Park Voyagers

At Park Voyagers, we invite families to participate in a unique learning experience that ranges from neighborhood-based, after-school and evening workshops – to facilitated museum visits. Children and families from Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods are provided a wide spectrum of informal, hands-on educational opportunities in settings as comfortable as they are inspiring.* The program culminates with year-long passes to all the museums for each participating family. In the end, families are equipped and eager to make Chicago museums an ongoing part of their lives.

* All participating parks have beautiful field houses with heat, indoor plumbing, lights etc., so you don’t have to worry about being left out in the rain.

How does the program work?

Participating parks rotate through the four phases of the program in about three years.

Phase I: The After-School Program

Who can attend? Children 8-10 years old

When? Three days a week for 10 weeks

Every week for 10 weeks, representatives from one of the 10 museums come directly to neighborhood parks to conduct a series of hands-on lessons relating to the specific content of that museum. Each month, Park Voyagers participants, and their families, take a field trip to a museum.  At the end of the 10 weeks, the participants “graduate” to the next phase of the program.

Phase II: The Family Workshop Program

Who can attend? Children and teens, as well as their parents or guardians.

When? Six days throughout the semester

At each of the chosen parks, a team from two museums conducts three family workshops to help parents use museums as educational and recreational outlets. The host park provides dinner, creating a fun and relaxing environment. Families will also visit their two participating museums. For the final project, participants will create their own family exhibit to be displayed on the last day.

After “graduating from Phase II”, families will receive a quarterly newsletter, providing information about special museum programs and exhibits. In addition, families that have successfully completed Phase II will receive single-use passes to each of the 10 museums.

For program schedule, click here.

Phase III: Family Matters

Who can attend? Kids, parents or guardians who have completed Phase II of the Park Voyager program

When? Once a month

Where? One of the 10 participating museums

Each month, one museum will host a special Park Voyagers event, with family-oriented activities, special presentations and performances.

For event schedule, click here

Phase IV: Be Our Guest
Families that have successfully completed Phase III receive passes good for free admission for an entire year to all of the participating museums—the more you use them, the more they are worth.