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Summertime science!

July 2, 2025 – September 1, 2025
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
A women in a turquoise polo shirt with a cap and sunglasses is standing next to a child with a yellow shirt and a green cap, they are both standing outside on pavement pushing down on a pump and in front of them a homemade bottle rocket is taking flight. In the background, two children are watching and there is a grassy hill and trees.

Summertime science! is a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and exploration—all summer long!

From immersive dome films and outdoor experiments to vintage train rides and behind-the-scenes tours, visitors of all ages can enjoy a variety of science-themed activities, indoors and out.

*Please note that the schedule of activities is subject to change.

Included with museum admission. Additional fees apply to some activities and are payable onsite at admission.
A star filled night sky, in the middle there is a large purple outline of a star and inside there are twinkling gold stars.

Wilfred Buck’s Star Stories

Location: Temporary Exhibition Hall
Days: Daily (with the exception of Thursdays)
Times:

  • English: 9:30 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 2:20 p.m. and 3:35 p.m.
  • French: 10:05 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:10 p.m.
  • Cree: Showings available by special request

This awe-inspiring dome film shares a rarely heard perspective on astronomy and cosmology, told through the star stories of the northern night sky by Ininew (Cree) astronomer, star knowledge expert, and author Wilfred Buck.

  • Seating is limited; daily tickets available at admission.
  • The show is 21 minutes long; no re-entry allowed.
  • Recommended for visitors aged 5 and up.
  • Sitting on the ground is required.
  • For accessibility accommodations, please speak with a staff member.
Red and white checkered lighthouse standing on a green lawn with people walking up to it. In the background there is a blue building and some trees.

Lighthouse visits

Location: Technology Park
Days: Sunday to Thursday
Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Discover the unique history of the now land-locked Cape North lighthouse located in front of the museum! Climb the spiral staircase to the second level and discover how a flame could light up a shoreline and save lives.

  • This activity is weather dependent
  • Please note: Access to the lighthouse involves an outdoor and an indoor staircase and may not be suitable for visitors with mobility limitations.
A red caboose connected to a green and yellow engine is sitting on railway track. In the forefront there is long green grass and in the background there is a blue sky with clouds.

All aboard the caboose!

Location: North parking lot
Days: Wednesdays
Time: 1 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Cost: $2 + tax

Hop aboard a vintage caboose for a scenic ride around the museum grounds offered by the members of the Bytown Railway Society.

  • This activity is weather dependent.
  • Tickets available at the admission desk
  • Guests will need to climb a set of stairs to enter the caboose. For accessibility accommodations, please speak with a staff member.
A young child is outdoors on a sunny day creating large bubbles using a rope wand. In the background there is a green lawn and a white outdoor tent.

Science in the sun

Location: Front lawn
Days: Monday to Sunday
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Experience hands-on science activities inspired by summer! With regularly changing activities—from sun prints to bubble making to launching water rockets —discover the fascinating science that makes them so fun.

  • This activity is weather dependent.
A museum professional wearing a black blazer, glasses, and purple gloves gestures toward a detailed model of a ship inside a glass display case while speaking to two visitors. One visitor, a woman in a plaid blazer, listens attentively, while the other, a man in a pink checkered suit, looks on. The setting appears to be a museum storage or research area, with shelves and artifacts visible in the background.

Guided tours of the Ingenium Centre collection

Location: Ingenium Centre
Days/times:

  • Friday: 10:30 a.m. (English)
    12:30 p.m. (French)
  • Saturday: 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (English)
    12:30 p.m. (French)
  • Sunday: 10:30 a.m. (English)
    12:30 p.m. (French)

Learn about the life of an artifact in a guided tour of our state-of-the-art Ingenium Centre, home to more than 150,000 objects of different shapes and sizes, including railway locomotives and other rolling stock, an array of farming equipment, beautifully conserved vintage cars, and so much more. Advanced ticketing is recommended. Members receive a discounted rate.

Buy tickets
View of Earth from space showing Newfoundland and surrounding cloud formations, captured through a circular window of a spacecraft with part of a satellite and station structure visible in the frame.

Earth in focus: Insights from Space

Location: Temporary Exhibition Hall
Days: Monday to Sunday
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This visually stunning exhibition highlights the important role that space-based Earth observation plays in monitoring Earth’s changing systems. Explore how this unique perspective helps us understand and respond to global challenges while reminding us how deeply connected we are to our spectacular, yet fragile, planet.

Learn more about the exhibition

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