School-year Programs
Totally Touchable Tales every Tuesday
Sensory-filled storytelling about animals and people of the High Desert for ages 2-5. You never know what will happen - crafts, puppets or maybe a live animal appearance!
Tuesdays 10:30 am September 6 through May.
Included with Museum admission.
Backpack Explorers
A hands-on program for parents and children ages 3-4. Do science, art, and body movement stations, share stories and songs. Don our backpacks filled with cool artifacts. Explore the Museum’s animal habitats. New weekly themes. Take home your art and a Museum adventure activity to do at home. 10-11 am most Thursdays September 7 through May.
Museum members: $10 per child
Non-members: $15 per child, plus Museum admission for accompanying adult
Requires pre-registration. Please call, 541-382-4754, ext. 329
Some activities may be outdoors - please dress appropriately.
The Otter Den
Creative play for ages 2-5. A fun, new theme each week, from tumbling to bubble play. Parents must accompany children.
Mondays through Fridays from Sept. 5 through May, 10 am - 2 pm
$5 per day for one child, $3 for each additional child (plus Museum admission where applicable.) Family members, $25/year. Add to your membership - ask at Admissions!
Wild Wednesdays
Wild Wednesdays has new elements this year and complements area schools’ early release days. Visitors ages 7-12 and their parents will discover hidden treasures of the Museum on weekly scavenger hunts. They will receive an adventure map that they’ll use to find all the treasure chests and get a Museum prize. Themes of the hunt change each month.
Wednesdays, 12:30 - close during the school year, included with Museum admission.
SASS Club
For children with disabilities, ages four through ten.
SASS (science, art, and social studies) Clubis a hands-on, interactive class for children with disabilities. Led by museum educators, the club explores a new theme each month and highlights the animals, exhibits, and stories of the High Desert Museum. Parents and their children have the museum all to themselves as class is held during nonpublic hours of operation. Class includes a circle time, touchable artifacts, scientific experiments, and art projects.
Come experience the fun during the next SASS Club meeting.
To reserve a spot for these free classes please contact Susan at sgrasser@highdesertmuseum.org or (541)382-4754, ext. 329. Each child is welcome to bring one friend or sibling, four years of age or older. Members are welcome to stay and enjoy the museum; class attendance does not include admission for nonmembers.
There will be no SASS Club events during summer, however, they will begin again in September.
Play Spaces for Children
Indoor:
WHOSE HOME?
Play like a wild animal!
Climb up to an eagle's perch! Stash gigantic treasures in the packrat nest! Slide the rock slide! Uncover the hidden tarantula, scorpion, rattlesnake and lizards! Do animal puppet theater! Made possible by the Jeld-Wen Foundation.
Outdoor:
Dig! Crawl! Climb!
Outdoor fun at this nature-inspired play area. Open weather permitting.
Members enjoy events and exhibits for free or with special member discounts!
