Frequently Asked Questions

+ What ages is Explore Children's Museum best suited for?

The exhibits at Explore Children's Museum are developmentally appropriate for children ages birth to 8 or 9 years old. The Sprout Station is developmentally appropriate for children ages birth to 4 years old.

At Explore Children’s Museum children have agency in their play. When they are creative, enthusiastically engaged, exploratory and given the opportunity to take risks and experiment, they are actively building their brains to prepare them for school and the world beyond. Play also supports the critical formation of child-caregiver relationships through positive attention, mutual joy and shared attunement that children need to thrive.

+ When are you open?

Our Hours of Play are as follows:

Sunday 10am-4pm

Monday 9am-4pm

Tuesday 9am-12pm

Wednesday 9am-4pm

Thursday 9am-4pm

Friday 9am-4pm

Saturday 9am- 4pm

+ What is the cost of admission?

Admission costs $8 per person for every visitor over the age of one (12 months). Family and In-home daycare memberships are available for $135/year. Because we believe everyone should have access to play, Explore is also proud to offer an All Access progrram that provides admissions and memberships on a sliding scale to individuals facing financial hardship. Please call 608-478-5456, email contact@explorecm.org, or visit us during hours of play for more information.

+ Why do adults have to pay admission?

Explore Children's Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our funding is community based and visitor supported. We depend on our admission revenue to offer our play based educational experiences.

We encourage caregivers to interact and share the experience. Play supports the critical formation of child-caregiver relationships through positive attention, mutual joy and shared attunement that children need to thrive.

+ Do you have SNAP/EBT discounts?

Our All Access/Museums for All program is a need-based fee system for daily admission and membership for visitors with financial constraints. We will not turn any child and their caregiver away due to the inability to pay the admission fee. To utilize this program, ask for the All Access admission rate when you check in at the Welcome Center. We do not require documentation. Find other children’s museums in the Museums for All program here.

+ Do you offer memberships?

Family and in-home daycare memberships are available for $135/year and are available for purchase on our website or in person during hours of play. Everyone should have access to play. In addition to our All Access daily admission program, Explore Children's Museum also offers Family Memberships on a pay-what-you-can program to individuals facing financial hardship. Please call 608-478-5456, email contact@explorecm.org, or visit us during hours of play for more information.

+ What is the benefit of a membership?

The benefits of memberhship to Explore Children's Museum are unlimited musuem access for two named adults and all children from one household, six guest passes, and a 10% discount off birthday parties, classes, programs, and camps. You are also able to add an additional caregiver, such as a grandparent or nanny, for only $20!

Explore Children’s Museum offers a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits that spark children's imaginations and build connections in their brains that will last a lifetime. While there are permanent exhibits, there are five exhibits that rotate on a weekly basis to offer new experiences for frequent visitors.

+ Is Explore Children's Museum a part of the ACM Children's Museums Reciprocal Network?

Explore Children's Museum is excited to be a part of the Association of Children's Museums reciprocal network! If you are a member of a participating museum, please have your physical or virtual membership card avaialble when you check in to receive 50% off the admission price for up to six (6) people on your membership.

You can also add Reciprocal Membership benefits to your Explore Children's Museum membership for only $20 for the entire year of membership! The reciprocal benefits allows the cardholder and up to five (5) additional people on the membership 50% off museum admission at the over 200 participating children's museums nationwide (full list available here), you can add reciprocal benefits to your membership here or anytime in person during our hours of play.

+ What is the best day to visit Explore Children's Museum? Do you ever reach capacity?

Please reference our Hours of Play for the days and times the Museum is open. Note that we close early (noon) on Tuesdays for deep cleaning and exhibit rotation. Currently our busiest days of the week are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The museum is typically busier in the mornings and less so in the afternoons.

We often reach capacity on Saturdays and Sundays, especially in the mornings and in colder weather. When the museum has reached capacity we will post a notice on our door and our Facebook and Instagram pages. We will take the notice down when we have dipped below capacity and are able to accomodate additional guests. You are welcome to call the museum at 608-478-5456 to ask if we are at or close to capacity, but we cannot reserve or guarantee admission.

+ Can I host a large group at Explore Children's Museum?

Yes! The museum is a community space and we welcome you to host a group meeting or event at the museum. If you plan to bring a group larger than 10 people (including children and adults) please call 608-478-5456 at least 48 hours in advance to work out the details with our team.

If we are unaware that you are bringing a large group there is a chance that we will not be able to accommodate your group, especially on weekend days.

+ Does Explore Children's Museum host field trips?

Yes! For mor information about fieldtrips click here or reach out to our team at contact@explorecm.org.

+ Can I have my child's birthday party at Explore?

Yes! Each Saturday and Sunday, families can reserve the Celebration Spot from 10am-12pm or from 1pm-3pm. For available dates and more details, visit explorecm.org/parties-and-events. We also offer private parties and events after hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 4:30pm-6:30pm. Learn more here or email us at contact@explorecm.org.

+ Is there a place to eat at the museum?

Yes! We have tables, chairs and highchairs located in our Celebration Spot room. We ask that food be eaten in the Celebration Spot to keep our exhibits clean and cared for.

Please note - on Saturdays and Sundays the Celebration Spot room is reserved for birthday parties and therefore there is NOT a designated space to eat. Benches are available throughout the space and we ask that you please refrain from eating in the exhibit areas. Thank you for understanding and complying.

