Thank you for your interest in the Cosmic Explorer Workshops offered at the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium. The workshops are designed for children 4-6 years of age to attend with their parent/guardian.

One adult can bring no more than two registered children to the workshop. Siblings or children not registered cannot attend the workshop and childcare is not provided.

To find the dates and times of each offering, please click on “Register NOW!” at the bottom of this page.

Alien Earths: Life Out There

Where and how might we find life in our solar system? Journey through space to visit strange worlds and moons in our solar systems. Search for clues to life, from Saturn's strange moons to planets beyond. Could there be an alien Earth with life in our Solar System?

Fly Me to the Moon

Become a Moon explorer and learn all about the only other world that humans have ever walked on. Did you know that Neil Armstrong's footprint is still visible on the moon's surface? Become a lunar expert by conducting experiments and creating craters. Your 4-6 year old is sure to have loads of fun learning all about the moon.

Stories in the Sky

Ever look up at the sky and wonder about how far away the stars actually are? Or maybe you wondered if what you were seeing was a planet or part of a constellation? Stories in the Sky is a beginner's tour of the night sky, teaching families how to find favorite constellations, learn about our moon and maybe even spot the International Space Station!

Winter Wonderland 

Celebrate winter by visiting some of the coldest places in the solar system. Experience first-hand frozen air and how cold that really is. Liquid nitrogen (handled by a trained expert only!) is at -320°F and will be used to demonstrate what would happen if items that thrive on earth (e.g. a flower) were transported Mars or other cold planets.  Bring your warm coats! Click here for a sneak preview of some fo the "cool" stuff you'll see in this workshop!

I Want to be an Astronaut

Ever wonder what it is really like to be an astronaut? To live and work where there is no air and everything floats around you? Come learn about life in space through activities, role-playing and team activities.

Rocks Rock!

While you might not be able to tell the difference between a canine patella and a piece of a T-Rex, or a meteorite and a basalt rock, we can help! Fossils, rocks, and soil all mean that you can get your hands dirty (pass the mud pie!), while learning how to have a rocking good time.

Solar System Adventures

Discover and explore the many different worlds of our Solar System, Earth's celestial neighborhood. Make a model to take home, be immersed in up-to-the-minute data, and leave with an understanding of the variety of sizes, distances, and other wonders in our cosmic backyard (and also a planetary coloring book!).

Check out photos from our workshops!

Register NOW!