Overview

Celebrate summer on the farm during this barnyard bonanza! Meet some live animal friends as you explore the sights, sounds, and feel of barnyard life. Take the duck boat challenge, build a barn, play chicken plinko, create animal puppets, and use eggs to explore the density of water. Live animals here from 10:00 to 2:00 pm. All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS! Encourage your young child’s interest in art with special projects in the Art Studio. Our new “Mini Monets” drop in program will explore a different art medium four times this summer. The program is for children ages 2-6, along with their grownups, and will occur from 10-11:30 am. June 21 – Deep Blue Sea: Wade into summer with a wonderful watercolor painting experience. Multiple techniques will be utilized to create an ocean-themed work of art. All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Dive right in as we explore the deep blue sea! Visit a mermaid’s grotto, make scuba goggles, create art with sea shells, play with a cartesian diver and more. Wear your swimsuit or dress to get wet at our first-ever foam party in the outdoor park! (bring a towel and a change of clothes and shoes suggested!) All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS! Encourage your young child’s interest in art with special projects in the Art Studio. Our new “Mini Monets” drop in program will explore a different art medium four times this summer. The program is for children ages 2-6, along with their grownups, and will occur from 10-11:30 am. June 28 – Kaboom! Fun explodes in this process-oriented print-making project! Ooo's and ahhh's are sure to erupt with these shaving cream fireworks! All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Science and art are the stars in this red white and blue day of family fun. Witness explosions, send straw rockets soaring, construct light and sound creations, and create colorful masterpieces. Enjoy live science demonstrations about the science of fireworks. All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Shows at 10:00 am and 1:30 pm. Circus Activities: 10:45 am to 12:45 pm. The circus is coming to town! Enjoy a day full of surprises and silliness as we welcome the Wild Rumpus Circus for two engaging performances. Enjoy the combination of hilarious clowning with aerial artistry, rapid fire juggling, and fantastic stilt walkers! Between shows, children can experience being a circus performer as they balance on a tightwire, take a swing on a low-flying trapeze and go for a spin on a kid-size German Wheel! Tickets for shows available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis, with one show per family, please. Shows and all activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Shows at 10:30 am, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Magic and fairy tales come to life at Discovery Center! Come dressed in costume and enjoy an enchanting day of magic shows courtesy of TNZ Magic, as well as activities related to beloved fairy tales. Tickets for shows available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis, with one show per family, please. Shows and all activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Wear your favorite superhero costume and join our gathering of community superheroes. Meet REAL emergency first responders and explore the science our community heroes use every day. Learn about fingerprinting, use microscopes like a forensic scientist and explore fire science in our live demonstrations. If it doesn’t get called for an emergency, you can even get up close to the Mercyhealth REACT helicopter in our parking lot! All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS! Encourage your young child’s interest in art with special projects in the Art Studio. Our new “Mini Monets” drop in program will explore a different art medium four times this summer. The program is for children ages 2-6, along with their grownups, and will occur from 10-11:30 am. July 26 – How Does your Garden Grow?: Do you have a special garden that you enjoy? We do! We will celebrate nature in our Secret Garden (weather permitting) "painting" with tissue paper. Monet himself would be proud! All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

Concerts at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Get ready to sing, clap, dance and spin along during this visit by award-winning musician and author Jim Gill. Jim Gill’s distinctive music play is an invitation to children, parents and grandparents to sing and play together. Tickets for shows available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis, with one show per family, please. Shows and all activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS! Encourage your young child’s interest in art with special projects in the Art Studio. Our new “Mini Monets” drop in program will explore a different art medium four times this summer. The program is for children ages 2-6, along with their grownups, and will occur from 10-11:30 am. August 2 – It’s the Process Not the Product: We will think outside the box to use ALL kinds of unconventional painting tools. Exploration of this open-ended project is sure to spark some creativity! All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.

We’ve got the materials…you bring the imagination. Choose from cardboard, recycled materials, Lego blocks, Imagination Playground blocks, Thinker Linkers, K’Nex, and more to create and construct. All activities included with museum admission: $10/person for the Public; FREE to museum members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Constellation Energy and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Join us in the Secret Garden each Thursday at 10:30 am for stories, songs and art activities. All event activities included with admission: $10/Adult; $10/Child; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.