Salt Lake City—Spring Recess is rapidly approaching the first week of April, and for many families lounging on a sandy beach just isn’t in the cards this year. Looking for ways to avoid cabin fever with the whole family at home? Rest assured here’s plenty of fun right here in Salt Lake City!

At Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum “You can still give your kids an experience of fun, local activities on a budget.” CEO and Executive Director, Kathleen Bodenlos, says. Discovery Gateway offers more than 60,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on fun. Explore engaging workshops, programs, and exhibits that invite the whole family to create, learn, and play together!

Every child has unique interests and learning styles, and at DGCM there’s an exhibit for everyone to enjoy such as:

• For the dino obsessed: Dive into the ‘I Dig Dinos’ Dinosaur Exhibit where young paleontologists can unearth real fossils found in Utah! From fossil digs to microscopic analysis in the lab, kids can truly bring the prehistoric world to life.
• For the future hero: Test your rescue skills at the ‘Saving Lives’ Exhibit, where children can step into the roles of nurses, surgeons, pilots, and more! With an authentic Life Flight Helicopter and a specially designed Primary Children’s Emergency Department, imaginative play reaches new heights.
• For the nature lover: Explore the wonders of the ‘Garden Exhibit’ and learn about the vital role of bees in Utah’s ecosystem. From the Honey Climber to the towering Pollinator, interactive elements engage children in conservation education.
• For the social butterfly: Engage in imaginative play at the ‘First Utah Bank Discovery Branch Exhibit,’ where children navigate real-world scenarios like interacting with ATMs and experiencing the drive-through window, fostering essential social skills.
• For the kid who likes to get dirty: Strap in to the newly reimagined “Construction Zone” Exhibit, where hands-on exploration teaches children about road construction through sorting rocks and laying them into a road on a conveyor belt. 

This Spring Recess, rediscover the charm of our local community! Pack your curiosity, leave behind the ordinary, and embark on a staycation adventure at a local nonprofit that promises to ignite your child’s curiosity and learning through play!

About Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum

Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum is located in downtown Salt Lake City at 444 West 100 South and has been a Salt Lake favorite for over 40 years. It is a contemporary children’s museum offering 60,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on educational fun. Through engaging exhibits, workshops, programs and classes, the entire family will be able to enjoy a unique educational experience that combines creativity, play and learning. The mission of the children’s museum is to inspire children of all ages and abilities to imagine, discover and connect with their world to make a difference. For more information, please call 801-456-5437 or visit www.discoverygateway.org

About Kathleen Bodenlos

Kathleen Bodenlos, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Utah, has over 25 years of executive management experience working for both corporations and museums. She is passionate about the role museums play in creating curious thinking and sparking the joy of learning.

In her current role, Kathleen provides strategic direction and is responsible for the success of the museum’s mission as well as overseeing finance, exhibits, education, marketing, operations, and philanthropy. Her museum experience includes serving on the executive management teams of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Museum Center, and The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She is frequently asked to speak at various conferences on relevant museum topics. She earned a BA from Thomas Edison University and an MBA from Eastern University. Kathleen is passionate about hiking, art, and travel.