Step back in time with us! In this hands-on session, preschool-age children will discover how early humans created tools and expressed themselves through art. Little explorers will learn about Stone Age life and then create their own ancient-style artwork using sticks and paper bags—just like early artists did with natural materials. It’s a creative journey through history that’s perfect for curious young minds!

Join us for our 4th Annual PLAY FOR KCUA Pickleball Tournament benefiting KC Urban Advantage! On Saturday, September 20th, 2025 from 9:00 - Noon at Chicken N Pickle Overland Park for a morning of FUN, EXCITEMENT, FOOD, DRINK and DOING GOOD for Kansas City's most underserved children!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Dome building are loved for their unique looks, but why would one build using a dome over a standard design? What kinds of building are generally built using domes, and what are their benefits? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers build a geodesic dome out of gumdrops or candy corn and toothpicks.

Join us on an ancient adventure as we explore the incredible world of pyramids! Designed for preschool-age children, this hands-on session will introduce young learners to the wonders of ancient Egypt. Kids will discover how pyramids were built, learn about their importance, and use simple, ancient-inspired techniques to build their very own mini pyramids. Come ready to dig into history and build like the Egyptians!

Dome building are loved for their unique looks, but why would one build using a dome over a standard design? What kinds of building are generally built using domes, and what are their benefits? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers build a geodesic dome out of gumdrops or candy corn and toothpicks.

Join us on an ancient adventure as we explore the incredible world of pyramids! Designed for preschool-age children, this hands-on session will introduce young learners to the wonders of ancient Egypt. Kids will discover how pyramids were built, learn about their importance, and use simple, ancient-inspired techniques to build their very own mini pyramids. Come ready to dig into history and build like the Egyptians!

In many ways Autumn is a time of transition. The days are getting shorter and colder, the leaves are changing colors, and the animals are preparing for winter. What is the science behind these changes? In this camp, we’ll explore this topic. We will learn about the Sun - Earth relationship during Autumn and how that affects our days and nights and the weather. We’ll examine how and why leaves change their colors by doing leaf paper chromatography. We’ll learn about the habits of animals as they prepare for winter, make observations of plants in our wetlands, and dissect pumpkins.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$50 Non-Members

$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Get Ready to Play, Learn & SLIME!

Join us for Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play onSeptember 27th, 10am-12n— a jam-packed celebration of movement, fun, and fitness!

Learn pro tips from an AdventHealth Sports Medicine Specialist on the best snacks to fuel your body and simple daily moves to keep you in peak performance shape. Whether you’re into Baseball, Cheer, Football, Gymnastics, Soccer, Basketball, Dance — or ANY sport — staying strong and ready is the secret to success!

After that, hit the Patio Free Play Stations on the Terrace for hands-on fun and active games.

Then get ready, because it’s… TIME. TO. SLIME!

This is a FREE event — but space is limited and registration is required. Don’t miss out on the ultimate day of play!

Join us on an ancient adventure as we explore the incredible world of pyramids! Designed for preschool-age children, this hands-on session will introduce young learners to the wonders of ancient Egypt. Kids will discover how pyramids were built, learn about their importance, and use simple, ancient-inspired techniques to build their very own mini pyramids. Come ready to dig into history and build like the Egyptians!

Dome building are loved for their unique looks, but why would one build using a dome over a standard design? What kinds of building are generally built using domes, and what are their benefits? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers build a geodesic dome out of gumdrops or candy corn and toothpicks.

Get ready to explore the science of light and shadow! In this playful, hands-on session, preschoolers will discover how shadows are made, experiment with different objects, and even create their own shadow shapes. It's a fun and sneaky way to learn all about how light works!

The Earth Shook. The Ocean Answered.

On July 29, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through the seafloor off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, unleashing tsunami warnings across the Pacific — reaching as far south as Santiago, Chile. It stands as the largest earthquake ever recorded in human history.

What forces unleashed such unimaginable power beneath our feet? And more importantly — could it happen again?

Join us for an eye-opening presentation with renowned geologist Dr. Allen Macfarlane as he takes us deep inside the science, the mystery, and the future of our restless planet.

Don’t miss this unforgettable journey into the Earth’s most powerful forces.

