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Our Favorite STEAM-Inspired Field Trips

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Cultivate a love of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) on an outing to one of these local attractions.

The Linda Hall Library

The world’s largest privately funded library of science, technology and engineering is located right in the heart of Kansas City, MO, on UMKC’s campus. The Linda Hall Library, situated atop a picturesque 14-acre urban arboretum, was gifted by the late Herbert & Linda Hall. Within its walls, patrons can expect to find one of the most comprehensive collections of physical science, life science, engineering and technology collections, as well as educational programs and ongoing lecture series, exhibits and events. As a nonprofit institution, the library offers free admission to the general public. 

Tips: In addition to standard library services, guests are welcome to visit the adjacent William N. Deramus III Cosmology Theater. The theater features View Space, a Space Telescope Science Institute educational series on space-based research, as well as various segments that highlight our planet, its environment and natural disasters. Presentations are approximately 10 minutes in length and use state-of-the-art technology, including a 114-inch display screen, a 1080i projector, as well as a stunning new sound system. Visitors are welcome to come and go at any time during standard library hours. In addition, guests may enjoy the urban arboretum which boasts more than 300 trees (including 12 Champion Trees) and a peony garden. Picnics and lawn chairs are prohibited, but leashed pets are allowed. The arboretum is open from dawn until dusk.

The KC Zoo

Sprawled out over 200 acres, the Kansas City Zoo is home to more than 1,700 animals, making it one of the largest and most affordable forms of family edu-tainment. Guests can take a trip around the world without ever leaving town as they explore the Asia, Africa and Australia complexes within the zoo’s grounds. Walking isn’t the only way to take in the sights and sounds! Hop aboard a tram or a train ride, take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel, or fly high above the Serengeti on a Sky Safari. Get an up close and personal view of both curiously cuddly and ferociously fierce animals at the Polar Bear Passage, Stingray Bay, Helzberg Penguin Plaza and the Discovery Barn. And don’t forget to check out the shows! Sea lions strut their stuff at Sea Lion Splash, while feathered friends put on a dazzling display at Flights of Fancy!

Tips: Wear a pedometer to track all those steps you’ll get in, sport comfortable walking shoes (your feet will thank you!), don a baseball cap or sunglasses and don’t forget the sunscreen! Bringing a little one? Don’t forget to pack a baby carrier or stroller. If you want to pack light, you can rent a stroller at guest services. Visitors are welcome to bring their own sack lunches, snacks and water bottles; the zoo simply asks that you do not bring glass containers or alcoholic beverages. There are various outdoor picnic areas to enjoy your meal. Those looking for a special dining experience, or a simple pick-me-up snack, can choose from one of eight delectable dining options found onsite. 

Cosmosphere

Visitors from around the globe have been making their way to Hutchinson, KS, to visit the Cosmosphere since it’s humble beginnings in 1962. This international science education center and space museum holds the largest collection of Russian artifacts outside of Moscow, as well as the second largest collection of U.S. space artifacts outside of the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. Combined, this world-class collection unpacks the incredible story of the Space Race in an immersive experience unlike any other. The Cosmosphere is home to the recently renovated Justice Planetarium, Dr. Goddard’s Lab (where live science demonstrations take place daily), as well as the Carey Digital Dome Theater. 

Tips: The Cosmosphere is a proud participant in the Blue Star Museum program, which enables active-duty military and their family (up to five members) to receive free admission to the Hall of Space Museum from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day. ASTC members also receive free admission to the Hall of Space Museum. Travelling with your furry friend? Apple Lane Animal Hospital hosts free boarding for your feline friend or canine companion during your Hutchinson visit. (Spots are not guaranteed, so make sure to call ahead.) After your visit, hold onto your ticket! An all-access mission pass at the Cosmosphere entitles you to a $5 discount at Strataca, Kansas’ underground salt museum. 

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

National Museum of Toys & Miniatures

In 1982, Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Hall Marshall opened the Miniature Museum of Kansas City at the historic Tureman Mansion within UMKC’s campus. The original museum was 7,500 square feet and operated by two full-time staffers. Over the course of the next three decades, the museum grew more than 33,000 square feet, with the collection amassing over 72,000 articles. From 2012 to 2014, the museum conducted a capital campaign and renovation process that ultimately resulted in the opening and renaming of the National Museum of Toys & Miniatures in August of 2015. One of the nation’s largest historic toy collections on public display, T/m now showcases more than 86,000 objects.

Tips: 

The National Museum of Toys & Miniatures (T/m) provides ongoing programs and events throughout the year. From July 5 to Sept. 21, visitors can explore Bridging the Gender Divide: Toys That Build Stem Skills. This unique exhibit will showcase how toys have been preparing children both in the past and present for pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Discover the evolution of toys, primarily marketed to boys, from construction to chemistry sets. Interactive components include an arcade, HO working model train and a game that highlights female accomplishments within the STEM field over the last two centuries. 

Lauren Greenlee is a homeschooling mom who loves nothing more than hands-on learning and day trips. She writes from her Olathe home. 

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