Exploration Station® Programs

The Exploration Station...a children's museum is a facility of the Bourbonnais Township Park District and together with the BTPD Recreation Department, the museum offers a wide variety of children's programming throughout the year. All of the museum's public programs are included in the Bourbonnais Township Park District Recreation Guide that features all of the park district's recreational programs and events each season. To view the Recreation Guide online, check out the Bourbonnais Township Park District's web site by clicking here.

Scout Programs
Enhance your scout visit to the children's museum with a program specially designed to fulfill scout badge requirements. For an additional $2.00 per scout, your group may add a program to your museum visit.

Group Programs
For an additional $2.00 per student, your group may add a program to your museum visit.

2010-2011 Programs Include:

All About Animals- Children will learn characteristics about: fish, birds, amphibians, mammals and reptiles. Participants will have an opportunity to see and feel some of our live animals that live at the museum, plus there is a snake skin, sheep and leopard pelts, feathers and more textural examples for children to experience. The program concludes with animal craft. Be sure to stop by the live animal exhibit to see more incredible animals.

For those with a fear of snakes, rest easy... this program does not include live snakes. But it does include other really wild animals that you will have to see for yourself!

Illinois Learning Standards for Early Elementary: 11.A.1b, 12.A.1a, 12.A.1.b, 12.B.1a
Illinois Early Learning Standards: Benchmarks: 11.A.ECa, 12.A.ECa, 12.C.EC

Story and a Craft- Enjoy the story of “The Frog Prince”, told on a felt story board.  Then make a frog sand art necklace to take.

Meets the following Illinois Early Learning Standards:
Benchmarks:  1.A.ECa, 1.A.ECb, 1.B.ECa, 1.C.ECa, 1.C.ECb, 1.C.ECc

Food Helps Us Grow- What do boys and girls need to get bigger?  That’s right, food.  Children will learn that food comes from animals and plants, and why it’s important to be clean and careful when preparing food.  Participants will also categorize food items on the nutrition pyramid. 

Meets the following Illinois Learning Standards for Early Elementary:
12.A.1b, 12.B.1b, 13.A.1a
Meets the following Illinois Early Learning Standards:
Benchmarks:  12.A.ECb, 12.B.EC, 13.A.EC,

Spinning Art- Want to add a beautiful art project to your visit?  Children can use our spin art machine to create works of art.  The machine spins the paper and the child squirts paint on the surface.  The colors swirl and blend making a colorful picture.  The program also includes a sand art bottle project.

China – Lanterns to Umbrellas- Locate China on a world map, learn about the Chinese culture, see authentic items from China, and learn about the adorable panda.  Children will make a  craft to take home.

Meets the following Illinois Early Learning Standards:
Benchmarks: 17.A.ECb, 18.A.EC.

A Visit from Bamboo the Panda- Visit with our adorable  Panda mascot, Bamboo!  Listen to a bear story, follow Bamboo as he dances and does the Limbo.  A panda craft will also be included.

Meets the following Illinois Early Learning Standard:
Benchmarks:  19.A.ECa, 19.A.ECb

Under the Sea- The instructor will give descriptive clues about 20 sea creatures.  The children will place shell markers on the pictures of the animals being discussed.  Posters, models and actual animals can be observed close up.  The program concludes with a sand art project.

Meets the following Illinois Early Learning Standards:
Benchmarks:  11.A.ECa, 12.A.ECa, 12.B.EC,

Program availability and selection are subject to change. Please contact us for current available programs.

For more information on group field trips click here.

To book your group program or for more information please contact the museum program coordinator Tammy Anderson at (815) 933-9905 ext 352 or email at tammya@btpd.org. Office hours are Tuesday-Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm.