Discover Hands‑On Insect Adventures in Portland

Portland Insectarium — Hands‑On Entomology in Portland

The Portland Insectarium offers immersive, educational experiences focused on insects, arachnids, and arthropod care. Specialized programming includes insect identification, insect pinning workshops, tarantula handling, macro photography, guided bug walks, and multi-day summer camps for ages 10–18. These programs are ideal for families, schools, and hobbyists seeking practical entomology skills.

What visitors can expect

• General Admission access to live and preserved specimens and interactive exhibits.
• One‑hour and two‑hour workshops covering pinning and preservation, specimen mounting, and display creation.
• Supervised tarantula handling sessions that introduce arachnid biology and safe interaction techniques.
• Field experiences and bug walks to learn catching, identification, and local species ecology.
• A full summer camp series with days focused on identification, pinning, animal care and husbandry, plus a full‑series option and Certificate of Completion.

Why choose Portland Insectarium

• Hands‑on instruction taught by trained educators with entomology experience.
• Emphasis on ethical handling, safety protocols, and animal welfare.
• Many programs include take‑home materials: kits, care sheets, pinned specimens, and shadowboxes.
• Small group sizes and supervised sessions provide accessible, confidence‑building learning.

Popular programs and keywords

Portland Insectarium’s most searched offerings include: insect pinning workshop, tarantula handling session, macro photography workshop, insect identification class, and summer camp for entomology. Each program blends classroom instruction with hands‑on practice, making the Insectarium a top choice for those searching for practical, family‑friendly entomology activities in Portland.

What students and families learn

Attendees build real skills in:

• Specimen preparation and preservation techniques (pinning, relaxing, drying).
• Field identification methods for local insects and arachnids.
• Animal care and husbandry for mantises, jumping spiders, and tarantulas.
• Macro photography techniques for close‑up insect imaging.

Booking and practical details

Registration is required for workshops and camps due to limited space. Many experiences include admission or provide kits and materials to take home. Summer camps list age guidelines (notably ages 10–18 for specialized camp days) and offer single‑day or full‑series enrollment with discounts for multi‑day reservations.

Community and education outreach

Portland Insectarium collaborates with local schools and community groups to deliver curriculum‑aligned workshops and outreach events. These partnerships extend entomology education beyond the museum floor and into classrooms and community programs.

Whether searching for an introductory entomology class, a creative pinning and preservation workshop, a thrilling tarantula handling experience, or a hands‑on summer camp, Portland Insectarium caters to curious learners and budding naturalists with safe, supervised, and skill‑focused offerings.