Dr. Macfarlane received his undergraduate degree in geological engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1970. Rather than following a career in industry, Allen attended the University of Northern Colorado to complete the education coursework needed to become a middle school science teacher. His career in teaching was postponed by a stint in the US Navy. Following his service, he enrolled as a graduate student in the Geology program to seek a Master’s degree from the University of Kansas. During this time he was a research assistant employed in the Environmental Geology Section of the Kansas Geological Survey. Upon completion of his Master’s, his first job was as a hydrologist working in the Public Water Supply Section of the US EPA in the Kansas City regional office. A year later he was hired as a research scientist in the Geohydrology Section of the Kansas Geological Survey where he completed a 34 year career working on the State’s water challenges. In 1993 Allen received his Doctorate in Environmental Health Science from KU. He has done field research in many of the 105 counties in Kansas and in adjacent areas of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado and has enjoyed collaborating in research with colleagues from the US and other parts of the world. Following retirement from the Survey in 2010, Allen became a middle school science teacher at Topeka Collegiate. He organized field trips for the purpose of giving students the opportunity to explore natural Kansas.

He retired from Collegiate in 2017 and shortly thereafter became an education consultant for the Museum at Prairiefire, where he currently works remotely from home. Prior to the pandemic, he wrote educational materials for and presented activities to students in the JAM after school program and wrote teacher educational pieces in support of the Museum’s exhibitions. Some of his latest work has been to collect research materials in support of the upcoming Kansas Revealed exhibit.

Wednesday, October 8th
Doors open at 5:30 PM for Happy Hour drinks
Talk begins at 6PM
Tickets are FREE for membership and $10 for non-members

Get ready to explore the science of light and shadow! In this playful, hands-on session, preschoolers will discover how shadows are made, experiment with different objects, and even create their own shadow shapes. It's a fun and sneaky way to learn all about how light works!

Dome building are loved for their unique looks, but why would one build using a dome over a standard design? What kinds of building are generally built using domes, and what are their benefits? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers build a geodesic dome out of gumdrops or candy corn and toothpicks.

You’ve probably learned about the colors that make up a rainbow, but do you know how those colors appear in the first place? To answer this question, we’ll replicate one of the most famous scientific experiments in history, performed by perhaps one of the most famous scientists in history. Of course, knowing the science of how color works means you can be creative and come up with all kinds of uses for color. You can make your own color pigments from rocks, separate colors from candy, understand why some color combinations look better to our eyes than others, even learn why different colors can put you in different moods, and so much more!

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$50 Non-Members

$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Get ready to explore the science of light and shadow! In this playful, hands-on session, preschoolers will discover how shadows are made, experiment with different objects, and even create their own shadow shapes. It's a fun and sneaky way to learn all about how light works!

Join us at the Museum at Prairiefire for SciFun Saturday: National Fossil Day on Saturday, October 11th from 1–4PM! Young explorers and curious minds of all ages are invited to dig into the fascinating world of paleontology. Learn how fossils form and get hands-on as you make your own fossil to take home! This free event is perfect for families and fossil fanatics alike. Come discover ancient life and uncover the past—one layer at a time!

Parents often joke that Halloween candy will rot your teeth, but how true is this claim? Can we test to see how acidic some of our favorite candies are? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers will learn aspects of science by conducting experiments on candies.  The session will end with making glow-in-the-dark slime.

Join us for a creepy-crawly adventure as we learn all about spider webs! Preschoolers will discover how spiders spin their sticky traps, explore the different kinds of webs they make, and work together to create a giant class spider web. We'll even “catch” some pretend insects to see how webs really work! Perfect for curious little ones who love nature and hands-on fun!

Fossils can be fascinating to look at and wonder about. But what makes a fossil a fossil? How do fossils form and how do we know how old they are? How do Earth scientists use fossils to figure out what the ancient world in the geologic past was like? What do fossils tell us about how life has evolved over time? Could it be that we humans have inherited some of our body parts from ancient life forms, like fish, amphibians, and reptiles? In this camp, we will answer all of these questions and more, including the mass extinctions that have occurred in the geologic past. Campers will also learn about the best places to look for and collect fossil specimens in the Kansas City Metro and will learn how to identify them.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$100 Non-Members

$90 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Join us for a creepy-crawly adventure as we learn all about spider webs! Preschoolers will discover how spiders spin their sticky traps, explore the different kinds of webs they make, and work together to create a giant class spider web. We'll even “catch” some pretend insects to see how webs really work! Perfect for curious little ones who love nature and hands-on fun!

