Each year in June and July, the Hastings Museum hosts a variety of Summer Fun programs for kids that explore art, history, and science in fun and engaging ways. Designed for curious minds and active learners, these classes encourage creativity, discovery, and critical thinking through interactive activities and museum exploration.
We are thrilled to announce our 2026 schedule of summer classes for kids! We welcome all school-age learners and offer a wide range of programs for students PreK–8, with age-appropriate classes. From first-time museum explorers to returning campers, our summer classes provide a welcoming environment where kids can learn, connect with others, and enjoy a fun and enriching summer experience at the Hastings Museum.
Don’t miss out. Register early to secure your child’s spot in our popular Summer Fun classes! Museum members can sign up starting February 12, and non-members can register beginning March 12.
Scroll down to check out our 2026 schedule of Summer Fun classes!
| Class Prices | Members | Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| All Classes | $60 | $70 |
| Discover the 7 Ancient Wonders | Kids are the price listed above; adults are FREE, but must still register. | |
Fees are due at time of enrollment and are refundable up to 7 days prior to the first day of class.
REGISTRATION:
Registration is opening soon! Museum members can sign up starting February 12, and non-members can register beginning March 12. Tickets and applications will not be live until these dates. Registration can be completed in person, online with the link below, or over the phone. Please remember to register for each class individually and submit a health form for each child.
SCHOLARSHIP:
Each year, we offer the Ashley Kulwicki Scholarship to help students participate in the Hastings Museum’s Summer Fun program. This scholarship covers 100% of the class fee for eligible students. To qualify, students must be enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Funds are limited, and only one scholarship per student is available so we encourage families to apply early.
HEALTH FORM:
Please note, each child are required to complete an online health form. Registration is not considered complete until both the class registration and health form have been submitted. If you are enrolling multiple children, a separate health form is required for each child. However, if your child is attending more than one class, you only need to submit the health form once per child.
The Super Pollinators (Ages 4-5)
June 8-12, 10 am-12 pm (8/15)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
Come fly with nature’s tiny superheroes! Buzz with bees and flutter with butterflies as these winged helpers race from flower to flower, doing their magic to keep our world blooming. With colorful crafts, playful games, and outdoor adventures, explore the exciting world of pollinators and discover how they help plants grow. Along the way, learn simple ways to help keep our Earth happy and healthy.
From Beats to Bands (Ages 4-5)
July 27-31, 10 am-12 pm (8/15)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
Tap, tap… BOOM! Shake, shake—FUN! Build a drum—everyone! Kazoo goes BZZZ! Shakers shake! Guitars go STRUM! They’re fun to make! Learn how music grew from early beats to bands through hands-on play. Move, build, and discover with sound every day.
Art Explorers: Creating Like the Masters (K)
June 15-19, 1-3 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
Brushes up…let the masterpieces begin! Watch as bold colors, daring shapes, and iconic art styles leap off the page. Inspired by the masters, artists will experiment with playful techniques, splashy paint, and new ways of using color and shape to turn big ideas into standout artwork. Creative energy, joyful discovery, and hands-on fun build toward a final gallery moment where every masterpiece takes the spotlight.
Builder Buddies (K)
June 1-5, 1-3 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
Welcome to the world of blocks! In this class, campers will explore a blocky world in a creative and experimental environment. From creating our own blocky character to making a lantern, bring out your creativeness as you build a world of your own.
Bookworm Adventures (K-1)
June 8-12, 1-3 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
Calling all junior bookworms and crafty creators! Dive into a story-filled adventure where books come to life! Build a sea creature as big as YOU after reading I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, turn your imagination loose with an art masterpiece inspired by I Am Not Just a Scribble, and create a silly sock monster after reading Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli. Every day brings a brand-new book, hands-on crafts, and tons of creative fun. Get ready to read, imagine, and make something amazing!
Creatures Uncovered (K-1)
July 13-17, 10 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
Bigfoot, unicorns, aliens, and mermaids: what do they all have in common? This week, we will talk about all things cryptic. Join us for a creature hunt around the park. Blow fire like a dragon and zoom though the air with aliens.
Weather Wonders (K-2)
July 27-31, 10 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
Planet Earth is a weird and wacky place. Come explore the 5 types of climates around the world. Create a rain stick to summon the clouds. Head outside and learn about trees, animals and their habitats. Note: Please be advised that we will be outside for some classes, so please come dressed properly.
Mess-terpieces (1-2)
June 1-5, 1-3 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
Get ready for a colorful week packed with creativity and hands-on art! Campers will explore the color wheel, create their own version of Starry Night, design a noodle mosaic, and dive into other exciting art projects. Each day encourages imagination, experimentation, and artistic expression as young artists try new materials and techniques. Note: Although we will do our best to contain the mess, please be aware we will be working with materials that may not wash out of clothing well.
Imagination Station Theater (1-2)
July 20-24, 10 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
Lights, Camera, Action! Unleash your imagination as the stage comes alive with playful characters, surprising moments, and stories full of energy and expression. Through movement, puppets, improvisation, and hands-on crafts, stories come to life in silly, surprising, and exciting ways. Big expressions, playful teamwork, and creative fun lead up to a joyful final bow on stage.
