To raise awareness of the importance of play for children after a year of limited opportunities for active and social play due to the Coronavirus health crisis, the Museum launched a special “Summer of Play” initiative to help families rediscover the joy and wonder of play. Responding to the fact that children’s mental and physical health took a step back during the past year as families coped with the many disruptions to work, school, childcare, the Summer of Play initiative sought to emphasize the importance of play for the healthy development of children.

The Museum offered a full calendar of activities throughout the summer of 2021 that incorporated hands-on making, creating, exploring, and playing both inside and outside the Museum. Science, art, music, and special family events together with fun-filled exhibits, including the new Fantastic Forts exhibit, the redesigned PlaySpace, and a new turtle tank added to the joyful experience that over 50,000 visitors enjoyed.