Parents often joke that Halloween candy will rot your teeth, but how true is this claim? Can we test to see how acidic some of our favorite candies are? In this hands-on activity, JAMmers will learn aspects of science by conducting experiments on candies.  The session will end with making glow-in-the-dark slime.

Fossils can be fascinating to look at and wonder about. But what makes a fossil a fossil? How do fossils form and how do we know how old they are? How do Earth scientists use fossils to figure out what the ancient world in the geologic past was like? What do fossils tell us about how life has evolved over time? Could it be that we humans have inherited some of our body parts from ancient life forms, like fish, amphibians, and reptiles? In this camp, we will answer all of these questions and more, including the mass extinctions that have occurred in the geologic past. Campers will also learn about the best places to look for and collect fossil specimens in the Kansas City Metro and will learn how to identify them.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$100 Non-Members

$90 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Join us for a creepy-crawly adventure as we learn all about spider webs! Preschoolers will discover how spiders spin their sticky traps, explore the different kinds of webs they make, and work together to create a giant class spider web. We'll even “catch” some pretend insects to see how webs really work! Perfect for curious little ones who love nature and hands-on fun!

What would happen if there was a power outage and you had no electricity in your house?  Maybe you could rely on the fruits you have in your refrigerator for electricity. In this experiment, JAMmers will see just how much electricity can be generated from a fruit battery, and what you could actually power in your home if you needed to.

Join us for a bug-tastic adventure! In this Little Explorers Club session, preschoolers will discover the world of insects through hands-on fun. We'll explore how scientists classify insects and what makes them special—like having six legs and three body parts! Little ones will also get creative and make their own colorful ladybug paintings to take home. Perfect for curious minds who love to learn, play, and explore!

Join us for a bug-tastic adventure! In this Little Explorers Club session, preschoolers will discover the world of insects through hands-on fun. We'll explore how scientists classify insects and what makes them special—like having six legs and three body parts! Little ones will also get creative and make their own colorful ladybug paintings to take home. Perfect for curious minds who love to learn, play, and explore!

What would happen if there was a power outage and you had no electricity in your house?  Maybe you could rely on the fruits you have in your refrigerator for electricity. In this experiment, JAMmers will see just how much electricity can be generated from a fruit battery, and what you could actually power in your home if you needed to.

For centuries, people have tried to figure out how to get up into the air and fly like a bird. From Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings of his flying machines to hot air balloons to quirky pedaling contraptions and the first true self-powered plane, it took humans quite some time to get it right. Once we cracked the code, we quickly went from rickety-looking airplanes to rockets that launched people to the Moon. In this camp, you will explore the science of flight and watch and learn from past inventions. With all the space we have around the museum, you can test out your own flying machines that you design yourself.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$50 Non-Members

$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Join us for a bug-tastic adventure! In this Little Explorers Club session, preschoolers will discover the world of insects through hands-on fun. We'll explore how scientists classify insects and what makes them special—like having six legs and three body parts! Little ones will also get creative and make their own colorful ladybug paintings to take home. Perfect for curious minds who love to learn, play, and explore!

The Earth is 4.56 billion years old and as far as we know, life has been around for most of that time. In this offering, campers will look at how the tree of life has grown and expanded over geologic time up to the present, starting with single-celled, life forms and ending with the multi-cellular, creatures of modern times. Along the way, we will focus on transitional forms from one major group to the next and on the mass extinctions that have occurred in the geologic past.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$50 Non-Members

$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

We usually think of turkeys waddling and gobbling on the ground, but those who see turkeys in the wild know they can run fast, and fly, when they feel like it. In this hilarious and exciting hands-on activity, students construct their own turkey balloon racers and then conduct races with each other. Who will come out on top?

Join us for a buggy good time as we explore the fascinating world of insects and their exoskeletons! Designed for preschool-aged children, this hands-on program will introduce little learners to what makes insects unique—from their hard outer shells to how they grow and move. Kids will get crafty making their very own egg carton ants to take home while learning fun facts about our six-legged friends. Perfect for curious minds who love to crawl, climb, and create!

We usually think of turkeys waddling and gobbling on the ground, but those who see turkeys in the wild know they can run fast, and fly, when they feel like it. In this hilarious and exciting hands-on activity, students construct their own turkey balloon racers and then conduct races with each other. Who will come out on top?

