The Notebaert Nature Museum

 
By Christine Escobar

The Notebaert Nature Museum, built in 1999, is located in Lincoln Park, just steps away from Lincoln Park Zoo and North Avenue Beach at the Lake Michigan lakefront. It is unique in its focus on the local plants and animals of Chicago and Illinois. The museum is very preschooler friendly with its many hands on areas that give children the opportunity to learn about animals, plants, ecosystems and more.

 An ideal first stop for preschoolers is the "Hands On Habitat". This special area has a cave to play in, vines to hang from, a periscope, a tree house for climbing up and a slide safe enough for all ages. It's also a favorite hangout of Chicago parents and their preschoolers. A bathroom is located in this exhibit for potty time trips. Not to be missed is "The Judy Istock Butterfly Haven", the nation's only year-round butterfly haven. It's a fascinating way for preschoolers to interact with and learn about over 75 different species of live butterflies in their habitat.

Your preschooler will enjoy splashing their hands in the "River Works" exhibit that teaches how important rivers are to natural life. Convenient hand dryers are located here, but you may want to pack an extra shirt, as no smocks are available. Other exhibits your preschooler may enjoy are the animal specimens and the "Extreme Green House" which demonstrates the many ways energy is used in homes and how to conserve it. Overall, staff are very friendly, helpful and genuinely seem to enjoy young visitors.

Weekly Programs for Preschoolers

Hands On Habitat Discovery Time
Daily at 11 a.m. 30 minute guided play program for caregivers and kids featuring books, games, toys and other interactive materials. Free with admission.
Animal Feedings
Daily at 1:30 p.m.
Critter Connections
Daily at 1:00 p.m. Interactive live animal presentations

What's New at The Notebaert Nature Museum

The "Robots and Us" exhibit runs all summer until September 9. This exhibit showcases the ways in which robots affect our lives and how we interact with robots. The exhibit may be advanced for some young preschoolers to grasp, however, it is worth a look as many of the robots featured are fascinating to look at and interact with.

The Notebaert Nature Museum Details

2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
773-755-5100
Hours Open every day except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Adults $7, Seniors age 60+ $5, Students ages 13-22 (with valid student ID) $5, Children ages 3-12  $4, Thursdays are Free, Suggested donation on Thursdays is $7 per adult for non-members (applies to groups of less than 10). Tickets to "Robots and Us" exhibit are $3 ($2 for Museum members)
Parking Free street parking is available on both sides of Cannon Drive (check signs for restrictions). A public parking lot is located on Stockton Drive next to the Conservatory. 
Public Transit CTA Directions: From Northwestern and Union Stations train stations: Take the northbound 151 Sheridan bus (or the 156 LaSalle bus on weekdays) to the southeast corner of Fullerton Pkwy and Stockton Dr. Walk north across Fullerton, then east to the museum's main entrance on Cannon. The 77 Belmont bus stops directly in front during museum hours. All areas of the museum are accessible. A limited supply of wheelchairs and strollers are available.
Dining options A small cafe is located just inside the entrance with coffee, and healthy and organic snacks and food choices for kids and adults. Vending machines are located in the lunchroom on the 2nd floor.