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By Lynda Exley

Education can be fun when kids get up close and personal with the diversified cultural, artistic, historical and contemporary exhibits available at Valley museums and enrichment centers. Exhibits are appropriate for all ages unless otherwise stated. Always call ahead to confirm information. Note: *Denotes new or revised listing.

Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park: Explore 20th and 21st century life in the Valley through interactive exhibits, educational programs, research library and living-history presentations. 8 am-5 pm Mon.-Fri., 11 am-4 pm Sat. $5 adults, $4 seniors and students, free ages 11 and under. 1300 N. College Ave., Tempe. 480-929-0292.

Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. More than 3,000 colorful minerals, rocks, gemstones, fossils and mining artifacts from Arizona’s copper mines and towns are exhibited. 8 am-5 pm Mon.-Fri. and 11 am-4 pm Sat., closed holidays. $2 adults, free for children. 1502 W. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-255-3791.

Arizona Museum for Youth: “Artville” features structures made from oversized art supplies such as walls constructed from colossal crayons and a cityscape comprised of pencils, protractors, tempera bottles and artist brushes. Includes a soft play area for babies. This and other exhibits teach children the value of art. 9 am-5 pm Tue.-Sun. $3.50. 35 N. Robson, Mesa. 480-644-2467. www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com.

Arizona Science Center: “Animal Grossology” oozes with disgusting science and interactive learning games that give a unique perspective of the animal kingdom through Sept. 4 ($3 plus regular admission price). “How We Live with the Sun” explores the properties of energy, weather, light and color through interactive displays (ongoing). Also see more than 300 interactive displays, planetarium, five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, traveling exhibitions and more. 10 am-5 pm daily. $9 ages 13 and older, $7 ages 3-12 and seniors (62+), free ages 2 and younger; Planetarium and giant-screen tickets: $5 ages 13 and older, $4 ages 12 and younger and seniors (62 and older). 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-716-2000. www.azscience.org.

ASU Art Museum: “Seeing Ourselves” includes more than 50 artworks in several mediums that show the different ways artists depict themselves and their subjects through Sept. 23. “Seeing Ourselves” is a lesson in self-awareness and personal identity through portraiture through Sept. 23. 10 am-5 pm. Tues-Sat. Free. Southeast corner of Mill Ave. and 10th St., Tempe. 480-965-2787.

Bead Museum: Over 100,000 amazing beads and beaded artworks. 10 am-5 pm Mon.-Sat., 10 am-8 pm Thu., 11 am-4 pm Sun. $4 ages 12 and older, $2 ages 11 and younger. 5754 W. Glenn Dr., Glendale. 623-931-2737.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum: Offers easy and moderate trails that wind around cool shade trees and Sonoran Desert gardens. See over 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The Smith Interpretive Center offers narrative displays of indigenous plants and animals. 6 am-3 pm daily. $7.50 ages 13 and older, $3 ages 5-12, free ages 4 and under. Located 45 minutes east of Mesa on US-60 near Milepost 223. 520-689-2811. http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu.

Challenger Space Center: Features a Mission Control center designed after NASA's space center; a spacecraft that depicts life aboard the International Space Station; an Earth Space Transit Module that simulates liftoff and docking; rooftop stargazing; and space academies. 9 am-4 pm Mon.-Fri., 10 am-4 pm Sat. General admission/tours: $6 adults; $4 children and seniors. Public missions for ages 7 and older are "flown" 6:30 pm the second Thu. of each month, 10:30 am and 1 pm every Sat. $17.50 adults, $15 children and seniors (ages 7-10 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult). Reservations required. 21170 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria. 623-322-2001. www.azchallenger.org.

Chandler Historical Museum: Displays of agriculture and ranch life, pioneer handicrafts and artifacts of the prehistoric Hohokam Indians. 11 am-4 pm daily except holidays. Free. 178 E. Commonwealth, Chandler. 480-782-2717.

Deer Valley Rock Art Center: View more than 1,500 ancient petroglyphs along a scenic path. 8 am-2 pm Tue.-Fri., 9 am-5 pm Sat., noon-5 pm Sun. Inquire about guided tours. $5 ages 13 and older, $2 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and under. 3711 W. Deer Valley Rd., Phoenix. 623-582-8007.

