Early Explorers Programming

We have a longstanding history as a destination for families of all kinds and we want to celebrate the caretakers and kids that continue to bring excitement and warmth to our building.

We get asked all the time, "what is there to do for young kids at the science center?" We're here to break it all down for you so you can plan the best visit ever!

Early Explorers Storytime

Did you know experts recommend reading a story to young children every day to help with vocabulary building? Give yourself a day off and let us handle the storytelling.

Every Monday morning at 9:30 am, we host an Early Explorers Storytime on the second floor of the science center. This is a themed storytime coupled with a craft or activity geared toward pre-K guests and their families. Join us for an interactive storytime and increase your child's exposure to language and tactile fun.

Time: Every Monday at 9:30 am
Location: Cosmic Rays Stage on the second floor
Ages: Pre-K (Kids Under Five)
Follow us on Instagram for a sneak peek at each week's story and associated activity.

Destination Exploration

Preschool is an important time for hitting gross motor milestones through active play. We've recently updated our designated area for children under five. This space offers physical, cognitive, and emotional learning opportunities through light tables, building blocks, and more.

• Light Table
  • Encourage the development of fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, pre-writing skills, color recognition, and letter recognition as your child explores different shapes and letters on a lit-up table.
• Children’s Books
  • Research confirms that reading out loud to children creates the opportunity for them to build their vocabulary and pre-literacy skills that set them up for success in the years to come.
  • We have a selection of age-appropriate literature available for you to use throughout Destination Exploration.
• Building Blocks
  • Blocks enhance children's problem-solving abilities, mathematics skills, and language and literacy abilities. And, constructing “creations” builds self-esteem and feelings of success.
• Adventure Science Center's "Backyard"
  • Imaginative play (or 'make-believe') occurs when children role-play experiences of interest, such as playing ‘school’ with their toys. Imaginative play fosters creativity, physical development, language and social skills, and problem-solving and self-regulation abilities.
  • The 'backyard' area of Destination Exploration is designed to create the perfect space for children to explore their imagination in a safe, educational environment.

Interactive Activities + Shows

Adventure Science Center is a destination for all ages and there is something for everyone to enjoy! But, here are a few of our favorite things to do around the science center for our youngest adventurers:

• i2 Makerspace
  • Located next to soundBox, our high-tech makerspace is designed for kids and adults to explore science and technology through themed crafts, free-play activities, and scientific demonstrations.
• Live Science Shows
  • See science come to life in a live demonstration. Our talented presenters will showcase a variety of experiments and demos that are sure to excite and inspire.
• Shows in the Sudekum Planetarium
  • We have a variety of educational and interesting shows in the Sudekum Planetarium every day.
  • Visit our website to explore age recommendations for planetarium shows or ask an Adventure Science Center staff member for a recommendation based on your child's interests and educational experience.

Adventure Science Center is open:

Monday, Thursday, Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Early Explorers Storytime every Monday at 9:30 am

Bring your early explorers and discover science fun with us this week.