Free Local Livestreams, Virtual Tours and Activities

Portland is filled with incredible educational opportunities for adults and children. Many of our favorite places around the city have taken their content online to give us fun livestreams, virtual tours and activities we can interact with from the comfort of our home.

Best of all, these resources are completely free. I have intentionally focused on the local attractions in our city that are working hard to keep us enlightened and entertained during this time. 

Have I missed a great virtual resource in our community? Send me an email. 

Free Local Livestreams, Virtual Tours and Activities

Hoyt Arboretum

While the Hoyt Arboretum trails are still open, they are looking for ways to engage our community virtually. On Mondays, they are hosting virtual tree talks for preschoolers. On Wednesdays, they are hosting virtual nature journaling. All you have to do is visit the calendar and sign up to get the zoom link to participate in these free activities.

OMSI

On Tuesdays, OMSi is hosting virtual science pubs featuring different topics, such as geology, biology, physics and more. The virtual science pub is available to watch live on OMSI’s Facebook page starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Oregon Zoo

Tune in for new videos every week on the Oregon Zoo’s Facebook page or watch on YouTube. After each live video, visit the Oregon Zoo’s activities resource page for at-home ideas to learn more about these animals and how to help them. The activities, developed by the zoo’s education team, are aimed at children K–5th grade.

Portland Art Museum

The museum is offering expanded online opportunities to experience their collections and exhibitions, including Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art; Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott; and newly opened exhibitions in the APEX, Photography, and Center for Contemporary Native Art galleries. See all exhibitions here. 

Portland Art Museum is also hosting resources for parents and kids at home during state-wide school closures including artist talks and lectures on their YouTube channel.

Oregon Historical Society

From a virtual walkthrough of our acclaimed original exhibit, “Windows on America,” to exhibits curated from the vast resources of the Oregon Encyclopedia, to highlights of different collections from our Research Library, the Oregon Historical Society’s online exhibits enable you to access the diverse history of Oregon from anywhere.

Oregon Symphony

Tune in every Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. for Oregon Symphony’s minute for music. Viewable on Facebook, Instagram, or their website, watch one-minute videos from Oregon Symphony musicians. To view past minute-long performances, visit the symphony’s website.