Oh, what we wouldn’t give to visit our favorite Wisconsin museums and zoos right now! But while we’re staying #saferathome, many local attractions are bringing the fun to us virtually.
Here are a few things to check out with your kids:
ANIMAL ADVENTURES
Madison’s Henry Vilas Zoo is keeping animal lovers connected to its bears, penguins, tigers and other creatures, and offering insider peeks into zoo life, with its virtual zookeeper chats on Facebook. And you can download animal-themed arts and crafts on its website.
The Milwaukee County Zoo is posting fun videos of its animals on Facebook, and the Racine Zoo is sharing episodes of its Racine Zoo to You! show on YouTube.
TINKER TIME
The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is serving up inspiration to get kids tinkering and learning. The Milwaukee museum regularly posts activity ideas on Instagram, from building your own marble run to creating watercolor butterflies.
The Children’s Museum of Green Bay is busy coming up with loads of fun for kids at home, including kid- and staff-hosted projects, games and challenges, as well as a virtual bedtime story reading. Find all the details on the museum’s Facebook page.
And the Madison Children’s Museum is making some of its most beloved programs — Music with Junebug, Exploration Station, Brain Builders, Mess Monsters and more — available remotely via Facebook.
ART SMARTS
Wisconsin is home to some incredible art collections, and many of the masterpieces can be viewed virtually. Check out the collections at the Milwaukee Art Museum (and check out the museum’s Instagram, where staff are highlighting a different work of art every day), Racine Art Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and Chazen Museum of Art in Madison. Make note of the pieces that pique your interest, and plan a visit to see them in person once everything opens back up!
Photo courtesy of the Henry Vilas Zoo.
Katie Vaughn is the editor and co-founder of Northerly. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University-trained journalist with experience as a writer, reporter, editor, blogger and author. She lives in Madison with her husband, daughter and son, and her family is always up for an adventure.