Spirit of Summer Family Days

Spirit of Summer Family Days

Join us every Tuesday and Wednesday this summer for a plethora of amazing, seasonal activities for all ages! Spirit of Summer programs are included with museum admission. Children 5 and under are admitted for FREE!

Take advantage of ALL our family programming, plus complimentary museum admission, invitations to exclusive exhibition previews, and more with an annual membership!

Close up of artist hand and paintbrush painting

Artist Tuesdays

On Tuesdays we paint! Local artists are stationed throughout the museum creating artworks throughout the day. Come on down, cool off, meet new creatives, watch artists in-action, and celebrate the inspiration of the West with us!

Western Wednesdays

Looking for fun activities for kids? Look no further than Western Wednesdays, when our Education team creates weekly lessons, activities, and takeaways for children! 

June

June 7th: The Railroad | 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Rails that built America. Learn about the historic Kimball Lake Branch known locally as the Peavine Branch railroad and be inspired to design your own railroad company and plan your route on a map.

June 14th: Arizona Conservation | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Grow your own cactus. Create a chain recycling link in the Sculpture Garden. Bioswale storytelling and watch a water resources video. 

June 21st: Western Pop Art |  10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Design your own “Western Soup Can”, as well as your own “Mega Dot” Western painting.  Explore the art of Andy Warhol and Billy Schenck!

June 28th: Photography | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Participate in a scavenger hunt and choose which photograph deserves the Western Spirit: First Place award. 

July

July 5th: Explorers | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Experience the story of John Wesley Powell’s mission through the Colorado River and down into the Grand Canyon, help explorers out as you travel through the museum and also plan your own expedition. 

July 12th: Vaqueros | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Have you ever joined in on a late-night song around the campfire? Learn the traditional values and what it meant to be a vaquero. Create your own song, design your own spurs, and learn why the vaqueros were integral to the American cowboy.  

July 19th: Homeschool day 

July 26th: Women of the West | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Behind every strong man, there is a strong woman. See how women played a vital role in the American West as guides to artists and to even actors. Travel around the museum to understand their importance. 

August

August 2nd: Outlaws and Lawmen and Women | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. With the West ever-expanding in the early 1800s, an influx of outlaws moved out to a lawless zone. Where outlaws were, the law followed. Become an honoree Western Spirit Deputy and help out with an ongoing investigation.  

August 9th: Hopi | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Learn about one of Arizona Native 22 indigenous peoples. See some of the work done by Nampeyo. Design your own pot, and enjoy other fun activities.

August 16th: Animals | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. When people think of Arizona, they think of desert. When they think of animals they think of snakes, lizards, and other reptiles. Contradictory to popular belief, Arizona has a lot more! Learn what the Native Americans would do with Bison, and design your own Bison robe.  

 

 

Programs and times are subject to change.

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