Reading Public Museum opens two kid-friendly exhibits

Cohen Foster crept stealthily as a jaguar in a South American rain forest.

Crouching and lunging, the six-year-old boy moved close to the ground across a surface patterned to look like tropical foliage.

He almost made it to the end when he heard the call of a monkey, sounding the alarm from the branches of an overhanging artificial tree.

The predator had been spotted.

“You were caught,” his mother said, laughing as Cohen ran off to try swinging like a spider monkey from the trees of the make-believe forest.

The activities are part of two new family-friendly nature exhibits at the Reading Public Museum: Wild Kratts: Creature Power! and Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure!

Reading Public Museum to host kid-friendly exhibits

The Fosters, Kim and Eric, and their children, Cohen, Kennedy, 9, and Willa, 4, of South Heidelberg Township were among the families enjoying the exhibits during a special members-only preview held two hours before the public opening Saturday.

This was the first member preview for the family that joined the museum last year, Kim Foster said.

Eric Foster of South Heidelberg Township watches as his daughters Willa, 4, and Kennedy, 9, play in the howler monkey display at the opening of the Wild Kratts exhibit at the Reading Public Museum on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE).

“They are enjoying it so much,” she said, noting the children are fans of the PBS Kids TV series “Wild Kratts,” which follows the adventures of animated versions of real-life brothers Chris and Martin Kratt, zoologists, nature show hosts and wildlife filmmakers.

The show’s creators teamed with the Minnesota Children’s Museum to design the touring exhibits.

The RPM’s educational and curatorial teams worked together to select and bring the complementary pairing to Reading, said Becky Ruth, educational events and educational outreach coordinator.

About 200 adults and children preregistered for the members’ preview

Ruth said there also were a number of walk-ins for the preview.

“We’ve had members’ previews for previous kids exhibits,” she said. “But this is the biggest one I’ve had in like a year and a half. So people are super excited for this.”

Ryan Swanger of Spring Township helps his daughter Elowyn, 4, navigate the ice floes at the opening of the Wild Kratts exhibit at the Reading Public Museum on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE).

The interactive displays are geared toward children ages 3 to 12 and hit on nearly all aspects of the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, curriculum, said Mary Johnson, museum manager of STEM and family education.

Visitors can learn about creature powers as they explore the tropical rainforest and other habitats and test their animal skills, such as using the stealth of a jaguar, swinging like a monkey and hopping like a kangaroo.

The ocean adventure exhibit activities include miniaturizing in a tidal pool, crawling through an anemone and hunting for lunch like a lobster.

“This is one of my favorite exhibits that we’ve had in a really long time,” Ruth said. “There are lots of things for the kids to interact and play with. So it’s great for a lot of ages, good at keeping even the itty-bitties interested.”

at the opening of the Wild Kratts exhibit at the Reading Public Museum on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE).

Holding her daddy’s hand for stability, Elowyn Swanger, 4, hopped from one bouncy pad to another.

The pads are intended to simulate Antarctic ice floes and let children duplicate the moves of a penguin eluding a predatory seal.

Elowyn’s father, Ryan Swanger of Spring Township, said he joined the museum about two years ago when his daughter became old enough to take part in the kids’ exhibits and activities.

“This will be the hot new thing for Ellie for the next two or three weekends,” he said.

For Elowyn and the Foster children, the hit of the exhibit was the rainforest set up.

After a few practice runs, Kennedy mastered the jaguars’ moves. Reaching the finish line without triggering a monkey call, she cried out triumphantly: “I made it through.”

Not to be outdone by his big sister, Cohen headed back to the start to try again.

Both exhibits are made possible locally through the generous support of Penske, The Neag Family Foundation, and Tower Health.

For hours and ticket prices, visit the museum’s website at readingpublicmuseum.org.

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