Origami After Dark: Dinosaurs, Discovery, and Creative Folding at the Academy of Natural Sciences

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The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, founded in 1812, is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas. For more than two centuries, it has played a central role in scientific discovery, education, and public engagement. Its collections—ranging from world-renowned dinosaur fossils to historic taxidermy specimens—have helped generations of visitors better understand the natural world. Beyond its galleries, the Academy has long been committed to community outreach, creating programs that invite people of all ages to learn through hands-on experiences, storytelling, and creative exploration.

Among its most popular programs are Dinos After Dark, a series of Friday-night events that transform the museum into an after-hours destination for families, adults, and curious minds. These evenings combine access to the exhibits with interactive activities, offering a relaxed and playful way to experience science, history, and culture in a social setting.

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Folding History to Life: Origami at Dinos After Dark

Taro’s Origami Studio was excited to be part of Dinos After Dark with a custom origami workshop designed specifically for the Academy of Natural Sciences. Set among towering fossil displays and historic dioramas, the workshop invited guests to slow down, sit together, and create with their hands—an experience that complements the museum’s mission of learning through discovery.

Senior Artist Ben Friesen led the workshop, teaching origami models inspired by both the season and the museum’s iconic collections. The session began with winter-themed designs and animals found throughout the galleries, starting with approachable penguin models that welcomed beginners and younger participants. As the evening progressed, guests folded stars, boxes, origami spinners, and even a T-rex—connecting paper forms directly to the exhibits surrounding them.

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An Experience for All Ages

One of the most rewarding aspects of the evening was its wide range of participants. Children, parents, and adults without kids all gathered around the tables, learning side by side. One of the greatest aspects of origami is that parents and children can join in at the same time.  In fact, often kids start off a little better than their parents.  Ben guided each step clearly and patiently, ensuring that everyone, from first-time folders to more experienced participants, could complete finished models they were proud to take home.

The atmosphere was lively and collaborative, with families helping one another, strangers comparing folds, and guests moving between the workshop and the museum’s exhibits throughout the night. Origami became a bridge between generations, disciplines, and learning styles, reinforcing the Academy’s long-standing commitment to inclusive, community-centered programming.

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Creativity as Outreach

This event highlighted how origami can support museums and cultural institutions by offering an engaging, tactile way to connect with collections and themes. By translating dinosaurs, animals, and natural forms into folded paper, participants experienced the exhibits from a new perspective—one rooted in observation, geometry, and creativity.

Taro’s Origami Studio is proud to have partnered with the Academy of Natural Sciences to bring this experience to life. Events like Dinos After Dark demonstrate how art and science can intersect in meaningful, memorable ways, helping institutions deepen engagement while creating moments of joy and connection.

If you are interested in hosting a customized origami workshop for your museum, school, company, or community event, Taro’s Origami Studio offers tailored programs for all ages and skill levels. We work closely with organizations to design models that reflect their collections, themes, and educational goals.  Feel free to head over to our events page for more information.