Desert Botanical Garden: Take a self-guided tour and learn how plants and animals survive in the desert. 7 am-8 pm daily. $10 ages 13 and older, $9 seniors, $5 students, $4 ages 3-12, free for kids 2 and under. 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. 480-941-1225. www.dbg.org.

Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden: A cozy, neighborhood garden developed to stimulate the senses of sight, sound, smell and touch through the use of plants, trees, water features and dramatic visuals and sculptures. Open dusk to dawn. Free. 7637 N. 55th Ave., Glendale. 623-930-2820.

Goldfield Ghost Town: Authentic 1890s village with underground mine tours, narrow gauge railroad, carriages and shops. 10 am-5 pm daily. Admission is free; charge for some attractions. 4650 N. Mammoth Rd., Apache Junction. 480-983-0333.

Halle Heart Center: A cardiovascular learning center filled with hands-on exhibits that teach individuals the importance of exercise, proper nutrition and living tobacco-free. Meet Lub Dub (mascot), play miniature golf while learning about the impact of smoking on the circulatory system and see your heart beat before and after exercise. 10-4 pm Mon.-Fri. Free. 2929 S. 48th St., Phoenix. 602-414-2800.

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting: More than 90 restored fire engines and firefighting artwork. 9 am-5 pm Mon.-Sat., noon-4 pm Sun. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 ages 6-17, $1.50 ages 3-5, free for kids under 3. 6101 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix. 602-275-3473.

*Heard Museum: “Animal Grossology” oozes with disgusting science and interactive learning games that give a unique perspective of the animal kingdom through Sept. 4 ($3 plus regular admission price). “Inner Equations” draws connections between the physical world, which can be represented by mathematical equations, and the emotional world, which is often described through art, through Sept. 10. “HOME: Native People in the Southwest” is a permanent collection of Native art that took nearly 20 years to assemble. “Holy Land: Diaspora and the Desert” examines the dispersion of indigenous people from their homeland around the world through Dec. 31 2006. “Every Picture Tells a Story” exhibits pottery, baskets, clothing, wall hangings and more from seven distinct geographic. Includes hands-on craft activities, interactive components and take-home projects. “Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience” chronicles the controversial practice of removing Native American children from their homes and placing them in boarding schools to educate and assimilate them; “We Are! Arizona’s First People” tells about Arizona’s 21 federally recognized tribes. 9:30 am-5 pm daily. $9 ages 65 and older, $10 adults, $5 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and younger. 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8848. www.heard.org.
Heard Museum West: features a classroom for children’s hands-on activities, tours, adult programs and continuing education. “Our Stories: American Indian Art and Culture in Arizona” displays more than 400 objects that focus on the great cultural diversity of American Indians in Arizona and examine how Indian people have been tied to the land from ancestral times to today. 9:30 am-5 pm Tue.-Sun. $5 adults, $4 seniors (55+), $2 students, free ages 5 and younger. 16126 N. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise. 623-344-2200. www.heard.org.

Irish Cultural Center: Tour a replica of a 19th Century Irish Cottage, The Great Hall, An Gorta Mor (a memorial dedicated to millions who died of disease or starvation in 1840s Ireland) and see a facsimile of Book of Kells. Sign up for Irish music and Celtic language classes or learn the Ceili (a traditional Irish group dance). Trace your Irish roots, learn the history of Irish dance in Arizona and view images of old Ireland. 10 am-3 pm. Mon.-Fri. Call for pricing. 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-258-0109. www.azirish.com.

Katydid Insect Museum: View live and preserved insects and spiders. Ages 2 and older. 11 am-4:30 pm Mon.-Fri. $3 ages 12 and older, $1 ages 5-11, free ages 4 and under. 5060 W. Bethany Home Rd., Suite 7, Glendale. 623-931-0266. Two for one discount coupons are available from the Glendale Visitor Center, 5800 W. Glenn Dr., Suite 140, Glendale.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park: Antique carousel rides, picnic ramadas, a railroad museum, two playgrounds, a desert arboretum and train rides. Call for hours. $1 per ride. 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale. 480-312-2312. www.therailroadpark.com.

*Mesa Historical Museum. This 1913 schoolhouse displays a collection of farm machinery and domestic farmstead items. See memorabilia of early Mesa, Stringtown and Hehi settlers, and murals. 10 am-4 pm Tue.-Sat. Free. 2345 N. Horne St., Mesa. 480-835-7358. www.mesaaz.org.