+ What are some ways you keep Explore Children's Museum clean?

Your family's health and safety is important to us. Below are some of the ways we keep the museum clean and safe. In addition to daily cleaning routines, we also have:

Indoor Air Purification: Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning installed iWave® air purifying systems on our HVAC system. The iWave® kills mold, mildew, viruses, and reduces odors, allergens, dust particles, and static electricity. The iWave® technology works by generating the same ions nature creates with waterfalls, ocean waves, and lightning without developing any ozone. Once these ions are injected into the airstream, they break down any passing gases and pollutants into harmless compounds like oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide. The harmless ions created attach themselves to airborne particles, pollen, smoke, allergens, etc. The particles then cling to each other until they’re heavy enough to be moved by the air current and caught by your air filter.

Sanitize and Disinfect: At the end of every day, as well as in the middle of the day on busy days, Explore Children’s Museum disinfects our exhibits, bathrooms, and all areas of the museum using Pure FX, an EPA registered disinfectant that disinfects surfaces as well as the surrounding air. Pure FX is an ultra pure chlorine dioxide disinfectant that inhibits the growth of viruses and bacteria to maintain a safe environment. In addition, every three months Pro3 Solutions applies an environmentally friendly antimicrobial coating that keeps our surfaces protected between disinfecting applications. This e treatment forms a hypoallergenic shield for protection between cleanings and serves as a barrier on high-touch surfaces.

Exhibits and exhibit componenents are cleaned weekly. When exhibits are rotated, the exhbit components are cleaned before being put away.

+ Why are your outlets uncovered?

Feiner Electric replaced all of Explore Children’s Museum’s electrical outlets with tamper-resistant outlets. Tamper-resistant outlets are designed to prevent kids from hurting themselves while fidgeting with an outlet. They have two spring-loaded shutters that close the slots when you remove a plug. When you insert a plug, both shutters compress and the slots open again to accept the plug. The shutters only open when both springs are compressed at the same time. If a curious kid shoves an object in one opening, the shutters don’t open.

+ Does Explore Children's Museum need any material donations?

Yes! We are always looking for donation of Lego Minifigs and animals, Toy train cars, Jenga blocks or similar wooden blocks/shapes, Seashells, Craft feathers, Scrabble tiles, Googly eyes, Construction paper, Craft sticks (popsicle sticks), Pompoms, Pony beads or other large beads, Buttons, Small plastic figurines, Dominoes, Stickers, Watercolor paints, and Paint brushes. If you have other items you think would be a great addition to our Studio or another exhibit please reach out at contact@explorecm.org. Thank you for your support of Explore Children's Museum!

+ How can I support the All Access program?

If you should like to support for Explore to ensure everyone can play, you can gift a membership, donate here, donate in person at the Welcome Center.

+ Why have another children's museum so close to Madison Children's Museum?

Our goal in operating a new children’s museum is to expand educational opportunities for the children of Sun Prairie and the surrounding communities as a complement to all the other great institutions already in existence, including schools and other children’s museums. Explore offers a different environment, different variety of exhibits, and overal a different way for children to learn through playing.

Children’s museums are places for families to spend time together while children develop critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and communication skills through play.

Children's museums create hands-on, informal learning opportunities to encourage kids to develop and discover their passions; stimulate curiosity and motivate learning; provide opportunities for purposeful play and collaboration; and enhance community engagement, exploration, and enjoyment.

If children’s museums can do all of this, then the question really becomes why aren’t there children’s museums in every city?

+ Why another children's museum in Dane County? Why Sun Prairie?

Sun Prairie and the surrounding communities are growing quickly, and many of the incoming residents are young families. The Sun Prairie Area School district alone has about 500 incoming kindergarteners every year. Local early childhood resources are crucial as 6,000 babies are born in Dane County every year. Parents and caregivers can access museum resources during the hours that work for a variety of schedules.

Explore Children's Museum strives to be a community hub, a place for families and caregivers to share time with their children through meaningful play, exploration, and shared engagement. Explore Children's Museum provides opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect with the special children in their lives, encourages participation in purposeful play, and promotes lifelong learning skills for all.

+ Does Explore Children's Museum still need donations?

Yes. As a nonprofit organization committed to being accessible to anyone who wishes to visit, Explore Children's Musuem's revenue from daily admission sales, membership sales and birthday party rentals does not cover all of our operating expenses.

Through the generosity of our capital campaign donors we were able to raise the funds needed to secure a physical space, complete the build out, and purchase exhibits. However to maintain our daily operations, our orgaization will continue to rely upon the generosity of our community members, local buisnesses and fundraising opportunties.

Please contact Katey Kamoku, Executive Director, at kkamoku@explorecm.org for more information about giving. Donations above $1,000 will be recognized in our Welcome Center and on our website and social media.

+ How can I stay updated?

The team at Explore is working to keep our community members and guests up to date about happenings at the museum! Click here to subscribe to our email newsletter. We also provide updated information on our website, Facebook page, and Instagram. We value community connections and enjoy hearing from people who are excited about Dane County's newest children's museum. If you are intersted in volunteering with us sign up here!

+ I still have questions.

Sure thing! Email us at contact@explorecm.org or stop in during our hours of play.