Minnesota Children's Museum

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Out on a Limb

Play outside: Fun ways to explore nature.

September 19, 2009 – January 24, 2010

Climb into a treehouse, build a fort, play with light! Have fun exploring the natural world in this original, interactive exhibition. This is your chance to go out on a limb! This imaginative environment is designed to inspire children and their caregivers to learn to explore nature by using their senses. More than simply seeing the beauty of a tree, the exhibit encourages visitors to hear the sounds of the forest, use leaves to make beautiful art, and build big and little structures from bark and limbs.

The whimsical atmosphere of Out on a Limb is created in part by children’s nature-themed artwork that makes up the faux bark and leaf canopy of the centerpiece tree. The individual exhibits, Whirlwind, Light Play, Forest Jam and Gnome Home, further enhance the magical scenery and are tools to enhance exploration. For example, individual activities encourage children to experiment with light and shadow, patterns of leaves, music of the forest, and the effects of the changing seasons. The exhibits also provide practice with the physical skills of climbing and balancing, which helps children to develop self confidence in outdoor play.

For children, Out on a Limb provides a unique space for unstructured play, where they can create a connection with nature on their own; while for parents and caregivers, the exhibit represents an opportunity to reminisce about their own childhood experiences in the outdoors and to re-connect with nature exploration with their children. For visitors of all ages, there are places for building, climbing, listening and exploring – all designed to inspire a love of nature.

Check out these books related to the Out on a Limb exhibit:

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple by Gail Gibbons
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Trees are Hanging from the Sky by Jorge Arguetta and Rafael Yockteng
I Have an Olive Tree by Eve Bunting and Karen Barbour
I Love Dirt! 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature by Jennifer Ward
How to Build Treehouses, Huts and Forts by David Stiles
Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids by Willy Whitefeather
The Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv