Family Discovery Backpacks

Go on a bug hunt, listen for bird calls, and make discoveries in the gardens with one of our Discovery Backpacks. Backpacks are available, at no charge, for up to three hours of use during your park visit. Backpacks are geared for use by families with children in preschool- 5th grade.

Birds of a Feather: Explore the world of birds through activities and games. Use binoculars to look for birds with the Cantigny Field Guide, measure your wingspan and flapping rate, play bird BINGO, read a story and more!

Gone Buggy!: We’re buggy about bugs at Cantigny! Borrow this backpack and discover bug facts, check out real bugs with the bug viewers, get a “bug’s eye” view of the park and learn how to tell a bug from an insect.

In the Garden: How do the plants and flowers in Cantigny’s gardens grow? What fruits and vegetables grow on vines? What do marigold seeds and carrot seeds look like? Learn the answers to these questions and more with this backpack. Also enjoy a story, play nature BINGO and draw in your take home garden journal!

Fees and reservations: All Family Discovery Backpacks are free of charge and available on a first-come, first serve basis. They can be checked out for up to three hours from our Visitors Center Information Desk, beginning at 9:00 am.

Advance reservations are not accepted. A valid driver’s license is required as a deposit at check-out time and a usage agreement must be signed. Discovery Backpacks must be returned in their original condition after the three hour ‘rental’ period.

Discovery Backpacks loaned out after 2:00pm, may only have 1-2 hours of usage depending on when the Backpack was checked out. (All Backpacks must be returned by 5:00 pm).