Secretly Educational Things to Do this Summer in Kansas City
Summer break sets in and with it comes the "summer brain drain" for American children who forget much of what they learned during the school year. According to an extensive research summary by Harris Cooper of Duke University, the average student loses at least a month's worth of learning over the summer. While we strongly recommend sprinkling academic refreshers into your summer routine, whether in the form of a fun workbook, flashcards, or educational activity, we also know that vacation is important too! So, how can the savvy parent sneak some learning and reinforcement in the mix of summer fun? Discover Secretly Educational Outings in KC that are so much fun your children won't even realize they are learning!
Top Educational Summer Outings Kansas City!
Curl up with a NEW Book
The first recommendation offered by local librarians when asked what to do for children who don't like books is often, "Take them to the shelves and let them choose their own books. They simply haven't found the right book yet." It's okay if your favorite books aren't your child's favorites, the important thing is that they read and summer is a great time to broaden our literary horizons! For fun, treat your child to a visit to one of Kansas City's great Children's Bookstores where they'll discover imaginative literary worlds beyond their wildest dreams! And, add to their Summer Reading fun with terrific incentives from our local libraries by participating in a Summer Reading Program. If you're raising a future sleuth, read our feature on Mysterious Fun in Kansas City to discover our favorite Mystery bookstores and Murder Mystery Theaters in Kansas City. For older children, consider reading a classic together. Conquer Shakespeare as you read Macbeth with your child, then celebrate the achievement at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival where they put on outstanding FREE productions of Macbeth at Southmoreland Park through July 3, 2011. Discover more outings that Bring Books to Life in KC to create a memorable reward for a reading achievement.
Explore the World through the Eye of an Artist
Every visit to the Nelson-Atkins (4525 Oak St. KCMO. 816.751.1278) offers new and exciting discoveries whether it is the treasures in the extensive Chinese and Japanese galleries, or African and Indian art, or American Impressionists, European classics, or modern art. For added fun, print out our Nelson-Atkins Scavenger Hunt before you go, or let your child bring pencils and a sketchpad to draw their favorite pieces, bring a camera to take photos, or use the artwork as inspiration to write fictional tales together. Remember to save your work for a summer scrapbook! For a hands-on art outing, visit Kaleidoscope, a FREE art center for children sponsored by Hallmark. Kaleidoscope offers walk-in sessions all summer, simply check Kaleidoscope's Calendar for details.
From Farm to Table
Do your children ever ask where their food comes from? Would you like to teach them more about the environment and “going green”? With Missouri and Kansas both sharing a rich agricultural heritage, Kansas City families can enjoy a tour of local farms and gardens and learn the answers firsthand! Tour the Shatto Milk Company where children pet and feed calves, watch the milking process and bottling, cheese-making, and end with delicious taste-testing of flavored milks and delicious cheeses. Then, visit the Green Dirt Farm where you'll meet 150 grass-fed ewes responsible for making the most delectable sheep milk cheese in Missouri. Next, stop at Powell Gardens, one of Kansas City’s botanical gardens, with many wonderful gardens including the 12-acre Heartland Harvest Garden, the largest edible landscape in the United States. Or, tour the Bryant Family Farm, a real working family-owned and operated farm producing organic meat and grains. Read our feature on Farm Tours in Kansas City to learn more. Or, consider Berry Picking or visiting a local Farmers' Market for a hands-on experience.
Live Like Pioneers in Kansas City
Did you grow up with "The Little House Books"? The history of pioneers is told through the eyes of Laura Ingalls Wilder in the classic tales. For Kansas City kids, pioneers, Westward Expansion, covered wagons, and the frontier come to life at local museums through educational hands-on history programs and tours. Work with a blacksmith at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop's Thursday night Family Nights, participate in a scrapbook tour at Shoak Creek, go West in Independence where you can load a wagon and learn about the trails, experience an 1850s village at Missouri Town, or take a touch-and-learn tour at the John Wornall House Museum. Discover these 5 Historic Sites in Kansas City where you can embark on adventures with your children bringing early American families to life with butter churning, ox yokes, rope making, blacksmithing, and more!
Watch it Made in KC
Have you ever wondered what the secret is to making a violin sing? Do you want to know how robotics are used to manufacture motorcycles? How can a piece of glass become a miniature work of art? What makes fudge so creamy? And, how are those gift bows on packages made so perfectly? Take your children on educational and captivating outings that are as fun as they are unforgettable on these 5 Fun "Watch it Made" Tours in Kansas City where you can watch creativity and manufacturing firsthand!
A Jurassic Journey
This summer, journey back to the prehistoric world when more than 20 dinosaurs and oversized ancient insects return to Powell Gardens. Jurassic Gardens, an exhibit, designed by Guy Darrough, Missouri’s own self-taught paleontologist and artist is fun for the whole family! This is just one adventure in the area. Discover more Dinosaur Fun in Kansas City. Other favorites include visits to the KU Natural History Museum in Lawrence where you can see a Mosasaur fossil, the largest known lizard to have lived!