Scientist Sampler (2-3)
June 16, 9 am-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
Campers will explore how science helps us understand and protect our world—on Earth and beyond! Blast off as astronauts traveling through space, dive deep as marine biologists to explore ocean animals and learn about water pollution. Plus, we will become wildlife scientists as we discover the importance of animal conservation and watch Wildlife Rescue on the super screen.
Note: Snacks will be provided but campers need to bring a lunch.
Photo 101 (2-3)
June 22-26, 1-3 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this class we will learn the basis of taking great pictures while exploring the world through a new lens- literally! From learning about perspectives and developing observation skills to creating one of a kind photo frames, students will gain the confidence to capture the world around them, one snap at a time.
Superhero Challenges (2-3)
July 16, 9 am-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
BAM! POW! Get ready for an action-packed day bursting with superhero fun. Create your own hero origin story, design a mask and cape, choose powerful abilities, and strike a bold, comic-book–style superhero pose. Take on thrilling challenges, train your powers, and team up for a daring rescue mission filled with surprises. The museum needs brave heroes; it’s time to assemble! Note: Snacks will be provided but campers need to bring a lunch.
Movie Fest (3-5)
July 28-30, 9 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
Lights, camera, exploration! In this exciting summer camp, each day begins with a movie shown on our Super Screen, followed by hands-on activities that bring the story and science to life. We will watch Tornado Alley and campers will step into the role of meteorologists as they conduct a lab to discover how tornadoes form. Next, we’ll visit the wild with Animal Kingdom as kids investigate how animals adapt to their environments through interactive experiments and observations. Our adventure continues with Lewis and Clark, inspiring students to head out on an expedition of their own as they explore, map, and problem-solve like early explorers.
Earth Explorers (3-5)
July 22, 9 am-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
This all-day museum camp invites campers to investigate Earth’s past while uncovering the stories hidden in fossils and explore how Earth’s landscape has change over time. Campers will conduct hands-on investigations, analyze real evidence, and take on team challenges to solve environmental issues such as erosion. We will use our critical thinking and creativity to understand how our planet has changed over time—and what that means for the future. Note: Snacks will be provided but campers need to bring a lunch.
Mad Chef Kitchen (3-5)
July 7-9, 9 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr & Yesi Lara Panjo
Young chefs will explore the delicious world of pizza while learning essential chef skills and flavor profiles. Campers will experiment with sweet and savory ingredients, test creative combinations, and refine their recipes as they turn our kitchen into a pizza lab. Along the way, they’ll build confidence, teamwork, and a love for culinary creativity. On the final day, families are invited to our Pizza Lab Showcase to sample the chefs’ final masterpieces!
Clue Crackers (3-6)
June 9-11, 1-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
A crime has been committed at the Hastings Museum! We need some talented detectives to come help solve the case. Join your fellow detectives to learn what it takes to become a crime-solver with an actual police officer. Break out of the museum and track down the culprit using the clues you find.
Pirates, Flags & Treasure: A High Seas Adventure (4-5)
July 14, 9 am-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
Argh, me hearties! Join us for a daring journey across mysterious seas as we build ships, hunt for treasure, and uncover the real history of pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy. Learn the skills legendary captains used to navigate the waves, then try them yourself through exciting hands-on activities. Each challenge brings us closer to hidden treasure and the secrets of life at sea. Adventure is calling…will you answer? Note: Snacks will be provided but campers need to bring a lunch.
Craft-a-Palooza (4-6)
June 23-25, 1-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Katie Karr
Get ready for a week bursting with creativity at Craft-A-Palooza! This hands-on art camp invites young artists to explore a variety of materials, techniques, and styles while letting their imagination run wild. Campers will create their own beaded animal keychains, learn lettering and design techniques inspired by street art and graffiti, design clay pots, and carve and print with their very own handmade stamps. Note: Although we will do our best to contain the mess, please be aware we will be working with materials that may not wash out of clothing well.
Balloons in Motion (4-6)
June 18, 9 am-4 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
Float, drop, push, and pull. Join us for a day of fun as we engineer balloons in different ways to move items around. Test your skills and see how high you can lift your balloon as a hover craft. Blast off to space with balloon power and race with your classmates using balloon powered cars. Note: Snacks will be provided but campers need to bring a lunch.
Busted! (6-8)
July 21-23, 9 am-12 pm (10/20)
Instructor: Raksha Shrestha
Is yawning contagious? Can paper be folded more than seven times? There are many myths that have long been debated by people of all ages. Join us for fun-filled experiments as we work to bust some myths and learn where they came from. Note: This class will be active, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothing.
Discover the 7 Ancient Wonders (K-2 + Adults)
July 8-9, 9 am-12 pm (10/20)-Numbers are children and adults together.
Instructor: Emma Gassiot
We’re taking a trip in our Time Machine, zoom, zoom! Whoosh through golden deserts, march beneath towering marble columns, and crane your neck to see colossal statues rising high above you. Travel back in time to uncover how these incredible ancient Wonders were imagined, designed, and built. Along the way, you’ll build, shape, and create your own pieces of history at every stop, turning imagination into hands-on adventure.