Mesa Southwest Museum: “From Above: Images of a Storied Land” displays photographs of ancient and modern landscapes captured by Adriel Heisey from a unique vantage point – an ultralight airplane. See it through Oct. 29. “Searching for Mesa” depicts a comprehensive history of the Mesa region, covering more than 2,000 years through Oct. 19. Make projects, touch fossils or minerals and play educational computer games in the Hands-on Adventure Center. Also see displays of dinosaur skeletons, Spanish mission, Lost Dutchman’s Treasure and Native American pottery. Activities are for grades K-6. 10 am-5 pm Tue-Sat., 1-5 pm Sun. $8 ages 13 and older, $7 seniors, $6 students with ID, $4 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and younger; free to everyone the second Sunday each month. 53 N. MacDonald St., Mesa. 480-644-2230. www.mesasouthwestmuseum.com.

Museo Chicano: Latino art, history and culture. 10 am-4 pm Tue-Sat. $2 adults, $1 ages 12 and younger and students. 147 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-257-5536. www.museochicano.com.

Mystery Castle: A three-story castle made of stone, automobile parts, adobe and petroglyphs. 11 am-4 pm Thu.-Sun. $5 adults, $2 ages 6-15, free ages 5 and younger. 800 E. Mineral Rd., Phoenix. 602-268-1581.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park: Ride or walk within this preserve of large predators such as lions, tigers, pathers and hyena. Ride safari vehicles among giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and other animals of the African plains. 9:30 am-4 pm Wed.-Sun. Call for admission fee. Located 3 miles west of I-17 on Hwy. 260 (exit 287) 25 miles south of Sedona. 928-567-2840. www.outofafricapark.com.

*Phoenix Art Museum: PhxArtsKids is an interactive space for children to have fun while becoming familiar with art through playful design and innovative presentation. “Constructing New Berlin” is the first major survey of contemporary art made in post-wall Berlin. See approximately 18 Berlin-based artists of various nationalities working in painting, sculpture, photography and performance art through Sept. 24, 2006. “Demonic Devine in Himalayan Art” presents 53 objects from Himalayan regions such as Tibet and Mongolia, from 11th century to the 19th Sept. 23-Dec. 17. 10 am-5 pm Tue., Wed., Fri., Sat. and Sun.; 10 am-9 pm Thu. $9 adults, $7 seniors (65+), $3 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and under; free to all on Thu only. Some exhibits may have additional fees or varied hours. 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1222. www.phxartkids.org; www.phxart.org

Phoenix Museum of History: Displays teach Phoenix’s history and the development of the Salt River Valley. 10 am-5 pm Tues.-Sat. $5 adults, $3.50 seniors and students, $2.50 ages 7-12, free for kids 6 and younger (daily) and for everyone 2-5 pm Wed. only. 105 N. Fifth St., Phoenix. 602-253-2734.

Phoenix Zoo: Hundreds of awesome animal exhibits in authentically recreated habitats, petting zoo and play areas. Ride the Endangered Species Carousel ($2). 9 am-5 pm daily. $14 adults, $9 seniors, $6 ages 3-12, free for kids 2 and under. 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. 602-273-1341. www.phoenixzoo.org.

Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum: Over 30 historical buildings in an 1800’s town. Costumed actors entertain and educate. 9 am-3 pm Wed.-Sun. June-Sept. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 students, $4 ages 3-5, free ages 2 and younger. Take I-17 north to Exit 225, 3901 W. Pioneer Rd., Phoenix. 623-465-1052.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park: Dig-It! Children’s Hands-On Gallery features a life-size replica of an excavated trench wall where hands-on elements demonstrate the science of archeology. Also see 1,500-year-old ruins of a Hohokam village on a 102-acre site that illuminates Arizona’s Native American culture with interpretive trails and museum exhibits. Includes a ceremonial mound, replicated pit and ancient housing exhibits. 9 am-4:45 pm Mon.-Sat., 1-4:45 pm Sun. $2 adults, $1.50 seniors, $1 ages 6-18, free ages 5 and under. Free for all ages on Sundays. Tours in Spanish every second Sunday of the month. 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0901. www.pueblogrande.com.

Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass: Gunfights, stunt shows, camel and burro rides, games, horseback riding, gold panning, stagecoach and train rides. 5-10 pm Mon.-Thu., 11 am-10 pm Fri.-Sun. Free admission. 5700 W. North Loop Rd. From Phoenix, head south on I-10; exit at Wild Horse Pass Boulevard (No. 162); head West to 48th St.; turn south and follow the signs to the parking lot. Chandler. 480-502-5600. www.rawhide.com.