Up Close and Personal.... An African Adventure
The African Exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo has been ranked as the #1 African Zoo Exhibit in America. The exhibit is home to African animals who enjoy a wonderful and large natural environment. While the wide open spaces prove to be fabulous for the animals, it can sometimes pose a problem for zoo guests who want that up-close view of a cheetah or a zebra. We were very excited two summers ago when they added viewing decks that offered better views of the animals, and this summer the view got EVEN better. With the grand opening of the brand new African Sky Safari this summer, visitors now enjoy a bird's eye view of majestic animals! Take your children on an unforgettable day at the Zoo. Add to the educational value of your trip with these tips: Bring a notebook and sketch your favorite animals. Note their native habitat, what they eat, how long they live, and other fun facts. Take in a zookeeper chat and learn new things. Make a point to learn something new and share the newly discovered trivia at the family dinner table. You might even bring a small world atlas to record the homeland of your favorite animals. Try to find animals from as many countries and continents as possible.
Explore Economics
The Money Museum (1 Memorial Dr., KCMO. 816.881.2683) is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Bank holidays for walk-in tours. There is no admission charge and reservations are not necessary. The Money Museum is the best place to get a firsthand lesson in the nation's financial system. On a tour, you'll learn how the Federal Reserve Bank works and its role in the U.S. economy. Interactive exhibits explore banking, basic economics, and the financial policies effect your family. You'll also be able to take a peek into one of the nation's largest cash vaults, create your own monetary artwork, and view coins from each U.S. presidential administration. Visitors also enjoy taking home a FREE souvenir bag of shredded cash. Read our review of The Money Museum.
Explore the Rainforest
Learn about ecology and the role we play in protecting the environment at FREE Rainforest Adventure Exhibit at Crown Center (816.274.8444)! This multisensory expedition introduces children to tropical rainforests around the world. The exhibit features 40 interactive components, including computer games, a 9-foot kapok tree, gorilla blind and a station to create your own unique insect. Children role-play as research assistants as they explore and learn about the rainforest and its ecological wonders.
EVEN MORE Hands-On Museum Programs
- Johnson County Museum: Summer Arts Program: Johnson County Museum (6305 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS. 913.715.25550). This summer the Johnson County Museum is offering a Summer Arts Program every Friday from June 3-July 29, 2011 from 10:00-Noon. This is a drop-in arts program for kids 4-8 years old, registration not required. Weekly themes introduce kids to art processes and fun! $3 per child, $2 for Museum Members. Parents must stay with children. Dress for mess! While you're there, be sure to visit KidScape a delightful educational and hands-on exhibit for kids ages 3-9 (but our younger-than-3 children love it too!). Children escape into a child-sized suburban streetscape, where children role-play as community figures in educational environments: bookstore, park, City Hall, hospital, fashion boutique, farm, and theater. Read our review of KidScape here.
- KC Museum: Museum Drop-Ins: Kansas City Museum (3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO. 816.483.8300). FREE programs on Wednesdays & Fridays in June & July from 10am-2pm. This summer, drop in with your Museum Kids for games, music, stories and arts-and-crafts. Different historical themes will keep Museum Kids entertained and (don’t tell them!) they just might learn something. Each day has its own theme and focus. There are scheduled mini-workshops with music and storytelling, and some hands-on activities to do whenever Kids come by. KC Museum Drop-In Schedule. Also, you may enjoy Hard Hat Tour (on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 12:30 p.m. or Wednesdays at 10:30am and 2pm. Tours are FREE and open to visitors 12 & up). On the tour, visit the Kansas City Museum’s exquisite 100+ year old mansion home, Corinthian Hall, in mid-renovation, the bare interior of the building exposed for the first time in decades. Examine 100 year-old craftsmanship and hear first-hand about plans for the grand mansion’s future! Read our review of the KC Museum Hard Hat Tour.
- Toy & Miniature Museum: Adventures in Learning: Toy & Miniature Museum (5235 Oak St., KCMO. 816.333.9328). Every Wednesday this summer, the Museum will host tours, gallery talks, and workshops designed to explore different aspects of the collection. These workshops are recommended for ages 7 to adult. Free with admission. Read our review of the Toy & Miniature Museum.
- National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial: Hands-on History: National World War I Museum (100 W. 26th St. KCMO. 816.784.1918). June 13 - September 5. Mondays, 1-2:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 10-11:30 a.m. Ever wonder what the objects behind the glass feel like or how heavy they are? Spark your child’s imagination and help bring history to life! Great War artifacts will be available to see and touch in the Museum gallery. This summer event is included with regular Museum admission. Read our review of the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial.
Still looking for more great family fun ideas in Kansas City? Check out our Kansas City Calendar of Events and Going Places in Kansas City on KCParent.com.
Note: This list was compiled by the staff of KC Parent Magazine and may not be reproduced in print or online without permission. If you have an addition to this list, please email kristina@kcparent.com