Bring your group on an adventure to explore the museum this summer!
What are your program themes this summer? Animals? Bugs? History? Nature? Whatever the theme, we have an experience for you! Bring your youth group to the museum and explore many different topics through hands-on activities, interactive programs, and engaging exhibits.
Summer Museum Experiences
Programs for summer youth groups are available according to the following schedule. You can find more information about each program by clicking on the drop-down tabs below.
- Guided Interactive Programs: visit includes a hands-on activity in our classroom and a guided tour of related exhibit.
Monday – Thursday 9:00AM – 5:00PM - Group Visits to Family Fun in the Sun Program: check out special hands-on activities in the museum’s courtyard and explore the exhibits.
Fridays and Saturdays in July and August 10:00AM – 4:00PM - Self-Guided Visits: Explore the exhibits at your own pace.
Monday – Sunday 9:00AM – 5:00PM and until 8:00PM on Thursdays
Pre-registration is required to receive group visit discount and for all guided programs.
Register for a program through the Register Here link at the bottom of this page.
Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
60-90 minutes
Explore the past and delve into the future with a guided interactive program! All programs are taught by trained museum educators. Your visit will include a 30 minute interactive program, a 20-30 minute guided exhibit tour, and 30 minutes of self-explore time. Guided programs must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance.
Only one group can be scheduled for these programs at a time. We can schedule multiple programs at different times on the same day. See calendar at the bottom of the page for available times to request these programs
Available programs
- Fun with Fossils (Ages 5-13)
Discover the natural history and geology of Oregon! Be a scientist for a day, handling and classifying items like fossils and volcanic rocks, and see the fossils on display in the Explore Oregon exhibit. - Oregon Archaeology Detectives (Ages 8-18)
Put on your detective hat and uncover clues about Oregon's past. Learn about the Tribes that have lived here since time immemorial. Develop and test your own hypothesis as you tour cultural history exhibit, Oregon—Where Past is Present. - Animal Tracks (Ages 5-8)
Who’s been wandering through the museum? Follow the tracks to find out! Learn about different animals and the clues their tracks leave behind. Take a tour through the Explore Oregon exhibit. - Adapt, Move, or Go Extinct (Ages 8-18)
Investigate Oregon’s ecosystems and learn how plants and animals adapt to their changing environments. Take a tour through the Explore Oregon exhibit.
Fridays and Saturdays in July and August 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required for group visits to the Family Fun in the Sun Program.
Bring your group to the museum and learn though play! Visit our front courtyard for hands-on activities, crafts and experiments exploring different topics from the museum. Then, head inside and walk through the museum to learn more about the topic from the exhibits.
Activities are engaging for ages 3 and up and are bilingual English-Spanish. Groups larger than 15 youth will be split in half and will take turns with Fun in the Sun activities and self-exploring in the museum.
Activity Topic Schedule for 2026:
- Jul 10-11 & Jul 17-18: Bees and Bugs
Jump, slither, flap and skitter through activities that investigate how our smallest neighbors help make our big world go round. Peer into the life of bees and other bugs to discover where they live, how they move, what they eat, and how this benefits all life on planet Earth.
- Jul 24-25 & July 31-Aug 1: Ice Age Creature Features
Discover how ice age creatures ran, leaped, flew, and ate their way through Oregon’s history. Investigate fossils, bones, and teeth while comparing ancient animals to those that live in Oregon today.
- Aug 7-8 & Aug 14-15: Geology Rocks!
Take off on a geology adventure to explore our ever-changing planet Earth. Dig deep into rocks, fossils, earthquakes and volcanos with fun, hands-on activities and rockin’ specimens, discovering the forces that have shaped Oregon’s landscape over time.
- Aug 21-22 & Aug 28-39: Oregon’s Dino-Story
Why are dinosaur fossils so rare here? Uncover the mystery of Oregon’s dinosaur history! Join us for this dino-mite adventure, learn about dinosaurs, and discover the clues that fossils reveal about Oregon during the Age of Dinosaurs
Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. We recommend planning 45-60 minutes for a self-guided visit.
Create your own adventure! Explore the museum at your own pace. We just ask that groups have a 1:10 ratio of adult chaperones to youths.
When you request a group visit in advance and pay for all attendees in one transaction you are eligible for the group discount of $1 off admission per youth and free adult chaperone admission.
Planning and Scheduling:
- Groups must be between 8-35 youths.
- Groups must be accompanied by adults from the visiting organization for the duration of the visit.
- We ask that groups bring a ratio of 1:10, adults to youth.
- Please submit your visit request at least two weeks prior to your requested date.
- Payment is due at time of arrival.
- For Guided Interactive Programs: Only one group can be scheduled for these programs at a time. We can schedule multiple programs at different times on the same day. See calendar below for available times to request these programs.
Information on directions and parking can be found on the Visit page
Cost
Group Visit Discount:
- Youth: $4 ($1 discount off general admissions prices)
- Adult Chaperones: Free
To qualify for this discount, a group must:
- Make an advance reservation at least two weeks in advance
- Have at least 8 youth participants
- Pay all together in one transaction (not having each individual paying admissions fees separately)
Payment is due upon arrival. We do not have a way to bill electronically. Please bring check, cash, or card. We can take card payments over the phone on the day of visit if necessary.
Available Dates and Times for Guided Interactive Programs
This calendar represents possible available times to request Guided Interactive Programs at the museum. If a time is marked as busy, that time is unavailable for booking. Self-Guided Visits can still be requested. For questions email mncheducation@uoregon.edu .
PLEASE NOTE: Availability on this calendar is not guaranteed, but rather a guide to help you find the most likely openings for your group. You must request your chosen date and time through our request form, and wait for confirmation from our team.