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