What ages is the program for?

The C.S.I. program is designed for children six years and older; activities and instructions are adapted for younger school-age kids.

Is this a drop-off program?

Yes. The session is drop-off for children meeting the age requirement; parents return for the museum visit at the end.

How long does the program last?

Plan for roughly three hours, which includes check-in, the hands-on investigation, and a final museum tour.

Are the activities safe for kids?

Staff maintain small groups, supervise tool use, and provide safety guidance; tools used are appropriate for children.

Can parents stay and watch?

Policies vary; the program is structured as drop-off but staff can provide guidance—check the booking details when you reserve.

How do I book a spot?

Use the online reservation link provided in the referral link; spring-break slots tend to fill, so book early.

Spring Break: C.S.I — Solve a Prehistoric Crime at philipjcurriedinosaurmuseum | Museum | Workshop

Spring Break in northern Alberta takes an unexpected turn with Spring Break: C.S.I, a hands-on kids’ program hosted at philipjcurriedinosaurmuseum in Wembley, Alberta, Canada. Designed for ages six and up, this drop-off session turns classrooms into miniature field labs where young investigators work from clues to reconstruct a fossil story. The program blends tactile investigation—handling replica bones, examining plaster jacket casts and studying sediment samples—with guided interpretation from museum educators.

Arriving at the museum, parents find a bright lobby and dinosaur displays that set the scene: cast skeletons, interpretive panels, and a mock lab bench where the “crime” plays out. Key features include a staged fossil site, a table of tools that mirror real paleontology—brushes, awls, magnifiers—and rotating exhibit cases that showcase local stratigraphy and fossil types common to the region. The curriculum emphasizes observation, hypothesis testing, and teamwork; children catalog evidence, sketch finds, and stitch together timelines from fossil contexts.

What makes this program noteworthy for visitors is how it connects an interactive activity to the wider landscape around Wembley. The town sits in a region known for sedimentary rock and fossil discoveries, and the museum’s exhibits translate that geology into kid-friendly mysteries. Instead of passive displays, the C.S.I. format gives participants agency: they leave with a little notebook of field notes and a clearer idea how paleontologists read rock and bone.

Families appreciate the program as a half-day educational option during spring break when outdoor options can still be chilly. Drop-off eases logistics for parents, while the museum visit at the end lets kids show off their detective skills among the real exhibits. Staff keep groups small, prioritize safety around tools and fragile materials, and scaffold each task so younger participants succeed.

Practical details: the activity is best for children six and older; plan for roughly three hours including check-in and the concluding museum tour. Bring a snack, layered clothing, and an extra set of clothes for younger kids who like hands-on crafts. This is a low-impact, high-engagement way to connect families to northern Alberta’s natural history, turning curiosity into a practical introduction to scientific thinking and the region’s fossil heritage.

Bookings use the program’s online reservation system; parents should reserve early because spring-break slots fill and capacity is limited to preserve hands-on time. Museum staff are trained educators who demonstrate basic conservation techniques so children learn why air-drying and careful labeling matter. When weather permits, staff sometimes move brief demonstrations outdoors to examine rock samples up close. Families planning a longer stay will find Wembley offers essential services and short nearby trails for an easy hike after the museum visit, making the C.S.I. session a compact, educational addition to a northern Alberta trip and family-friendly activities.

About Philip J Currie Dinosaur Museum

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley, Alberta is a regional centre for palaeontology and public education. The museum preserves and interprets local fossil heritage and operates research-led public programs that connect families, students and researchers to Alberta’s deep past.

Exhibits highlight mounted skeletons, interactive displays and rotating collections that showcase discoveries from the Pipestone Creek bonebed and the Wapiti Formation.

The museum runs guided field experiences and seasonal events led by trained palaeo-professionals, including the Pipestone Creek excavation visits, “Palaeontologist for a Day” digs, and the Bonebed Tour featuring the Pachyrhinosaurus skull known as BIG SAM. River-based outings such as the “Secrets of the Wapiti” float focus on regional geology, fossils and safe outdoor interpretation. Family-focused programs include Night at the Museum sleepovers, birthday parties with gallery access, Nesting Grounds early childhood sessions, and School’s Out PD Camps for ages 5–13.

Educational offerings extend to Homeschool Days and annual Science Festivals like Palaeo Palooza, providing hands-on activities, maker spaces, and film screenings. Admission options include full-day General Admission tickets with no re-entry. The museum partners with researchers, community groups and volunteers to conduct fieldwork and curate findings, following accepted conservation and documentation standards. Accessibility, safety and evidence-based interpretation are priorities. Visitors can expect guided learning, tangible fossil encounters, and professionally run events that support palaeontology, local heritage tourism and science education. Curatorial staff maintain research-grade collections, publish findings in peer-reviewed outlets when appropriate, and collaborate with universities to ensure scientific rigour and long-term preservation of specimens for future generations.