Riparian Preserves: A 110-acre wildlife habitat with trails and fishing lake. Ideal for birding, studying aquatic creatures and desert plants and animals. Park open dawn to dusk, lake open 6 am-10 pm. Entry to preserve is free, $2-3 for classes. Southeast corner of Guadalupe and Greenfield roads, Gilbert. 480-503-6744. www.riparianinstitute.org.
1895 Rosson House at Historic Heritage Square: Tours available Wed.-Sat. 10 am-3:30 pm. $4 adults, $3 seniors $1 ages 6-12, free ages 5 and younger. 113 N. Sixth St., Phoenix. 602-262-5029.

Scottsdale Community College: “7th Annual Charcoal Drawing Exhibition” through Oct. 6. Appropriate for ages 12 and older (occasional nudity may be depicted). Free. 8 am-10 pm Mon.-Thu., 8 am-5 pm Fri. 9 am-3 pm Sat. 480-423-6344. 9000 E. Chaparral Rd., Scottsdale.

*Scottsdale Historical Museum: See historical and cultural items that depict the heritage of Scottsdale and the Southwest. 10 am-5 pm Wed.-Sat., 1-4 pm Sun. Free. 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall, Scottsdale. 480-945-4499.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art: “Flor Garduno: Inner Light” displays the works of one of Mexico’s most esteemed contemporary photographers, known for her interest in myth, ancient folk traditions and supernatural, through Sept. 3. “Outside/Inside” is the final project of students participating in Visions, a year-long art program. See the work of 42 teens through Sept. 17. “The Tomb of the Red Queen: Ricardo Mazal” includes photographs, monotype studies, finished paintings and a video documenting Mazal’s exploration of pre-Columbian culture and the mystical past of the Red Queen through Sept. 24. “SouthwestNET: Jones Studio, Inc.” focuses on architectural designs that harmonize with the environment through Sept. 24. Also see 45 innovative projects in architecture, furniture, fashion, graphic design and more. Ages 5 and older. 10 am-5 pm Tue., Wed., Fri. and Sat., 10 am-8 pm Thu., noon-5 pm Sun. $7 adults, $5 students, free to all on Thu., free ages 15 and younger on other days. 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-994-2787. www.scottsdalearts.org.

Shamrock Farms: A state-of-the-art working dairy farm offers hands-on opportunities and educational experiences during a 60-minute guided tour that explains how dairy products go from farm to family. Milk a cow, venture an ice cream maze and enter a playground through a 20-foot milk bottle. See 200 cows being milked at one time, and visit Roxie’s Calf Nursery to meet the farm’s newest members. The Welcome Center Barn hosts the Shamrock

Farms Family Museum and Roxie’s Ice Cream Parlor. Open to the public 10 am-3 pm Tue. and Thu., 10 am-4 pm Sat. Tram rides: 1 pm Tue. and Thu.; 10 and 11:15 am, 1 and 2:15 pm Sat. $7.50 adults, $5 ages 12 and younger. 40034 W. Clayton Rd., Stanfield. 602-477-2462. www.shamrockfarmstour.com.

*Tolmachoff Farms: A real working farm with petting zoo, play area and picnic spots. 9 am-5 pm daily Sept.-March. Free admission. 5726 N. 75th Ave., Glendale. 623-386-1301.

Tempe Historical Museum: Study Tempe from its founding to its growth into a modern city is portrayed via hands-on activities, exhibits, photos and artifacts. 10 am-5 pm Mon.-Thu. and Sat., 1-5 pm Sun. Free. 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. 480-350-5100. www.tempe.gov/museum.

West Valley Art Museum: Local and international traveling art shows – many commissioned with children in mind. 10 am-4 pm Tue.-Sun. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $1 ages 6-17, free for children ages 5 and under. 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts (Bell Rd. and 114th Ave.), Surprise. 623-972-0635. www.wvam.org.

Wildlife World Zoo: Exotic animals including giraffes, zebras, apes, camels and rare white tigers. 9 am-5 pm daily. $10.95 ages 13 and older, $5.95 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and under. 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park. 623-935-9453. www.wildlifeworld.com.

 
 




 
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