Little Explorer’s Club

Ages 3-5

These fun-filled 45-minute sessions guide children through a STEAM topic with Museum scientists. Each exploratory session includes story time, an activity or experiment, artifact or animal encounters, and a craft. Little Explorer’s Club take place twice per month.

$5 GENERAL ADMISSION
FREE FOR MEMBERS

Museum Store

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Little Explorers Club: Life Cycles

$5.00

Join us for an engaging session where young learners will dive into the fascinating world of life cycles. Through interactive reading, informative discussions, and hands-on experiments, participants will discover the wonders of growth and transformation in nature. Don't miss this opportunity to ignite curiosity and exploration!

Class is at 10:15 am
April 16, 18, 20

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Little Explorers Club: Dino Diets

$5.00

Join us for an exciting Little Explorers Club: Dino Diets! Young students will delve into the world of dinosaurs through reading, interactive learning, and a fun craft activity. Discover fascinating facts about dinosaur diets and create your own fruit and veggie stamp art to take home. Don't miss this educational and creative adventure!

Class is at 10:15 am
April 30, May 2, 4

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Little Explorers Club: Too Much T-rex

$5.00

Join us at the Little Explorers Club: Too Much T-rex! Young students will dive into a thrilling book, uncover fascinating facts about dinosaurs, and get hands-on with a carnivore craft activity. Don't miss this exciting adventure in learning and creativity!

Class is at 10:15 am
May 14, 16, 18

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Little Explorers Club: Simple Machines

$5.00

Join us for an exciting Little Explorers Club: Simple Machines! Young students will dive into the world of mechanics as they read a captivating book and discover fascinating information about simple machines. Then, they'll roll up their sleeves for a hands-on craft activity, where they'll construct their very own cars. Don't miss this fun-filled learning adventure!

Class is at 10:15 am
June 11, 13, 15

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Little Explorers Club: Ancient Architecture

$5.00

Join the Little Explorers Club for a captivating journey into Ancient Architecture! Young students will delve into a fascinating book, uncovering secrets of the past. Through engaging activities, they'll discover intriguing facts and embark on a creative adventure, crafting their own pyramid using sugar cubes. Don't miss this hands-on exploration of history and imagination!

Class is at 10:15 am
June 25, 27, 29

STEAM Summer Camps

Ages 3-5

STEAM Summer Camps are week long drop-off camps for students ages 3-5. Camp sessions run Monday-Friday, Session A and Session B 8am to 3pm.

Session 1: June 3-7 - Out of this World
Session 2: June 10-14: Science of Food
Session 3: June 17-21: Geology
Session 4: June 24-28: Adventure
Session 5: July 8-12: Dinosaurs
Session 6: July 15-19: Color Science
Session 7: July 22-26: Coding & Robotics
Session 8: July 29-August 2: Under the Sea
Session 9: August 5-9: Summer Olympics
$300 Non-Members | $270 Members

Cancellation policy

Before May 1st: Refund 100% - $10 admin fee
May 1st to 8 days before the 1st date of Camp: Refund 50% - $10 admin fee
Within 7 days of the first day of camp: 0% refund
Example: Camp begins 6/17. Cancel on 6/9 and receive 50% - $10 admin fee refund. Cancel on 6/10 or later and receive 0% refund.

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STEAM Summer Camp - Out of This World

$300.00

Buckle up for a journey through the galaxy, discovering planets, stars, and aliens while participating in hand-on science experiments, stargazing, and cosmic crafts.

STEAM Summer Camps are drop-off camps for students ages 3-5. Camp sessions run Monday-Friday, Session A and Session B 8 am to 3:00 pm (flexible pick-up available).
$300 Non-Members
$270 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you, this is different than the SciFun Camp discount code)
June 3rd (Monday) - 7th (Friday)

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STEAM Summer Camp - Science of Food

$300.00

Did you know chemical reactions, acid and bases, solutions and mixtures are all a part of cooking? We will take a look into to the science behind cooking.

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STEAM Summer Camp - Geology

$300.00

What is the earth made of? Follow us through a physical history of our earth as we learn what the earth is made of and how it changes and grows

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STEAM Summer Camp - Adventure

$300.00

What is an adventure and what do we need to know? Learn about basic first aid, maps, how to read a compass and more skills to help on your next adventure.

