Southwest Florida’s coolest backyard is now open exclusively at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature in downtown Bradenton. The Mosaic Backyard Universe is a brand-new play space where kids and families can learn about science and nature. The best part? You and your kids won’t even need a password to climb into the Tree House-Platform!
There are so many ways to play and learn in this new permanent exhibition — the possibilities are as endless as your kids’ imaginations. But here are five cool things we know you’ll love about the Backyard:
1. The Mighty Oak
Honestly, we’ve never seen such a lifelike tree before! Made possible through the Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation, this replica of a real Florida live oak soars 30 feet over the Backyard. The oak was entirely handmade, down to the 112,000 leaves (yes, 112,000 — we counted!) in its 28-foot-wide canopy!
Of course, every self-respecting backyard tree needs a tree house and this one doesn’t disappoint. The ADA accessible Tree House-Platform allows visitors to look over this expansive universe.
Don’t forget to search for the Mighty Oak’s hidden treasures — drawers that help you and your kids explore more!
2. The Cardboard Rocket
We can’t think of a kid who doesn’t love to play in the giant cardboard box leftover from an appliance delivery — there were so many things it could be and places it could go! The box in The Bishop’sBackyard has the look and feel of a refrigerator box but the heart of a Cardboard Rocket!
Be sure to get inside and check out the videos. Projected onto a mini planetarium-like dome, they get your kids in the middle of the action from a bee’s view of a flower to the inside the Apollo 11 capsule at the moment of the first moon landing, and more!
3. The Turtles
Not only does the Pond in the Backyard teach kids about Florida’s freshwater habitats, it’s also home to yellow-bellied sliders! No doubt these little turtles will draw in your children to watch their cute and comical comings and goings!
While you’re at the pond, be sure to check out the fossil imprints along the edges which were all cast from real fossils in the Museum! (Sorry; no turtle petting allowed!)
4. The Fossil Dig Pit
The Dig Pit invites explorers to examine the Earth’s past in a search for fossils of ancient animals that have been found in Florida. It could be a mammoth, a saber-tooth cat, a mastodon — the fossils your kids find will give them clues! The search helps kids learn how paleontologists uncover the past.
5. The Learning
Be sure to check out the Learning Expeditions, special backpacks that you can check out from the Science Shed just like a library book, and each one holds tools and activities for different topics of scientific inquiry, including:
- Paleontology
- Geology
- Biology
- Astronomy
- Engineering
The Learning Expeditions are designed for parents and kids to explore together. We’re sure they’ll help spark your kids’ curiosity for whatever experience they choose!
The Backyard helps young learners gain an awareness of natural history and the natural sciences and how the world functions on a basic level. As your kids grow and learn more skills, what they’re learning in the Backyard will connect them to the larger experiences they can have in other areas of the Museum: continuing their appreciation for the wonders of science and nature.
The Mosaic Backyard Universe is more than just a series of fun activities for young learners. It’s a portal for learning that allows children to freely explore the world around them in a safe space where they can follow their own interests and paths to wider discoveries about the universe. It’s designed for you and your kids to play and learn together, and you can rest assured that they’re developing their imaginations, as well as their physical, mental and emotional dexterity — all the essential elements of early childhood learning.
The Mosaic Backyard Universe at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is especially designed for kids ages 2-8 to explore with their favorite adults. We welcome older kids to stay and play as well — we’re a pre-K to gray kind of place!
Hours: The Bishop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission: Adults (18-64) $23.95 | Seniors (65+) $21.95 | Children (12-17) and College Students (with ID) $17.95 | Children (5-11) $14.95 | Children (2-4) $8.95 | Children younger than 2 are free with paying adult. Discovery Society Members get in FREE.
Join now and visit for free all year long. https://bishopscience.org/join/
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR MACARONI KID READERS!!! Take 10 percent off each general admission ticket with promo code MACARONI through June 30, 2020. (General admission includes the Mosaic Backyard Universe, The Planetarium and the Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat. The discount may not be used to purchase tickets for programs (Science Sprouts, think + drink/science, Stelliferous, or IQuest). The discount code can be used when purchasing tickets at the Museum or online at www.BishopScience.org.
Contact The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature at 941-746-4131 or info@BishopScience.org. Visit them online here.
