Guided Tour: Redpath Museum Discovery Workshops

Kids typically like things that go KABLOOEY. So a family workshop on volcanoes at Redpath Museum was a big hit with our 6- and 3-year-old last year. Redpath holds Discovery Workshops on Sundays during the fall and winter months, with subjects including Samurais and Ninjas, Dinosaurs of Canada and Endangered Species. The next volcano workshop is being held on Sunday, Jan. 22, in French.

Our workshop was packed with kids about age 3 and up, who were itching to get their hands into the hunks of clay provided at each table.

But first, what is a volcano?

Using slides to illustrate, educators spent about 20 minutes explaining the basics, touching on some specific examples, and passing around samples of volcanic rock and ash. While older kids could participate by answering questions, the younger ones seemed to stay interested (at the very least, quiet and seated) during the explanation.

Then, we got to make our own volcanoes, by molding clay around a small plastic cup. Then you fill the cup part way with baking soda, pour some vinegar on it, and … KABLOOEY! This is definitely a science project you can do at home, if you don’t mind the mess. Personally, I was happy to create this natural disaster at Redpath Museum.

After the workshop, we wandered around the museum, which has collections in paleontology, zoology, minerology and world cultures. The building is architecturally beautiful, and the artifacts are interesting. But not for long if you’re 3 years old: our younger son seemed most interested in jogging around the upper balcony level. There was more of interest to our 6-year-old, but nothing that went kablooey. So we took our oozing volcanoes and headed home.

Here’s the 2012 lineup for Redpath Museum’s remaining Sunday Discovery Workshops; each one involves a craft project. Three one-hour workshops are held at 11:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Reservations are required: 514-398-4092. Cost: $7 per child, free for adults. Though the workshops are “for all ages”, children under 3 may find them hard to follow. The museum also offers free dinosaur tours on Sunday afternoons.

Jan. 29: Samurais and Ninjas (E)
Feb. 5: Les Géants et les petits (F)
Feb. 12: Dinosaurs of Canada (E)
Feb. 19: Les espèces en voie de disparition (F)
Feb. 26: Dogs and Wolves (E)
March 4: Les chevaliers et les châteaux forts (F)
March 11: Squids and Octopi (E)
March 18: Les dinosaures du Canada (F)
March 25: Volcanoes (E)
April 1: Les Momies égyptiennes (F)
April 15: Seahorses (E)