Join us for a buggy good time as we explore the fascinating world of insects and their exoskeletons! Designed for preschool-aged children, this hands-on program will introduce little learners to what makes insects unique—from their hard outer shells to how they grow and move. Kids will get crafty making their very own egg carton ants to take home while learning fun facts about our six-legged friends. Perfect for curious minds who love to crawl, climb, and create!

Join us for a buggy good time as we explore the fascinating world of insects and their exoskeletons! Designed for preschool-aged children, this hands-on program will introduce little learners to what makes insects unique—from their hard outer shells to how they grow and move. Kids will get crafty making their very own egg carton ants to take home while learning fun facts about our six-legged friends. Perfect for curious minds who love to crawl, climb, and create!

Our home is the solar system heated by a star we call the Sun. In the first part of this camp, you will investigate the astronomical bodies that make up our solar system, including Earth and our Moon. Topics in this part of the camp will include why we have days and nights, Earth’s seasons, and much more. We will answer questions like, what is the difference between rotation and revolution? Do the other planets in our solar system have seasons like we do? In the second part of the camp, we will investigate the workings of stars and how they age over the course of time. You will also learn about the constellations and how to use sky maps to find them in the night sky.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$100 Non-Members

$90 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Our home is the solar system heated by a star we call the Sun. In the first part of this camp, you will investigate the astronomical bodies that make up our solar system, including Earth and our Moon. Topics in this part of the camp will include why we have days and nights, Earth’s seasons, and much more. We will answer questions like, what is the difference between rotation and revolution? Do the other planets in our solar system have seasons like we do? In the second part of the camp, we will investigate the workings of stars and how they age over the course of time. You will also learn about the constellations and how to use sky maps to find them in the night sky.

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$100 Non-Members

$90 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Celebrate Native American Heritage Day at the Museum at Prairiefire on Saturday, November 29th from 1–4PM during our FREE SciFun Saturday event! Learn about the rich cultures and traditions of Native American communities through hands-on activities and educational fun. Explorers of all ages are invited to create their own mini teepees and discover the significance of these traditional structures.

By now you’ve probably heard from others that birds are actually feathered dinosaurs. How could that possibly be true? Dinosaurs are huge and birds seem so tiny next to them. In this camp we will do a deep dive into this topic. Along the way, you will take on the role of a vertebrate paleontologist as he/she tries to assemble the bones of an ancient creature into the skeleton of a dinosaur. Speaking of which, we will also tackle questions like what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, were dinosaurs actually covered in feathers, and did some dinosaurs actually sit on nests of eggs before they hatched?

For elementary school ages

Drop-off for camps is from 8:00-8:20 and pick-up is from 3:30-4:00.  

$50 Non-Members

$40 Members (please sign in to your account and use the discount code emailed to you)

Crystals are a favorite among geologists, but they're also important when forming snow. If you have the right recipe, you can even form crystals yourself! In this hands-on activity that is to be completed at home, JAMmers grow crystals on pipe cleaners to make fancy Holiday decorations.

Join us for a chilly adventure as we learn how animals like polar bears stay warm in icy places! Preschool-aged children will explore the science behind fur and blubber, then get creative by making their very own polar bear paintings to take home. Perfect for curious little minds and busy hands!

Crystals are a favorite among geologists, but they're also important when forming snow. If you have the right recipe, you can even form crystals yourself! In this hands-on activity that is to be completed at home, JAMmers grow crystals on pipe cleaners to make fancy Holiday decorations.

Join us for a chilly adventure as we learn how animals like polar bears stay warm in icy places! Preschool-aged children will explore the science behind fur and blubber, then get creative by making their very own polar bear paintings to take home. Perfect for curious little minds and busy hands!

Join us for a chilly adventure as we learn how animals like polar bears stay warm in icy places! Preschool-aged children will explore the science behind fur and blubber, then get creative by making their very own polar bear paintings to take home. Perfect for curious little minds and busy hands!

Soar into American Aviation Day at the Museum at Prairiefire on Saturday, November 20th from 1–4PM during our exciting SciFun Saturday! Learn about the science of flight and the history of American aviation pioneers. Kids and families can design, decorate, and fly their own paper airplanes—inside the museum or out on our terrace (weather permitting).