Kansas Families Visit FreeSunflower Summer

Sunflower Summer is a program of the Kansas State Department of Tourism and is designed to provide a wide variety of ways for families to get out, explore something new, and enjoy time together. Families with children enrolled in Pre K through 12th grade and residing in Kansas can take advantage of the Sunflower Summer app, which offers free access to more than 90 attractions throughout the state.

Sunflower Summer offers a diverse range of activities, including visits to museums, zoos and historic landmarks, allowing families to discover new things and spend quality time together. Exploration Place is one of over 90 attractions participating in Sunflower Summer this year.

Kansas residents with students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, are eligible to access 1 free ticket per child to the 90 attractions, museums, zoos, and more.

You can download the free app from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store. Once you’ve downloaded the app, open it and register for a free account. This How To Guide will help you get started.

If you previously downloaded the app (ie for 2022), an update has been made available. The most up to date version of the app will have a spinning wheel with 8 options. The blue “dots” on the spinning wheel will say “family members” and “passport”. If you don’t see those, your app needs updating. Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and update your app. Open the app again and you should see this year’s information and updates.

Have the app open to the Exploration Place page, listed under “Attractions & Landmarks” on the wheel. At the ticket counter, show our staff member your passport and tell them how many adults and children are registered on your account. We will help you choose what time you would like to see the Live Science Show and Dome movie(s) and issue you individual tickets for the shows. Our team member will mark your passport as redeemed and you are ready to explore the museum.

Important: Please do not click “stamp passport” ahead of time or it will mark your offer as redeemed and we won’t be able to issue tickets for the day.

With the Sunflower Summer app, everyone registered with your family will receive an All-Access Pass. This includes visiting the exhibits, a Live Science Show and unlimited Dome movies on the day of your visit!

Bonus: Enjoy an entire year of unlimited visits by purchasing a membership for 50% off on the day of your Sunflower Summer visit. Please see the next FAQ for full details.

Enjoy an entire year of unlimited visits by purchasing a membership for 50% off on the day of your Sunflower Summer visit. This is valid for new and renewing memberships and must be redeemed on the same day as your Sunflower Summer visit. This offer is available in-person only and cannot be used towards previous membership purchases or renewals.

• Family Membership – Includes unlimited museum/exhibit admission for one year. Also includes unlimited Live Science Shows for one year. Includes discounts on Dome tickets, as well as exclusive perks and discounts. Regular Price is $85/year.
• Premium Membership – Includes unlimited exhibit admission, Live Science Shows and unlimited Dome films for one year. Includes exclusive perks and discounts. Regular Price is $145/year.

All membership levels include free general admission to 300 science centers and museums through the ASTC Travel Passport Program.

Yes! If you have a Family Membership to Exploration Place, there are two ways that you can benefit from checking in with the Sunflower Summer app for a visit:

1. You will get free unlimited Dome movies on the day of your visit (which is typically an additional cost for Family Memberships).
2. You can still participate in the half price membership promotion by renewing your membership on the day of your Sunflower Summer visit, even if your membership isn’t expiring. If you renew before your current expiration date, another 12 months will added to the current expiration date.

• Via the Sunflower Summer app, each Kansas student and their parents/guardians are provided one free visit to each of the participating attractions per year. When you visit, your Sunflower Summer “Passport” will be stamped (in the app) and the ticket will no longer be accessible.
• Up to two adults may access a ticket voucher on the Sunflower Summer app, when accompanying Kansas students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on a visit to a Sunflower Summer participating attraction.
• There is an option in the Sunflower Summer app for you to transfer a child’s ticket voucher to another adult who also has downloaded the app. Each child will have one ticket for each participating attractions; when it has been used their passport is stamped and will no longer be accessible.

• Parents and legal guardians, which sometimes includes grandparents, can create a Sunflower Summer app account that includes their children. Once the adult account is created, the children are added. This becomes the family account.
• Up to two adults may access a ticket voucher on the Sunflower Summer app, when accompanying Kansas students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on a visit to a Sunflower Summer participating attraction.
• If you are not the legal guardian, the child’s parent or guardian can transfer their ticket to you. After the parent or legal guardian creates an account, there is an option in the Sunflower Summer app for you to transfer a child’s ticket voucher to another adult who also has downloaded the app. Each child will have one ticket for each participating attractions; when it has been used their passport is stamped and will no longer be accessible.

Sunflower Summer is a program of the Kansas State Department of Education. For app support, please contact [email protected].