Dinosaur Meet and Greet at the Children’s Museum of Houston
Photo: Children’s Museum of Houston
Kids can feed popcorn to life-size velociraptors at a dinosaur encounter this weekend at the Children’s Museum Houston.
“I don’t know where the popcorn goes,” admits the beast museum’s Henry Yau, in the form of a human wearing a giant sculpted foam suit.
The museum turned to Houston-based Jurassic Extreme, whose fleet of prehistoric creatures appears at birthday parties and festivals, for dinosaur-themed events at its two locations.
Realistic-looking dinosaurs were “a big, big hit” in 2019, Yau says, so the team brought them back in time for this summer’s release of the new franchise film “Jurassic Park”, “Jurassic World Dominion”.
Ahead of the velociraptor visit, museums are hosting DinoDaze learning opportunities this week.
At the Museum District location, young scientists can extract DNA from the wheat germ in a hands-on activity inspired by the film.
Using a pipette and a centrifuge tube, they’ll crush the wheat germ, combine soap and salt, touch DNA to cell membrane proteins, then add alcohol. They will take home the DNA from the tube.
More information
‘Jurassic Extreme Meet & Greet’
when: July 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m
Where: Houston Children’s Museum, 1500 Binz.
Details: Included with regular museum admission of $15 per person ages 2 and up. cmhouston.org
Jurassic Extreme Meet & Greet
when: July 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m
where: Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, 198 Kempner St., Sugar Land.
Details: Included with regular museum admission of $15 per person ages 2 and up. childrensdiscoveryfb.org
‘Jurassic Quest’
When: August 4-7
where: NRG Center, 1 NRG Park. August 4-7.
Details: Timed tickets start at $19 per person. Some attractions have a supplement; jurassicquest.com
At both locations, kids can build colorful pterodactyl puppets using toothpicks, yarn and craft supplies.
Imagining what it would be like if humans existed alongside dinosaurs is part of the fun, Yau says, of the premise that “has made the franchise super interesting for generations.”
When kids meet moving dinosaurs for photo ops, “their curiosity is just piqued,” he says.
He hopes the visit will inspire the children to ask questions.
“The fact that before humans there were these giant lizards roaming the earth and we have evidence … it’s fascinating to anyone interested in science.”
And, “Jurassic Quest” returns to its hometown in August as part of a nationwide tour.
Born in 2013, Conroe’s tour will once again inhabit NRG Center with its dozens of animatronic prehistoric creatures.
Dinosaurs, some of which move and roar, are set among realistic plant life from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Families can embark on a new quest at 10 stops where they’ll find dinosaur species, learn about prehistoric sea creatures, examine fossils and finally collect a prize.
The show features rideable dinosaurs, bounce houses, arts and crafts and a “Triceratops” play area for toddlers.
Marty Hoffman, aka Park Ranger, will be on hand to answer questions.
Kids often ask you to identify the largest dinosaur species, explain how dinosaurs became extinct, or tell them how many teeth a T. rex has.
Adults had up to 60, he will tell them.
When kids first see “cashier dinosaurs … I just see their eyes light up and their jaws drop,” she says.
One of the biggest in the show is a 50-foot megalodon.
For visitors who are shy, Hoffman brings them closer by explaining that the dinosaurs are part of his collection of giant toys, he says.
A popular stop is the dinosaurs.
Handled by “trainers,” the lovable beasts named Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T-Rex and Trixie the Triceratops are “super adorable and really fun and interactive,” says Hoffman.
Children are invited to pet and hug them.
“They’re quite precocious,” he continues, grabbing visitors’ hats and stealing phones.
Tyson is a fan favorite.
Elsewhere, kids can pretend to be a paleontologist on a fossil dig, where they’ll discover replicas including T. rex teeth, a dinosaur skull and a triceratops horn.
Hoffman says the release of a new “Jurassic” movie usually leads to an uptick in questions.
The fascination with prehistoric life and the chance to get up close and personal with dinosaurs seems to be universal, he says.
The creatures are as impressive and powerful as dragons, he says, and they actually inhabited the planet.
“This is a really fascinating concept for kids,” he says.
Sometimes, he’ll run into an entire family of dinosaur experts, he says, “but most of the time, it’s a 4- or 5-year-old telling his parents” dinosaur facts.
Allison Bagley is a writer from Houston.
Allison Bagley is a freelance writer for the Houston Chronicle.
