Weekend Experiences

Explore MODS’ Monthly and Weekend Themed Experiences.

Cool Things to Do

MODS’ themed weekends are curated to be fun family experiences that are FREE with Museum admission. Check back frequently for the latest themes!

To Fly: From Sea to Sky Weekends in June

Dive Into the World Around Us!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

From gliders and airships to drones and spacecraft, humans have developed many ways to experience the power of flight. Where can we go from here? Come check out some of the latest flight technology we have today, and test your engineering skills to imagine and design a flight craft of the future! Then, enjoy everything under the sea at MODS! Experience the power of ocean waves, the many amazing diverse habitats contained in the sea and the astonishing creatures that call these places their home.

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Explore our “To Fly” Aviation Hall, including “The Hangar” aviation-themed makerspace. Make-and-take your own masterpiece from recycled trash from our Beach Cleanups. Meet underwater critters in our “Florida Ecoscapes” exhibit.
Animal Encounters: Learn about animals that take flight and creatures that can adapt to live in different environments!
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Flight of the Butterflies, Secrets of the Sea, Legend of the Enchanted Reef, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet and MORE!
Career Connections: Explore careers in aviation such as aerospace engineers, pilots, mechanics and aviation technicians and all who help planes take flight. Learn all about ocean conservation and more from the professionals in our “Save Our Seas” Distinguished Speaker series.

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Experience the magic of flight by creating a biplane, rocket, and parachute. Learn how different objects glide through the air and participate in aviation challenges. Observe different marine life, dig for shells, create recycled masterpieces and experience the never-ending motion of the ocean.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Fifth Annual Family Pride Celebration

A Day of Family Fun!

June 24
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Celebrate Pride with MODS! Our day-long event is filled with colorful fun and educational activities for everyone. Participate in a Pride Parade through our exhibits! Join us in our rainbow science lab for a make-and-take Pride flag, instantly drying tie-dyed T-shirts (purchase a white shirt for $5 or bring one to use) and see a special Pride KaBoom! Show.

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Participate in the rainbow science lab and make-and-take a Pride flag, prisms and tie-dyed t-shirt! See an explosion of colors with a special Pride KaBoom!
Animal Encounters: Meet our colorful resident animal ambassadors!
Career Connections: See a performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and see partners and friends of the LGBTQ+ community in action.

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Celebrate Pride with a story time, dance and shimmy to music and bubbles, and create Pride rainbow activities.

Cost: FREE Admission Day.

Roar and Explore Weekends in July

Did you know that new dinosaur discoveries continue even today?

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

How do we find fossils? Who takes care of them after they are discovered? Travel back in time to discover what happened to our dinosaur friends and how they evolved into the animals we know today. Step into the shoes of a paleontologist and learn all about how to unearth dinosaur fossils! Meet today’s dinosaur descendants in an exciting animal encounter!

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Excavate artifacts just like a paleontologist in the field in the Dino Dig Pit. Assess evidence by chipping away fossils with a chocolate chip cookie dig and make-and-take a shark tooth necklace. Explore traveling exhibit travel back in time to discover all about fossils and dinosaurs through MODS’ dino-mite stage show and go on Rock Talks, a guided tour with our MODS’ in-house geologist.
Animal Encounters: Meet our resident animals and see how they are related to ancient dinosaurs.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Ancient Caves 3D, Dinosaurs of Antarctica, Dino Dana The Movie, Secrets of the Sea, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Career Connections: Explore how geologists and paleontologists study ancient life, from dinosaurs to prehistoric plants, mammals, fish, insects, fungi and microbes.

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Experience what life was like with dinosaurs. Create dinosaur fossils, hatch a dinosaur egg, and create dinosaur puppets to interact with our traveling exhibit, Expedition: Dinosaur.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

First Steps in Science Weekends in August

Experience our new exhibit, Discovery Spot, with hands-on early childhood activities and experiments.

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Let’s grow together through playful learning! In the Discovery Spot. children ages 0-6 will be able to splash, climb, tinker and explore. We will be celebrating the opening of the Discovery Spot all month long! The new Discovery Spot is here to provide our community’s youngest scientists with their very first steps in science.

And don’t think we forgot about our scientists older than 6! Come visit us in The Hangar Makerspace for activities geared to our more experienced discoverers!

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Step into our portable planetarium for an up-close viewing of One World One Sky. The new gallery, The Discovery Spot, encourages our youngest guests to make exciting discoveries through experiences in the freshly reimagined and beloved Citrus Grove, Ocean to Air and Everglades areas.
Animal Encounters: Meet our resident native species alligators, snakes and painted turtles that call MODS home.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Animal Kingdom, Arctic: Our Frozen Home, Legend of the Enchanted Reef and MORE!
Career Connections: Explore careers in education, marine science and more!

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Get a membership and experience the Discovery Spot (coming Summer 2023) open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. exclusive for Museum members hours.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles Weekends in September and October

Explore the Fun Behind Planes, Trains and Automobiles!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

How do planes fly? How do trains stop? What technology changed that took us from steam engines to super-fast electric trains? Discover the way gears turn and wheels roll!

