A unique program for younger children that features open-ended activities that encourage playful sensory explorations. Skills practiced in Messy Art promote fundamental primary language and math skills,  creativity, self-expression, and fine motor skills, and increase self-confidence in self-expression. Materials and supplies are generally safe for children 3 and over.

Each week we explore fundamental STEM concepts with tactile, sensory art-making activities. Paint, paper, and colors, combined with special sensory experiences like scented doughs, homemade brushes, and easy crafts for always fun, hands-on activities that support creativity, self-expression, and early science literacy.

Animals, plants, shells, rocks, weather, stars, water! With your child, explore our wide, wild, and wonder-filled world with live animal encounters and special materials and activities from our natural history collections. Nature time is a special program to instill empathy and respect for all things from nature while supporting early science literacy skills like making observations, contrasting, and comparing.

Is your child always tinkering and inventing? Make smart art with us! Each week your child can practice problem-solving skills and use their creativity and imagination with simple and fun building and crafting activities like turning recyclables into woodland critters, experiencing color mixing with opaque art materials, or playing with natural materials to explore tensile strength.