STEAM Summer Camps are drop-off camps for students ages 3-5. Camp sessions run Monday-Friday, Session A and Session B 8am to 3pm.
$300 Non-Members
$270 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you, this is different than the SciFun Camp discount code)
June 24th (Monday) - June 28th (Friday)

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STEAM Summer Camp - Dinosaurs

$300.00

Activities and resources to help students understand everything from basic dinosaur biology and evolution, to the tools and methods of modern paleontology.

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STEAM Summer Camp - Color Science

$300.00

Have you ever designed your very own color? We will explore, shade, pigment, texture, and more art concepts during this hands on artist experience.

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STEAM Summer Camp - Coding and Robotics

$300.00

Introduction to coding, through robotics and sequencing. Tell a story through coding and hopscotch through a living code.

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STEAM Summer Camp - Under the Sea

$300.00

Dive in with us to learn about who our oceans have living in them. Students will explore ways to keep our oceans clean and our earth cared for.

STEAM Summer Camps are drop-off camps for students ages 3-5. Camp sessions run Monday-Friday, Session A and Session B 8am to 3:00 pm (flexible pick-up available).
$300 Non-Members
$270 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you, this is different than the SciFun Camp discount code)
July 29th (Monday) - August 2nd (Friday)

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STEAM Summer Camp - Summer Olympics

$300.00

Your little athletes will embark on a thrilling journey of sport and teamwork, discovering the world of Olympic dreams through creative crafts, friendly competitions, and playful adventures.

JAM Sessions

Elementary Learners

Junior Adventurers at the Museum (JAM) Sessions engage elementary students in fun, hands-on inquiry-based activities to familiarize students with STEM-essentials. Experiments and crafts are sure to feed any child’s curiosity. JAM Sessions take place twice per month.

$5 GENERAL ADMISSION
FREE FOR MEMBERS

Museum Store

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JAM Session: Bird Beak Adaptations

$5.00

What bird species do you know? When you picture them in your mind, what do their beaks look like? Chances are, you know several different birds and know that their beak shapes can look very different from one another. Why would this be? Why is the large and curved hawk’s beak, for example, so different looking from the short and pointy beak of a chickadee? Well, it has to do with picking out and eating certain foods.

In this JAM, you will practice using different types of utensils as “beaks” to gather a variety of different food sources. You will notice that some utensils are better at picking up certain food shapes and sizes than others. During your foraging, we will keep track of which beak shape picks up which food best!

Class is at 10:15 am
April 13th & 18th

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JAM Session - Know Your Dirt: Soil Sampling and Testing

$5.00

Whether it’s on a vast prairie, in the mountains, or in your yard, soil is valuable stuff. Everything that supports terrestrial life ultimately comes from soil. Did you know there are many different types of soil? Just like species of living things, soil actually has several different classifications. Understanding the different classifications of soil is useful if you want to grow a vegetable garden or have a patch of land to support native plants on your property.

There is a simple test you can do to test what makes up your soil, and it involves shaking a sample of soil and water in a jar! You will be given a picture of the soil texture pyramid to help you identify what type of soil you have just by looking at layers in your jar.

Class is at 10:15 am
April 27th & May 2nd

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JAM Session - Creek Water Sampling: Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

$5.00

When you think of a wetland (maybe a marsh, swamp, or small creek flowing from a pond), what living things come to mind? Most of you can probably name a few large animals and at least one or two plants. Did you know, though, that these large living organisms actually depend on tiny, even microscopic, plants and animals to survive. Without them, a wetland would not function the way it does. These animals can also tell us something about the health of our waterways.

In this natural science JAM, you will each be given some sampling tools for collecting specimens in our creek water behind the museum. You’ll observe your “catch” through microscopes and learn about the amazing tiny things swimming in the creek.

Class is at 10:15 am
May 11th & 16th

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JAM Session: Weather and Climate

$5.00

This year’s weather has been very unusual…65 degrees in the middle of winter! While this is certainly not unheard of, it is well above normal for this time of year. Why do we get such extreme temperature swings, and what does it mean for the climate? It’s complicated! While the climate is changing, there are other factors that determine weather patterns. Some of these occur in cycles. Also, there is a difference between weather and climate.

When it comes to weather, it boils down to wind and circulation caused by differences in temperature. To demonstrate this, we will observe what happens when hot water and cold water are slowly released into a tub of room temperature water. We will also examine the different types of weather events that result from wind, and how weather differs from climate.