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Build and race your own high-speed solar car to explore the unlimited potential of solar power! Watch Innovation Take Flight in our 7D theater.
Animal Encounters: Explore MODS’ animal residents in motion!
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Extend your visit with an IMAX documentary.
Career Connections: Explore careers in aviation, technology, space exploration, education and more!

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Build trains, planes and trucks and experience how they work. Join Thomas and his friends to sort and identify shapes and complete engineering obstacles.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Spooktacular Science

Tricks and Treats Weekend!

October 28-29

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Calling all ghouls and goblins! Families will see how the creatures we may call “creepy” or “crawly” (snakes, lizards, tarantulas and scorpions) play an important role in the world we live in and learn what we can do to protect them. Using engineering skills and the engineering design process in The Hangar, MODS’ Makerspace, guests will construct a spooky structure using recycled and reusable materials and learn how to create a haunted house setting with dry ice and soap! It’s sure to be a spooktacular time!

In the Sprouting STEM Early Childhood Learning Lab, little pumpkins will make-and-take creepy crawly spiders and dance to the monster mash music time.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Slime Time Weekends in November

Ooey-Gooey Science!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

It’s Slime Time at MODS! Soothe your stress, stimulate your senses and have some messy science fun with the Museum’s signature slime bar. Customize your concoction and enjoy it as a make-and-take after your visit!

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Become a super slimeologist for the ooey-gooey Slime Lab. Make-and-take slime after learning the best techniques in our slime-making workshops, then take a picture in front of our slime wall. Learn to make slime bubbles and see who can make their super slimy goo stretch the longest.
Animal Encounters: Learn about different slimy creatures, including slugs, frogs and many others.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Animal Kingdom, Secrets of the Sea, Legend of the Enchanted Reef and more!
Career Connection: Explore careers as a chemist and a chef by following a recipe, seeing a reaction and giving it your own flair.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Winter Wonderlab Science Weekends in December

Snow, Sleet and Ice!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Experience the weather ingredients that make crazy winter storms. Understand the different states of matter of water and how it changes from ice to gas. Find out why the Florida climate is drastically different than many other places around the world.

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Practice your aim with Science Park “Snow Ball” target shooting, enjoy Winter Wonderlab activities and a Nitro Show.
Animal Encounters: Meet animals that call the Museum their home and don’t have to hibernate like many others do to survive the cold winter temperatures.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Arctic: Our Frozen Planet, Dinosaurs of Antartica, Ireland and MORE!
Career Connections: Explore careers in technology, environmental science and more!

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Observe which material melts ice faster, how a snowstorm can appear in a jar, experience misty bubbles and create snowball paintings and winter magic watercolors.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

North Pole Pajama Party

Join South Florida’s Favorite Family Tradition!

December 9 • December 16
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Film starts at 10 a.m.

Celebrate South Florida’s favorite family tradition by wearing your pajamas or elf costumes for this festive event! Enjoy all Museum exhibits with a holiday science show, test your aim at our tropical “snowball” throwing station, make-and-take your own snow globe and build your own snowman. Admission includes an invitation to see The Polar Express in the AutoNation^® IMAX^® Theater. The film will start at 10 a.m.

Pen a letter to Santa.
Pop bubbles in our bubble zone!
Make-and-take a snow globe.
See a snowy liquid nitrogen show and take aim with snowball target practice!
Enjoy marshmallows frozen in liquid nitrogen swimming in hot chocolate!
Hunker down for holiday storytime!
Then, march to our IMAX and enjoy a viewing of The Polar Express!

Members: $30 per person (adult or child)
Non-members: $40 per person (adult or child)

Price includes all activities, Museum exploration, movie and commemorative bell.

Noon Year's Eve at MODS

Ring in 2024!

December 31
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Ball Drop at 12 p.m.

Ring in 2024 with our annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration! Join us for a mid-day celebration with immersive activities, music, dancing and science. Create festive party gear and prepare for a ball drop to ring in the new year! Visit our gallery wall to add your own New Year’s resolution.

Creatures Big & Small Weekends in January

Meet MODS Animal Ambassadors!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

What makes a reptile a reptile? Does a turtle come out of its shell, or is it a myth? Can snakes unhinge their jaw? Find out what animals have inspired some of the technology we use today. Visit the Museum to learn about these amazing creature powers and what they’ve contributed to our daily lives and more!

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Animal Ambassadors featuring animals from Wild Kratts: Creature Power! and augmented reality Panther Prowl, presented by Florida Panthers.
Animal Encounters: Meet our resident animal ambassadors and find out about their creature powers!
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Legend of the Enchanted Reef, Flight of the Butterflies, Secrets of the Seas, Great Bear Rainforest, Serengeti (opening January 20) and more!
Career Connection: Explore careers in life sciences, veterinary and more!

Just for early learners (ages 0-6): Experience animals from around the globe and create their own habitats. Learn about the rainforest, the Antarctic and the Australian Outback Desert.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Engineering the Future Weekends in February!

Build with Us!

