Fear Buster Challenge Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, Noon - 5 p.m. Tackle some of the most common fears with special activities throughout the museum. - Walk through a narrow tunnel before the walls collapse. - Find out how to properly interact with dogs and pet a pooch. - Nibble on strange foods. - Examine ooey-gooey slime. - Find out if you could survive the Renaissance of it's off to the stocks. - Touch a concoction of "vomit" and try some strange-flavored jelly beans. - And more! Fill your Challenge Card with your accomplishments and win a special prize. Special thanks to Fear Buster Challenge partners: - Kansas Humane Society - Prairie Pines Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Fear Buster Challenge Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, Noon - 5 p.m. Tackle some of the most common fears with special activities throughout the museum. - Walk through a narrow tunnel before the walls collapse. - Find out how to properly interact with dogs and pet a pooch. - Nibble on strange foods. - Examine ooey-gooey slime. - Find out if you could survive the Renaissance of it's off to the stocks. - Touch a concoction of "vomit" and try some strange-flavored jelly beans. - And more! Fill your Challenge Card with your accomplishments and win a special prize. Special thanks to Fear Buster Challenge partners: - Kansas Humane Society - Prairie Pines Included in general museum admission, free for members.

New Permanent Exhibit Opening Weekend Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 Young children will discover the world around them and find out how country and city living are more alike than we may think. Exhibit highlights - Plant a garden. - Fix a tractor. - Climb through layers of earth to see how wheat grows. - Go to a farmers market. - Crank water to fill a cloud and watch it rain. - Create a town. - Nestle inside a giant meadowlark nest. - And more! Plus many more experiences that spark interest – even in the youngest of learners – in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)! Included with general museum admission, free for members.

Design Zone National Traveling Exhibit Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 - Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 Examine how architects, engineers, video game developers, music producers, roller coaster designers and more use math and science to create their crafts. Develop a video game. Design a roller coaster. Lay down a music track, draw 2-D or 3-D art. Light up the crowd for a dance party. And more! Produced and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Membership has its privileges! Discover how architects, engineers, video game developers, music producers and more use math and science to create their crafts in this interactive and hands-on exhibit.

Exhibit highlights

• Create a video game.
• Design a roller coaster.
• Lay down a music track as a DJ.
• Draw your own 2-D and 3-D art.
• Light up the crowd for a dance party.
• Race your friends to the end of the bike course.
• And more!

PLUS

• Save 20% in the Explore Store.
• Enjoy the Live Science Show Sweet Tooth.

Valid photo ID required. This is a special event exclusively for members. Regular admission and free passes do not apply. Must show valid membership card or photo ID.

Humans in Space Youth Art Competition Opens Saturday, Jan. 16 Observe youth masterpieces based on their vision for the future of human space flight. The competition invites young people from 10 to 18 years of age to submit visual, literary, musical and video artwork expressing their vision. Their submissions are judged by an international panel including artists, scientists, teachers, engineers, astronauts and others. The winning artwork is woven into displays and performances designed to relay the youth artists’ messages to other young people and adults around the world. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Saturday, Jan. 23 - Sunday, May 1

See, feel and create using science just like the Blue Man Group! Play a Theremin organ. Construct instruments with PVC tubes and compose your own song. Use the human body as a drum. Make patterns with vibrations. Blue Man Group ― Making Waves was produced by Boston Children’s Museum in collaboration with Blue Man Productions and JBL,® a registered trademark of Harman International. All underlying materials, including all artwork and the use of Blue Man Group characters are used with permission of Blue Man Productions.

Encounter the history of the world’s popular musical instrument. Experience diverse genres of music and discover the science of pitch and tone. Find out how the selection of different materials and strings, fused with electromagnetism and amplification, create this elaborate device that has revolutionized music. Examine more than 100 historical artifacts, including nearly 60 guitars, that immerse you in the heart of music. Even play a Guinness Record-breaking 44 foot-long guitar! Opening Weekend Activities  Show off your musical skills in a Guitar Hero competition. Jam with members of the Wichita Jazz Society. Jam with members of the Wichita Jazz Society. Watch sounds waves on a Rubens' Tube. Control pitch and control on a Theremin. Construct your own guitar in CreatorSpace. and more! Included with general museum admission. Free for members. GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World is a Touring Exhibition of The National GUITAR Museum.

Opens Saturday, May 28, 2016

Unlike any other dinosaur exhibit you’ve seen here, control 14 magnificent, fully interactive, recycled metal dinosaur sculptures with exposed mechanics, inspired by actual fossils. Along the way, you’ll go on an apprentice’s journey to learn about art, science and innovation that ends in a journeyman’s workshop. Details coming soon. Included with general museum admission. Free for members.

Prehistoric Creatures of the Ancient Ocean Opens Saturday, June 18 Kansas was once underwater – imagine the creatures that lived there! In these paintings by artist Dan Varner, these creatures come to life. Encounter sharks, bony fish, swimming reptiles and more. These art pieces were also featured in the book, Oceans of Kansas by paleontologist Mike Everhart, now available in the Explore Store. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Located in Exploring Our Only Home Opens Saturday, Aug. 27 Examine the inner workings of this natural water source that runs deep below the ground across the state. Measure personal water use and find steps to conserve. Investigate the link between technology and water. Find out what influences the amount of water found in aquifers. Made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Saturday, Sept. 3 - Monday, Sept. 5 Travel back in time and dare to encounter the national traveling exhibit DINOSAURS IN MOTION. Plus, soar the prehistoric skies with the Boeing Dome Theater film Flying Monsters. Included in general museum admission, free for members.  

