What educational activities for children are available in Bermuda?

The island of Bermuda has a cultural and educational offering quite disproportionate to its size. With stunning natural wonders to fantastic museums, Bermuda is teeming with activities which are both fun and educational for children. Here, we give our breakdown of the top four cultural and educational attractions for families with children in Bermuda.

Crystal and Fantasy Caves

The Crystal and Fantasy Caves, situated in Bermuda’s Hamilton parish, are among the most stunning attractions in Bermuda. The experience involves descending some 80 steps underground into two separate caves, each of which is a veritable feast for the eyes. The Crystal Cave features a lagoon of clear, azure water, punctuated from above and below by stalactites and stalagmites. The Fantasy Cave features extensive calcite rock formations, fossils of the geological processes shaping and moulding these amazing caves. You can also glimpse the pools that link the caves to the ocean. 

The Crystal and Fantasy Caves in Bermuda are an amazing visual-sensory experience, but their appeal does not end there. Indeed, the Caves enable children and adults alike to reify their knowledge of Geography and Geology with reference to processes such as erosion that have been going on for thousands of years, and indeed will continue to do so. This is a unique experience that is not to be missed.

National Museum of Bermuda

Situated within the Keep, a renovated mid-19th century fort originally built to protect the Royal Naval Dockyard from enemy attack, the National Museum of Bermuda serves as a repository for Bermuda’s rich history as an important British overseas territory, and especially as a crucial naval base within the constellation of the British Empire. The museum features a diverse range of exhibits which illustrate different aspects of the island’s history and cultural identity. A particular highlight is the Defence Heritage exhibit, detailing the military history of Bermuda since its settlement in 1612 and its role in the two World Wars. Other excellent exhibits include the Destination Bermuda exhibit, detailing the ebb and flow of Bermudan tourism throughout different global epochs, as well as the Bermuda and the West Indies exhibit on the First Floor of the Commissioner’s House, which explores the shared cultural traits and identities linking these two geographically-separated parts of the British Empire.

The real value of the National Museum of Bermuda lies in its situation of Bermuda within a broader international context, focusing on ties between it and the ‘old’ and ‘new’ worlds of Europe and America. For children, it is the perfect way to inspire a nascent love of history which may take them beyond the shores of Bermuda, to learn more about the world around them.

Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo

With such an embarrassment of riches surrounding the Island of Bermuda as far as biodiversity is concerned, the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo is the ideal place for the learner interested in zoology and marine biology. The Aquarium is currently conducting high-level research on the behaviour of native marine life, prominent among which are Tiger Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, and the Cahow, a critically endangered seabird once thought to be extinct. For visitors, there is a large number of engaging, informative activities to get involved with. Prominent among these is the North Rock dive and feed, where visitors can observe the facility’s expert Aquarists interact with a range of colourful sea creatures within a 140,000 gallon coral reef exhibit, one of the largest of its kind in the world. The Natural History museum, furthermore, traces the island’s geological history from volcanic origins through to its present state as a complex, intersticed biome playing host to varied flora and fauna. 

The learning opportunities for children do not end there. The Aquarium also runs camps during school holidays, including an excellent summer Aqua camp, for children of all ages. The BZS Schools’ program offers interactive, pedagogically-informed courses which are designed to align with multiple school exam boards for STEM subjects. Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo provides an educational offering that Bermudian parents and children should take full advantage of.

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute

Located minutes from the city of Hamilton, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) offers a host of different interactive and educational activities for children. You can uncover the secrets of the enigmatic ‘Bermuda Triangle’ within the Ocean Discovery Centre, or immerse yourself in a state-of-the-art simulation of a submersible mission 12,000-feet beneath the ocean surface. The Living with the Ocean exhibit examines the past, present and future of humanity’s relationship with its marine environment in what is guaranteed to be both an informative and thought-provoking experience with adults and children alike. 

BUEI also provides extensive, tailored educational opportunities for children. Chief among these are the Explorer Camps, aimed at children aged between 5 and 12, and offering interactive science projects, field trips to local parks and exhibit visits within the Ocean Discovery Centre. For older children there is the Youth Climate Summit, organised by BUEI to champion awareness of environmentalism and marine history among Bermuda’s youth, as well as Young Reporters for the Environment, a journalism competition for those aged between 11 and 25. BUEI provides workshops in Investigative Journalism skills to those interested in applying for the competition. With opportunities available to build both skills and knowledge of the marine environment, BUEI is a great resource for parents and students to tap!

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