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

What does it take to build a towering skyscraper? What forces, like wind, must you consider when constructing a large building or a long bridge? Do you use the strongest, heaviest and most rigid materials, or ones that flex and bend? Come to the Museum to discover some answers to these questions, and see how you can engineer your own kind of superstructure!

Activities: Participate in the LEGO^® program, Build the Change, as a powerful way to express hopes and dreams for the future with LEGO^®bricks and other creative materials, plus your own imagination.
Animal Encounters: Meet our resident animals and learn what types of structures they can make on large and small scales.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Dream Big, Hubble and more!
Career Connection: Explore careers in engineering, architecture, city planning and more!

Just for early learners (ages 0-6): Become engineers by building bridges using LEGO^® DUPLO^® Building Blocks, creating structures with magnetic tiles, and using various materials to experiment with how high you can build a tower.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Build a Better World Weekends in April

How do you build a better world?

Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Come to the Museum and learn about the amazing ecosystems that surround our coast, like coral reefs, mangroves and the Everglades. You can meet some of the animals that call Florida home and why it’s important to protect them and their habitats. See what you can do to help make the world a better place for everyone!

- Activities in The Hangar Makerspace and floor activations include:
- LEGO^® Build the Change – Design a solution to protect endangered species and upload your creation to the LEGO^® Build the Change website to share your ideas with the world!

- Build a Better Bus Stop – Use LEGO^® Bricks to design a more socially equitable and environmentally friendly bus stop.

- LEGO^® Eco House – Use LEGO^® Spike kits to build an Eco House.
- Animal Encounters: Learn about Florida native species and their role in our ecosystem.

- Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Secrets of the Seas, Flight of the Butterflies, Legend of the Enchanted Reef, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet and more!

- Career Connections: Learn about careers in engineering by building sustainable eco-houses with LEGO^® bricks. Explore how architects and scientists create resilient structures by building a socially equitable LEGO^® bus stop.

Just for early learners (age 0-6): Use LEGO^® Bricks to build habitats and learn how unique habitats protect the animals that live there.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Celebration

Enjoy a Day of Cultural Festivities!

May 2024
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Enjoy a day of dancing, music and more as we celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month at MODS! Observe the geology of some of the many islands in the Pacific. Learn about different art forms from various Asian-Pacific American cultures. Explore the science of volcanoes and islands and participate in a shark tooth dig!

Animal Encounters: Meet our resident animals and discover which ones come from the Pacific.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Flight of the Butterflies, Secrets of the Sea, Legend of the Enchanted Reef, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet and MORE!
Career Connections: Explore careers in environmental science, marine science, education and more!

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Join us in celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage through themed dancing, movement and culture-related activities.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Breakfast With Our Otters

Please Check Back for the Next Date
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start your morning with a one-of-a-kind dining experience with MODS’ otters before the Museum opens to the public!

Breakfast with our Otters features:

Delicious catered fare
An Otter Talk
An outdoor training session
Awesome photo opportunities
Special guest appearance by Joey the Otter mascot
Mingling with “Friends of the Otters”
And MORE!

Breakfast with the Otters also includes Museum admission, an IMAX documentary and an original otter painting.

COST:
$75 per person

Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Ladybug Release

Learn About the Role of Ladybugs and The Role Insects Play in the Environment!

Please Check Back for the Next Date

Time: Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. • 3 p.m.

Learn about the role insects, especially ladybugs, play in the environment. Join us in releasing ladybugs in our Food Forest!

Space is limited. Registration required.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Food Forest Tours and Tastings

Science that Tastes Good!

Please Check Back for the Next Date

Time: Saturdays: 11 a.m. • 1 p.m. Sundays: 1 p.m. • 3 p.m.

Take a tour of the MODS Food Forest to learn about sustainable gardening and permaculture. Learn how to start your own at-home food forest by identifying plants adapted to thrive in our tropical climate. Tastings of produce from the MODS Food Forest depend on availability.

Cost: Included with Museum admission.

Eye of the Storm

Hurricane Science, Mitigation and Preparedness

June 1, 2024
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MODS is teaming up with FIU International Hurricane Research Center and the Florida Division of Emergency Management for one of our most popular annual events! Hurricane season is around the corner and future storm chasers, meteorologists and building engineers will learn all about this natural phenomenon and how to be prepared for anything nature throws our way! Test building skills against strong winds, learn about the water cycle and explore our Storm Center exhibit.

Exhibits, Shows and Demos: Attend the What’s Up with Weather? demonstration to explore the great water cycle and its significance in Earth’s weather patterns and then make-and-take structures to weather the storm at the Windy Towers station.
Animal Encounters: Meet our resident animals and see how they are related to ancient dinosaurs.
Watch an IMAX on the GIANT Screen: Flight of the Butterflies, Secrets of the Sea, Legend of the Enchanted Reef, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet and MORE!
Career Connections: Explore careers in healthcare, environmental science, education, aviation, technology, space exploration and more!

Just for Early Learners (ages 0-6): Dive into learning about how a hurricane is formed and experience its effects, make a hurricane in a bottle and test structures with strong winds to see what can withstand hurricane-force winds.

Cost: FREE Admission Day.