Saturday, Oct. 1 - Monday, Jan. 2 Unravel the mystery behind the complete set of instructions needed for every living thing on Earth. Discover what the genome is, its scale, structure and how it plays a role in modern life. Exhibit Highlights

• Encounter 3-D models of a human genome.
• Complete puzzles to test your DNA sequencing skills.
• View real-life stories of patients and clinicians solving medical mysteries.
• Examine the genomes of five different species and identify what they reveal.

Genome: Unlocking Life's Code was developed and produced by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Institutes for Health's National Human Genome Research Institute in association with Science North. Sponsored by The Shaw Family Foundation. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Learn healthy living tips and tricks in fun and interesting ways with this hands-on bilingual (Spanish/English) exhibit. Exhibit Highlights

• Move to the music and mimic your favorite animal.
• Visit a mini grocery store and buy ingredients for a balanced meal.
• Pedal a hand cycle and find out how long it takes to burn calories.
• Fuel and "race" a car using a variety of breakfast foods.

EAT WELL, PLAY WELL was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. This exhibit was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).   Sponsored by The Shaw Family Foundation. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Saturday, Oct. 1 - Monday, Jan. 2 Discover compelling stories of those who design and use technologies to help themselves and others achieve their goals – from everyday routines to lifelong dreams. Exhibit Highlights

• Ride a mono-ski in a simulated ski race.
• Scratch and fade music like a DJ with the wheels of a wheelchair.
• Design unique solutions to engineering challenges.
• Type messages, edit photos and watch videos using a hands-free Camera Mouse.

HUMAN PLUS was created by the New York Hall of Science in partnership with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Quality of Life Technology Center with funding from the National Science Foundation. Sponsored by The Shaw Family Foundation. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

Saturday, Nov. 26 - Saturday, Dec. 31 Soak up the sights and sounds of the holiday season as this popular exhibit is decked out for a 1950s holiday, complete with a Christmas parade and nostalgic music. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

National Traveling Exhibit Saturday, Jan. 28 - Sunday, April 23 Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, dress and food of Vietnamese culture and traditions. Try your hand at the popular game Bau cua ca cop. Dance with a lion mask. Pose for an interactive family photo. Program your own fireworks show. Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival was created by Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, and is part of the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series, funded by the Freeman Foundation and administered by Association of Children’s Museums. Included in general museum admission, free for members.

National Traveling Exhibit Saturday, Feb. 4 - Sunday, April 30 Travel back in time to a frigid world where woolly mammoths, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, massive bears and cave people roam. Encounter how these animals and humans adapt to this world through life-sized animatronics. Touch real fossils from this time period. Examine cave drawings found throughout Europe. Discover the Ice Age is produced by Imagine Exhibitions.

TinkerTech Spring Edventures: Games Galore! Grades 5 - 9 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday, March 20 - Friday, March 24 Design your own game using coding skills, Raspberry Pi’s, Bloxels™ and more. Prices Member: $125 Nonmember:  $140 Before Care (7:30 - 9 a.m.): $5 After Care (4 - 6 p.m.): $5

Explore Kansas Opening Day Opens Saturday, April 22 Enjoy special activities celebrating new elements in the Explore Kansas exhibit gallery. Details to come. Opening Day 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 20, 2017 - Sunday, Jan. 1, 2018 Unleash your superpowers and test your skills of gadgets and more. Investigate movie props, costumes, memorabilia and rare artifacts, including a full-scale "half" replica of the 1960s Batmobile. Hall of Heroes is produced by Stage Nine Exhibitions.

No additional details for this event.

Test your skills as you investigate technologies used by emergency crews on land, in the sea and the air. Lift off in a helicopter simulator, escape a burning building, locate a missing person, perform a daring water rescue on a jet-ski, plus much more! Included in general museum admission, free for members. Locally Sponsored by

The Shaw Family Foundation

Dr. R. Larry Beamer and Dr. Deborah Haynes

Dr. Gerald and Doris Nelson

Hotel at WaterWalk

Produced by

Experience full-scale shark models cast from real specimens - including a great white shark! Find out about real-world shark attacks and how to avoid them, as well new shark observation methods. Look for more information coming soon! Included in general museum admission, free for members. Planet Shark: Predator or Prey is produced by Grande Exhibitions

Get $5 exhibit admission and $2.50 dome theater admission when you wear your Riverfest button.

It's your last chance to sink your teeth into this amazing ‘out of water’ shark experience. Come face-to-face with a great white shark, learn the true impact of the shark fin trade and gain a whole new level of respect for the ocean’s oldest and most effective predator. In this one-of-a-kind exhibit you will:

• Catch a close-up view of full-scale shark models cast from real specimens.
• Travel back in time 370 million years with rare fossils, plus real shark jaws and teeth.
• Uncover authentic artifacts.
• Get hooked on shocking stories of human/shark encounters.
• Tread the waters of shark anatomy, biology, hunting strategies and sensory systems.
• Swim through information about satellite tagging programs and conservation efforts.
• Plus much more!

Planet Shark: Predator or Prey has been created by Grande Exhibitions.

Play all day long in a world of big toys and big fun! Shake things up with the world’s largest Etch-A-Sketch, tour a life-size doll house, build a fort, and set the high score in the retro video arcade, plus much more! Toytopia is produced by Stage Nine Exhibitions.

Play all day long in a world of big toys and big fun! Shake things up with the world’s largest Etch-A-Sketch, tour a life-size doll house, build a fort, and set the high score in the retro video arcade, plus much more! Toytopia is produced by Stage Nine Exhibitions.