Class is at 10:15 am
June 8th & 13th

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JAM Session: The Power of Erosion

$5.00

As we get into late spring, we see the effect of frequent and heavy rains on the land. This is especially noticeable along the banks of creeks and rivers. Flooding and riverbank erosion can be dangerous to nearby homes and other buildings that are not protected. Some engineers specialize in an area called flood mitigation, and these engineers work to design and construct methods for limiting the negative effects of flooding. This can include city layouts, avoiding development in low areas, and building barriers along rivers to keep flood waters from breaking their banks. In this JAM, you will design and construct your own barrier using a variety of provided materials (including moss) and test it out in our water table.

Class is at 10:15 am
June 22nd & 27th

SciFun Camps

Elementary School Learners

School year SciFun Camps are drop-off, single or multiple day long camps, with science oriented experiments and activities designed for elementary age students. Our Lead Educator designs curricula for facilitating these activities with the intention that the students will participate expectedly and learn concepts as well as enjoy the activities. During the school year camps run from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, on select Blue Valley School District out-of-school days. Camp days for the 2023-2024 school year are:

September 28th & 29th
October 13th
November 1st
November 20th & 21st
January 2nd & 3rd
January 15th
February 8th
February 9th
February 19th
March 8th (is also included in registration for March 11th-15th)
March 11th - 15th
March 18th (is also included in registration for March 11th-15th)
April 1st - Homeschool SciFun Camp
April 19th

Prices vary based on camp length, see individual Camp for more information. Members receive a discount.

Museum Store

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SciFun Camp - Earth Day Camp: Caring for the Planet

$50.00

As we near Earth Day, it’s a great time to reflect on what the natural world provides us. As we know, habitats around the world are under threat. As daunting as these problems are, the solutions can start with something small…like picking up trash, planting a native wildflower, or making a bee bath. If enough people do even the small things, it amounts to big change.

For all that nature provides us, the Earth deserves to be looked after. Come to our wetlands to learn about a variety of plants and animals and grab a rake, a trowel, or a seed and help it to continue providing for us.

For elementary school ages

$50 Non-Members
$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

April 19th (Friday)
Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 am and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

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SciFun Camp -Space Explorers

$250.00

What would you pack on a trip out into space? It’s a simple question with a not-so-simple answer. It all depends on how far away you’re trying to go, how you’re going to get there, and what you plan to do when you arrive! Humans have always dreamed of exploring and visiting what is out there beyond Earth, and you have to understand multiple areas of science to actually go out and do it.

In this camp, you will start by learning what objects are out in space and what we’ve learned from past missions. Using this knowledge, we can get creative and think like engineers. Decide how best to explore a new world, harness the energy of the sun to power a city, or even how to deflect an asteroid away from Earth’s path to avoid going the way of the dinosaurs!

For elementary and middle school ages (entering grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th)

$250 Non-Members
$200 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

K-2nd grade: June 3rd (Monday) - June 7th (Friday)
3rd-5th grade: June 10th (Monday) - June 14th (Friday)
6th-8th grade: June 17th (Monday) - June 21th (Friday)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

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SciFun Camp - Young Eco Engineers

$250.00

One of the greatest achievements in human civilization is understanding how to map out and build entire cities. Over half of the population in the US lives in them. Unfortunately, not all of these achievements have been good for the environment. Loss of habitat has become the biggest threat to the environment. Fortunately, we are understanding how we can make changes for the better.

In this camp, we’ll learn about some of the achievements the engineers and builders of the past constructed things - from small bridges to the Great Pyramids of Egypt. We’ll then go further and think about ways to design structures that are good for people but also good for the planet!

For elementary and middle school ages (entering grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th)

$250 Non-Members
$200 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

K-2nd grade: June 24th (Monday) - June 28th (Friday)
3rd-5th grade: July 8th (Monday) - July 12th (Friday)
6th-8th grade: July 15th (Monday) - July 19th (Friday)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

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SciFun Camp - Dinos to Rhinos

$250.00

If you’ve ever been to our museum before, you know something about dinosaurs. You probably also know why the dinosaurs died out…but what happened afterwards? How do you go from a world full of dinosaurs to a world full of large mammals? The answer is much more complicated than most people realize, and you will learn how and why we have the animals around that we do today!

In this prehistoric science camp, you will learn not just about the famous dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period and how they went extinct, but how the survivors of that mass extinction went on to become so successful. Hint: a lot of it has to do with adaptation, or how well something is able to survive in its environment. We will do experiments to demonstrate how adaptation works, and we will also debate what life would have been like if that asteroid never hit 66 million years ago!

