Exploration Station...a children's museum

A place for hands-on discovery and exploration!

Bamboo the Museum Mascott

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Admission:
$6.00 per person
for adults and children

(children 12 months and younger are admitted free and senior discounts are available).

The Exploration Station is closed on Mondays starting in September 2013 - March 2014 (excluding certain Holidays).

Exploration Station

a facility of the Bourbonnais Township Park District

Exploration Station ...a children's museum is a hands-on exploration and discovery museum for children and their families, teachers and care givers. At Exploration Station, children can climb inside the tower of a castle, fly a jet plane, change the tire on a car, become a soda shop clerk, dig for dinosaur bones and much more.

Saturday June 8, 2013
A traditional fine arts festival with a twist! ~ The adults shop for unique, hand-crafted fine arts & crafts while the children create art projects instructed by professional artists! We will also have special music presentations from Leigh Anne Turro with King Music Loves Kids! and special guests & supporters, Art Start Studio and Montessori Day School. Stay tuned for more artists and vendors. Located just outside the Exploration Station on beautiful & historic Perry Farm Park. Artist! There will be food vendors, so plan to spend the afternoon with us! Proceeds from this festival will go to benefit Exploration Station…a children’s museum.

Age(s): All Ages
Date(s): Saturday, June 8, 2013
Time(s): 11:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Perry Farm Park
459 N. Kennedy Drive, Bourbonnais IL
Fee: Free to attend! Children's Art Projects are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00
Call to Artists!!
We are currently accepting applications from Fine Arts & Crafts Artists & Artisans!
Learn more or register to be a vendor

New Little Squires
Toddler Area

The new infant/toddler play area is totally enclosed with interlocking, interactive partition walls offering exclusively to visitors under the age of two. These partition walls will offer visibility of the surrounding area so caregivers can still keep an eye on their older children. Little Squires includes interactive wall appliques, balancing rocks, rocking horses, sit me-ups, mats with blocks, and a corner mini ball pit with slide. This exhibit was partially funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and by funds raised through museum fundraisers.

What's New:

Reading with the Dogs
Every 4th Tuesday of the Month
from 6:00-7:00pm

Your children can discover the love of reading, improve their reading skills, or even boost their self – esteem by reading with a trained, licensed and certified therapy dog.

Pre-registration is required. Please call (815) 933-9905 ext. 2 for details.

Explore & More
Included with admission these activities take place daily and are educational opportunities for you and your children. they are on a first come first serve basis, so please sign up at the front desk. Some favorites are Kristi's Craft Corner, Story Book Tuesdays, and Science Fridays. Dates and times vary. Calendars are available at the museum or check our face book page.

May's Activities Calendar

Museum Hours:
Exploration Station now has Donation Afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Free afternoons are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 2:00 p.m. for Illinois residents. Proof of residency will be required.

September – March
Closed Mondays (except special holidays)
Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00a.m.–5:30p.m.
Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 10:00a.m.–5:00p.m.
Sunday: 1:00p.m.–5:00p.m.
Office Hours: 9:00a.m.–5:00p.m.
Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas, The day after Christmas (Dec 26), New Years Eve, and New Years Day.

April – August
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
& Saturday: 10:00a.m –5:00p.m.
Tuesday Thursday: 10:00a.m.–5:30p.m.
Sunday: 1:00p.m.–5:00p.m.
Office Hours: 9:00a.m.–5:00p.m.
Closed on Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Annual Fall Shutdown.

Don't Forget about our Annual Shutdown: Each year the children's museum closes for approx. 2 weeks at the end of August/beginning of September to update exhibits.
Please call or check our web site prior to your visit to verify facility hours. Phone: (815) 933-9905 option 2.

Please Remember:
Children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult while at Exploration Station...a children's museum. And, on the same note, adults must be accompanied and supervised by a child in order to visit the museum.

Special Families with Special Needs Night
Don't Forget! The first Thursday of every month the Exploration Station holds an Evening “Special Families with Special Needs”; a night where families can come together to connect and play!

When: 1st Thursday of Each Month
Fee: Residents: $2 per person/ Non-Residents: $3 per person. No pre-registration needed!
Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Please contact us (815) 933-9905 for more information!

Field Trip News:
Children's Museum has partnered with local Strickler Planetarium for a great field trip package

Exploration Station...a children's museum and Strickler Planetarium have partnered to offer a discounted rate to any group wishing to visit both destinations. The Strickler planetarium is just a few blocks away from Exploration Station on the grounds of the Olivet Nazarene University. For more information on the planetarium click here. For reservations to the planetarium please call 939-5395 or email tbruner@olivet.edu.
Thanks for visiting our website!

To schedule a visit to the museum, contact Tammy Anderson via email or by calling 815.933.9905 ext. 352. Be sure to mention that you are visiting the planetarium as well in order to qualify for your group discount!

Birthdays & Parties:

New Birthday Party Monthly Specials
We have updated our birthday party packages and party times! We are also offering special deals for birthdays each month. For more party details check out our Birthday Party Pages!
Learn More

Hmmm…so what are my kids really getting out of a children’s museum?

Do you ever wonder what your child gets out of his/her visits, or do you even know that there is so much more going on each and every time you come? Here is just some research information being collected on the importance of Children’s Museums:

Children’s museums encourage children to think for themselves, expand their problem-solving repertoire through creative exploration, and exercise both their bodies and their minds. Indoor and outdoor exhibits, programs, and workshops are designed to engage children in simple and complex forms of play that result in foundational learning. When children are at school or doing their homework, they report they are bored as much as 50% of the time. Children’s museums and other community learning environments give children experiences that keep the “fires of learning lit” by providing opportunities to learn through playing; children’s museums are redefining learning so that children are excited about what they learn not only for the future, but also for the present moment.
—Association of Children’s Museum, “The Case for Children’s Museums”

Exploration Station
1095 W Perry Street, Bourbonnais, IL 60914

Bourbonnais Township Park District

Exploration Station ... a children's museum is a facility of the