2016 Annual Meeting

Thursday, January 28, 5:00 p.m.

Society members are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the Dayton Society of Natural History. The Annual Meeting will be held in the EDU Lobby.

Groundhog Day

Tuesday, February 2
10:00 a.m.

Join us outside the Museum for a grand weather prognostication during the Museum’s annual Groundhog Day celebration. Rosie, the Discovery Zoo’s resident groundhog and meteorologist extraordinaire, will weigh in on the future of our winter weather!

Please dress for the weather; admission to this outdoor event is FREE!

Learn More about the Discovery Zoo Crew here.

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Darwin Day

Darwin Day
Friday, February 12
At the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Programming runs throughout the day
We can thank Charles Darwin, noted naturalist and geologist, for his contributions to evolutionary theory, natural selection, and sayings like, "only the strong survive". Join the Boonshoft Museum for a day in celebration of all-things Darwin, as the Discovery Zoo and the Museum's Education Department use hands-on experiments and live animal encounters to demonstrate Darwin's most popular theories. Included with regular admission, FREE for Dayton Society of Natural History Members.

Valentine's Evening Under the Stars

Valentine's Evening Under the Stars
At the Boonshoft Museum
Sunday, February 14, 6:00 & 8:00 p.m.

Share the stars with your sweetheart this Valentine's Day at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery! Enjoy a romantic evening in our Planetarium featuring classic love songs, fun couple's trivia, and timeless love stories set to spectacular full-dome Digistar 5 special effects.

Experience historic stories of ancient romance told by the stars. Search the galaxy to find Mars, the God of War, Venus, the Goddess of love and beauty, and several of the Jovian moons that were named for the lovers, conquests, and daughters of the Roman god Jupiter, or his Greek equivalent, Zeus.

New for 2016, artifacts from the Museum's Collection will be on display, including wedding slippers from India, a courting flute from the Great Plains Native Americans, and a Japanese lantern made from paper inscribed with love poems. Each item, hand selected by our Associate Curator of Anthropology, tells a story of love, romance, and history.

Click here to purchase tickets. 

Tickets: $30.00/couple, age 18 and older. Limited seating. Reservations are required. For additional information call 937.275.7431 ext.122.

Movie Night at the Museum

Movie Night at the Museum: Happy Feet
At the Boonshoft Museum
Friday, February 19, 6:30 p.m.

You're invited on an Arctic-themed adventure perfect for your family! Learn about the pristine sky above the Arctic, where our favorite emperor penguins live. Then, enjoy Happy Feet, the animated winter family classic, on the biggest planetarium screen in Dayton, the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater. Click here to purchase your ticket.

Tickets are $5/children, $6/adult members, $8/adult non-members. Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets early!

Eureka!: Sip, Savor, Science

At the Boonshoft Museum
February 27, 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

From taboo tattoos to sultry science, this adult evening in the Museum has surprises around every corner. This winter fundraiser provides guests with a unique experience only the Boonshoft Museum can provide, including explosive science, delicious food, signature drinks, music, and much more. See local tattoo artists in action, discover the science and culture behind these permanent works of body art, and expand your science knowledge while mixing and mingling at Dayton's newest and most entertaining cocktail party. $90/guest (non-member), $75/guest (DSNH Member) Registration is now available online.

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Past Events

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2015 Boonshoft Raffle

Give your bank account a bump with this year's Boonshoft Raffle! With a CASH prize of at least $10,000 (with just 300 tickets sold), the Boonshoft Museum wants to help you fund what matters to YOU!

The best news? Based on the number of tickets sold, the pot could grow to a maximum of $20,000 (with 500 tickets sold)--so be sure to get your ticket before they're all gone! The more tickets sold, the more cash YOU have a chance at winning!

$100/ticket; all sales final. All proceeds support the Boonshoft Museum's stellar educational programming.

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2015 Boonshoft Bash: A Big Bang Night in the Milky Way

At the Boonshoft Museum
Saturday, September 12
7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

See the Museum in a whole new light as you experience an evening of fun and excitement at the 2015 Boonshoft Bash!  Enjoy a reception with hors d'oeuvres and signature drinks at the open bar before heading to the edges of the universe – or at least the Museum! – as you dine in one of five astronomy-themed venues.  Guests will be served a full course of learning and entertainment as they explore our Sun and Moon, discover the stories of Constellations that fill our night sky, traverse the Solar System to see all eight planets, and even hitch a ride on a Comet – before dancing the night away at the not-to-be-missed Pity Party for Pluto.

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GeekFest

Friday, July 17
While we might know that time is just a big ball of wibbley-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff...we must state (for muggles' sake) that the fest runs from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Whether your brown coat gets dusty as you knock about the 'verse or you long to fight the dark side of the force, the Boonshoft Museum is hosting a night of fun and games to bring out the geek in all of us! Marvel at the super-skills of other attendees -- or show off your own! -- at a videogame tournament, show off your best side at the DIY photobooth, test your reflexes with game demos on one of the biggest screens in town or on classic arcade consoles, and even win prizes by playing a round or two in the board gaming area. Costumes are welcome, and prizes will be awarded in several categories.

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Red White & Boonshoft

Saturday, July 4, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Kick off your Fourth of July weekend with a day of all things family, fun, and science! Join us for an indoor-outdoor celebration as you discover the explosive science of rockets, enjoy Dayton's best indoor fireworks in the Planetarium, come face-to-face with some of the Museum's most adorable live animals, treat yourself to liquid nitrogen ice cream, and dig into specialties from local food vendors.

All activities included with regular admission; FREE for members. Food will be available for purchase. No pets or coolers, please.

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Earth Day Celebration!

EPA Earth Day Celebration
Wednesday, April 22, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Celebrate Earth Day with us on Wednesday, April 22! The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is joining us for an entire day of festivities including demonstrations and activities that will get everyone excited about the Earth and all of the amazing creatures that inhabit it! Visit our Do Lab for hands-on fun, then explore Splash!, Recycling Center, and the Composting/Landfill exhibition to learn how to be a great stewart of our planet!

Image Credit: NASA

Name That Sloth!

The Votes Are In--Patience Wins!

A big thank you to everyone who helped name the newest (and perhaps slowest) member of the Discovery Zoo crew. The votes are in---and this adorable mammal is officially named Patience! Patience, a two-toed sloth, is now on exhibit in the Boonshoft Museum's Discovery Zoo; be sure to stop by and say "hello"—she loves to see people's smiling faces!

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