Critter Club at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Shout out to my former employers: Do you have a little one who's crazy about bugs or dinosaurs?  Do you want them to get a taste of this "Nature" that we city-dwellers hear so much about?  Check out a Critter Club.  One Saturday a month (usually the second Saturday, but check the website because it sometimes changes) the Natural History Museum puts on an excellent program geared to 3-5 year olds.  The preschool/toddler demographic is a big (and, I thought, somewhat neglected) part of this Museum, so I'm glad that this program exists to reach out to the stroller mafia.  I think more programming is being developed that's geared to the little ones, and many of the museum's halls are in the process of renovation and being updated, so keep your eyes our for great things from them in the future.  Anyway, a Critter Club session usually lasts about half an hour and consists of a short explanation of the day's topics (themes change every month and are usually based on the season or the Museum's current exhibit), as well as storytime, a craft, and, best of all, super up close time with one of the animals from the Museum's Living Collection.  There're sessions at 10 am and 11 am.  It's free with Museum admission and get there early.  Afterwards, stay and meet a dinosaur at one of the Dinosaur Encounters shows, and definitely take the kids down to the Discovery Center to dig for dinosaur bones.  Say hello to my little friends in the Insect Zoo.  Tell them Kristine sent you.

Critter Club at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
2nd Saturday of every month (usually)
The next one is themed "Ladybugs and Butterflies" with sessions at 10 am and 11 am.