Family Fun: Express Yourself
22 Jul 2026 - 27 Aug 2026
Dartmoor, giant bugs, gelli-plate printing and lighthouses…..Join us during the summer holidays to get creative and express yourselves at our family-friendly drop ins.
More info
Our drop-in craft sessions are particularly ideal for children aged 4 to 11 years old and their adults and last entries at 12.15pm and 3.15pm. If our Learning Room is busy why not head over to our 'Explore More' tables first?
Week One: Wednesday 22-Friday 24 July
On Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 come and enjoy some Dartmoor-inspired crafts with us. On Friday 24, we'll be officially launching our summer holiday programme with a special 'History Hunters Day'. Join us and members of the Dartmoor National Park Authority to discover more about Dartmoor's amazing history and landscape with a range of hands-on activities.
On Wed 22 and Thu 23 July, you can enjoy activities inspired by our archaeology collections:
🏺 Make an air-dry clay pinch pot
🌿 Create a nettle string bracelet
Then on Friday's special History Hunters Day with Dartmoor National Park, journey through the Brilliant Bronze Age, Magnificent Middle Ages and Vibrant Victorians with crafts, games and hands-on activities.
⛏️ Uncover ancient artefacts with a Dartmoor archaeologist
🏺 Make a mini clay Beaker to take home
🏠 Help build a miniature Bronze Age roundhouse
⚔️ Try medieval games
🧶 Have a go at wool spinning
Week Two: Tuesday 28-Thursday 30 July
Meet the Bugs!
🪲Join University of Plymouth's Bug Team across all three days and discover a fascinating world of bright, colourful insects. Find out how bugs use colour to communicate, protect themselves and attract attention in nature. Our Natural History Curator will also be in the Simmons Learning Room with a special collection of specimens from The Box's stores, sharing stories and facts about these amazing creatures with families.
Explore More Activity
🎨Get creative and make your own colourful pull-out wing bug to take home in our Explore More area.
Week Three: Tuesday 4-Thursday 6 August and Week Four: Tuesday 11-Thursday 13 August
Explore your creativity with craft activities inspired by the 42 Little Lights lighthouses that will be displayed around The Box over the summer.
A Quiet and Calm session will run on 6 August at 10-10.30am (free but book in advance).
Week Five: Tuesday 18-Thursday 20 August and Week Six: Tuesday 25-Thursday 27 August
Make bright and colourful gelli plate prints inspired by pioneering abstract artist Gillian Ayres, whose huge paintings will be showcased in our major A Life in Colour exhibition this summer.
A Quiet and Calm session will run on 27 August at 10-10.30am (free but book in advance).