Many St. Louis family attractions have re-opened with limited capacity and enhanced safety protocols for visitors and staff. Read more about family attraction re-openings and safety guidelines here. We invite our readers to enjoy virtual events and socially distanced events highlighted in our Things To Do calendar. Public health experts recommend that when you go out, follow public health guidelines: wear masks (required in St. Louis City and County), practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. To learn why social distancing is important and effective in lessening the spread of COVID-19, hear from Dr. Alexis Elward, Chief Medical Officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Missouri Botanical Garden

The Bug Jar Club

Join the fun at The Butterfly House's new literature-based presentation and craft series, The Bug Jar Club.

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Canopy Climb at Shaw Nature Reserve

Take your passion for nature to new heights and explore majestic trees like never before! In this two-hour experience at Shaw Nature Reserve, a certified tree-climbing instructor will teach you to ascend on your own into a tree canopy. The course is designed for the first-time climber and for families with children age 8 and up.

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Winter Jewels: A Holiday Celebration at The Butterfly House

Surround yourself with the magic of the season as the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House becomes alive with living jewels. Escape the cold and enjoy the warm temperatures inside the Butterfly House's tropical conservatory as more than 1,000 jewel-toned butterflies surrounding you in free flight.

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Inside Look at Shaw Nature Reserve: Wilderness Wagon Tour

Learn about the history of Shaw Nature Reserve on this tour around the property and behind the scenes in the historic buildings.

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Discover Nighttime Insects: Black Lighting

Explore the insects that fly at night that we can't see during the day in this family workshop run by entomologists at The Butterfly House.

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Paper Kite Butterfly Festival

Experience flight and wonder at the Paper Kite Butterfly Festival at The Butterfly House. Watch paper kite butterflies fly through the tropical conservatory, see kite building demonstrations, build original butterflies. and decorate your very own kite to take home.

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Nature Detectives Club

Life can be so hectic! Slow down with your family and discover the wonders at Shaw Nature Reserve.

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Things to Do

Virtual Program: Animal Tales presented by the Saint Louis Zoo (Featuring Live Animals!)

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Participate in a live reading of animal stories with educators from the Saint Louis Zoo. At this Zoom presentation, kids will also get to meet the live animals featured in the stories!

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Eye Thrive Vision Screenings and Eye Exams at the St. Louis County Library

Eye Thrive will provide free, on-site vision screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses to eligible children ages 4 through 12th grade at these clinics held at St. Louis County Library locations.

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City Museum on Air

Make art. Go on a guided tour, DIY a time capsule. Peek behind the scenes. Watch the Cassily Crew at work. Help inspect the slides. All from home! Every Monday through Friday the staff, crew, artists and historians at City Museum are going LIVE on Facebook to share stories, offer free art classes, and entertain kids and families in all the ways they know how (read: mischief, mayhem and making).

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Science @ Home with the Saint Louis Science Center

The Science Louis Science Center is continuing to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning through its online Science @ Home series! Visit the Science Center's web site or social media channels for DIY science experiments that can be done at home, Amazing Science Demonstrations from the Science Center's Energy Stage team, connections to local scientists, astronomy updates from the McDonnell Planetarium, live chats and more. Content is designed for all ages.

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Space is limited to 10 kids per session. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

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Popular Stories

Parenting During the Pandemic: Overwhelmed and Exhausted

No, last Saturday I didn’t plant a victory garden or make a sourdough starter. I wasn’t the mom who created movie tickets and set up a concession stand in my house for movie night (seriously, WHICH ONE OF YOU DID THIS and how did word get back to my kids?). I stayed on the couch all day and hissed at anyone who invaded my territory. Like millions of other parents juggling homeschooling and working from home, I’m beat.

The Magic House, Made for Kids, Sandcastle Beach Will Reopen to the Public, Including Summer Camps

The Magic House has announced it will reopen to the public on June 15, open its St. Louis city satellite location – MADE for Kids – on June 9, and summer camps are proceeding as planned.

St. Louis Area Summer Camps, Some Family Attractions to Open In June with New Safety Guidelines

Summer camps in the St. Louis area that have announced they will hold in-person summer sessions are enacting strict safety protocols to help ensure the health of their campers. In addition to limiting enrollment, camps are cancelling field trips, enacting strict cleaning protocols, taking daily temperature and symptom checks, and installilng measures that allow for social distancing.

Saint Louis Zoo Announces Opening Date for Summer 2020; New Safety Protocols

The Saint Louis Zoo has announced it will reopen Saturday, June 13 with new protocols for visitors, including requiring timed reservations and face masks, and limiting attendance to better allow for social distancing. All Zoo staff will wear face masks and all guests over the age of 9 will be required to wear face masks/face coverings while visiting.

Coming Soon: Why the Forest Park Playscape, Opening This Year, Will Be Much More Than a Playground

Since breaking ground on the child-inspired Nature Playscape in Forest Park last summer, Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis and their team of partners have been pushing forward on this much-anticipated project at full speed, constructing eight activity areas where your kids will soon splash, climb, build, and learn. Already halfway completed, this one-of-a-kind play area in the heart of the park is destined to grow children’s interest in the natural world around them.