For elementary school ages (entering grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th)

$250 Non-Members
$200 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

K-2nd grade: July 22nd (Monday) - July 26th (Friday)
3rd-5th grade: July 19th (Monday) - August 2nd (Friday)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

SciFun Camp - Science of Summer OIympics

Sold Out

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SciFun Camp - Science of Summer OIympics

$250.00

SOLD OUT - Please contact Wendy Beins at wendy@visittheamp.org or 913-333-3506 to be added to the waitlist.

Do you like to watch the Olympics? Did you know that this sporting event was first held in ancient Greece thousands of years ago? If you play sports or watch sports, you can appreciate how fit and well-trained athletes must be in order to excel at their sport. While each sport can be hugely different (imagine basketball vs. bowling), all athletes need to exercise and train. They need to learn balance, to use certain muscles, to eat properly…and this all involves science.

In this final camp of the summer, you will learn how athletes from centuries past to the modern day have trained to become the best athletes in the world and participate in the Olympics. On the last day, we will have a field day (sort of a mini-Olympics) where you will participate in events that test your body and mind!

For elementary school ages (entering grades K-5th)

$250 Non-Members
$200 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

K-5th grade: August 5th (Monday) - August 9th (Friday)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

Summer SciFun Camps

Elementary & Middle School Learners

Summer SciFun camps are drop-off, day long weekly camps with science oriented experiments and activities designed for elementary and/or middle school age students. Our Lead Educator designs curricula for facilitating these activities with the intention that the students will participate expectedly and learn concepts as well as enjoy the activities. Grade levels are determined by the grade the student will be entering in fall. During the Summer camps run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Space Explorers - K-2nd from June 3-7; 3rd-5th from June 10-14; 6th-8th from June 17-21
Young Eco Engineers - K-2nd from June 24-28; 3rd-5th from July 8-12; 6th-8th from July 15-19
Dinos to Rhinos - K-2nd from July 22-26; 3rd-5th from July 29-August 2
Summer Olympics - K-5th from August 5th-9th

$250 Non-Members | $200 Members

Cancellation policy

Before May 1st: Refund 100% - $10 admin fee
May 1st to 8 days before the 1st date of Camp: Refund 50% - $10 admin fee
Within 7 days of the first day of camp: 0% refund
Example: Camp begins 6/17. Cancel on 6/9 and receive 50% - $10 admin fee refund. Cancel on 6/10 or later and receive 0% refund.

If a camp is sold out, please contact Wendy Beins at wendy@visittheamp.org or 913-333-3506 to be added to the wait list.

Featured

SciFun Camp -Space Explorers

$250.00

For elementary and middle school ages (entering grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

SciFun Camp - Young Eco Engineers

$250.00

For elementary and middle school ages (entering grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

SciFun Camp - Dinos to Rhinos

$250.00

For elementary school ages (entering grades K-2nd and 3rd-5th)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

Sold Out

SciFun Camp - Science of Summer OIympics

$250.00

SOLD OUT - Please contact Wendy Beins at wendy@visittheamp.org or 913-333-3506 to be added to the waitlist.

For elementary school ages (entering grades K-5th)

$250 Non-Members
$200 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

K-5th grade: August 5th (Monday) - August 9th (Friday)

Drop-off for camps is from 8:30-9:00 am and pick-up is from 3:00-3:30 pm. Please email education@visitthemap.org or wendy@visitthemap.org with any questions.

Degus_ Snuggles.jpeg — **Animal Encounters**

Join us at Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to get an up close look at some of the animals in our Discovery Room!
Each animal encounter lasts approximately 15 minutes and is included in the price of admission.
Please visit our “Animal Encounters” page for exact time and animals.

Animal Encounters

Options for Homeschooling families

We are happy to offer programs exclusively designed for and dedicated to Homeschooling families.

Contact Wendy Beins with any questions.
education@visitthemap.org
(913) 333-3506

Custom Field Trips

You can plan your own educational, facilitated field trip at the MAP for your homeschooling needs! Visit the Field Trips section of the website by clicking the button below, and fill out a form to make your request and let us know about your vision for your student’s field trip!

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SciFun Camps

Homeschool students are welcomed to attend any of our SciFun camps.

Programs

Choose a Little Explorers Club or JAM session program suited for your student’s age group, pick a topic, and get ready for an engaging, learning session led by Museum at Prairiefire experts. This is perfect for those looking to add diversity to an at-home curriculum.

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