Families at Philbrook

Weekly Activities at Philbrook

• Wednesdays: Little Garden Explorers for kids under 5 from 9:30a.m. – 11:30a.m.
• Thursdays: Storytime in the Garden at 10:00am (through the year, subject to inclement weather)
• Fridays: Family Nature Walk + Nature Fun Fridays at 10:00-11:30am (through the year, subject to inclement weather)
• Saturdays: Join us on Saturdays for all-ages fun in the galleries and Gardens.

Every Day: Visit the Zink Rotunda kiosk for self-guided scavenger hunts, garden exploration prompts, sketching activities, and more!

Everyday Family Activities

• Experience the Dream Lab, an otherworldly, interactive space to explore color, light, and shadow. The Dream Lab invites imaginative experiments and all-ages play.
• Studio Lab: Channel inspiration from the Gardens and galleries into your own art in this outdoor art studio.
• Whenever you visit Philbrook you’ll find a changing selection of self-guided scavenger hunts, sketching prompts, and more available on our Zink Rotunda kiosk. Out in the gardens, find hands-on nature play opportunities such as fort building and mud-pie-making in our mud kitchen!
• Try This: study plants and wildlife, go on a scavenger hunt, get inspired in the gardens, look closely in the galleries, write a story or a poem, make art, swing on the swings.
• Bring Along: books, sketchbooks & art supplies, binoculars, magnifying glasses or handheld microscopes, musical instruments, picnic/snacks, blankets, hammocks/camp chairs

Tips for Experiencing the Museum with Your Family

Before Your Visit

• Talk to your kids about your upcoming trip to the museum and what they can expect: an indoor and outdoor museum. While touching the artwork is not permitted, there will be opportunities to play and have fun together.
  • On any given day, there are multiple events happening at the museum. Check out the events happening on our calendar before you go to see if there are any activities you’d like to include in your plans for the day.
  • Visiting a new space can be exciting—and tiring. Use the museum map to decide what to see in an hour or two.

When You Arrive

• Take your time. Choose a gallery, see which work of art catches your eye, and slow down to take a closer look. Don’t worry about trying to see everything in one visit.
  • Here’s some easy ways to get the conversation flowing:
    • Find a work of art that tells a story. Who are the characters? What do you think happened before? What do you think will happen next?
    • Refer to as many of the five senses as possible. For example, “What would it sound like if you were in the work of art? How would it feel on your skin?”
    • Listen to and follow your family’s cues and interests. Share your ideas about the artwork as well.
• Sometimes people think they have to be quiet in a museum. That’s not the case here! We invite you to talk, laugh, and share ideas about what you see and notice.
• Stay together. Kids under the age of 14 must stay with their grownup. Older teens are welcome to independently explore as long as their adult remains onsite and everyone has a meetup plan.
• There are plenty of great spaces out in our gardens to stop and have a picnic. Take a break and head outside! Enjoy the flowers and sculptures and give your family a chance to explore nature.

After Your Family’s Visit

• What does your family want to learn more about? What sparked their curiosity and imagination?
• Ask questions about your visit, such as “What was your favorite thing we did today?” or “What do you want to go back and do?”
• Don’t forget to periodically check out our online calendar. There’s always something new to do at Philbrook!

Camp Philbrook 2023

The beloved Tulsa summer tradition returns! Camp Philbrook offers a unique opportunity for children ages 5-11 to work with local artists and outdoor educators to make art and explore nature. Give the children in your life an unforgettable summer experience exploring ideas, getting messy in the studio and gardens, making art, and having a ton of FUN.

Learn More