indoors. Children up to age 7 can explore a variety of nature-themed sections and stimulate their senses with over 25 fun interactives! Learn about the wetlands through a state-of-the-art water feature and oversized beaver lodge. Climb into a larger-than-life bird nest and treehouse as you explore the prairie. Plus so much more! Families with young children will be able to make deep connections to nature while encouraging child-led play!

Access to this exhibit is included with Museum admission.

A Closer Look

Nature’s PlaySpace brings six outdoor environments inside the Nature Museum for safe, child-led playtime! Each environment has its own dedicated play space with unique interactives, touchables, playables, and more! Plus, our youngest visitors can explore within their own intimate play area, complete with plushies and more!

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Keep Exploring

There’s so much to discover in Nature’s PlaySpace when you look up high and down low. Anabel is here to walk us through just a few of the interactives that you can play with when you explore this exhibit!

Want to learn more about the ecosystems featured in Nature’s PlaySpace? Anabel’s here to walk us through what they are and what makes them so unique in this episode of Curious By Nature!

We gratefully acknowledge and thank:

Project Funding

Michelle & Bruce Hawver

Nicole & Todd Lacy

Peggy & Dick Notebaert
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Exhibit Inspiration, Development, and Creation

Nature Museum developers, fabricators, designers and installers led by:
Deb Lahey

Alvaro Ramos

Doug Taron

Exhibit Development Partners

CBRE

Luci Creative

Norcon, Inc.

RedBox Workshop

Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB)

Buy Your Tickets Today

Experience nature and science up close with a trip to the Nature Museum.

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