The Early Adventures Program

Part of Children & Families

A group of preschoolers from the Early Adventures Program look at a butterfly with a magnifying glass.
The application for the 2025-2026 academic year will become available here on Monday May 12, at 10 AM.

In the Early Adventures Program, preschoolers are encouraged to use their natural curiosity to investigate the world around them. Experienced science educators work with Museum scientists and specialists to create age-appropriate learning experiences that reflect the Museum's research and collections, including zoology, Earth and planetary sciences, anthropology, and paleontology.  

The Early Adventures Program's classrooms provide stimulating environments, with artifacts and specimens from the Museum's Education collection, live animal habitats, a children's science library, scientific tools, and educational materials for first-hand investigation. New state-of-the-art classrooms allow for in-depth studies and guided expeditions to destinations in the Museum such as the Hall of Biodiversity, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, and other galleries and exhibits

Children and Adults Learn Together

Designed for preschoolers, the Early Adventures Program classes meet once a week throughout the school year.  

Parents, grandparents or caregivers attend class with their children, a core principle of the program based on research that shows young children attain deeper levels of understanding and richer connections to their learning when significant adults are present. 

Applying to the Early Adventures Program

To apply, children must be at least 2 years old by October 1, 2025, and not entering kindergarten in the fall of 2025. Class placement is on a first-come, first-served basis. If accepted, we will contact you via email to complete enrollment and payment. The application will be available on this page starting Monday May 12, 2025 at 10:00 AM. 

Class Price: $3,700

Class Times:

EAEI (2)   

Tues   

2 to 3 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

EAEIII (2)   

Wed   

2 to 3 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

EAEVI (2)    

Thurs   

2 to 3 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

   

EAEII (2)   

Tues   

2 to 3 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm   

EAEIV (2)    

Wed   

2 to 3 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm   

       

EAEI (3)   

Tues   

3 to 4 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

EAEIII (3)   

Wed   

3 to 4 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

EAEVI (3)    

Thurs   

3 to 4 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

   

EAEII (3)    

Tues   

3 to 4 years old   

12:30 – 2:00 pm   

EAEIV (3)    

Wed   

3 to 4 years old   

12:30 – 2:00 pm   

EAEVII (3)   

Thurs   

3 to 4 years old   

12:30 – 2:00 pm   

EAEVIII (3)   

Fri   

3 to 4 years old   

12:30 – 2:00 pm   

   

EAEV (3)   

Wed   

3 to 4 years old   

3:30 – 5:00 pm   

       

EAEI (4)   

Tues   

4 to 5 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

EAEIII (4)    

Wed   

4 to 5 years old   

9:00 – 10:30 am   

      

EAEII (4)    

Tues   

4 to 5 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm   

EAEIV (4)    

Wed   

4 to 5 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm   

EAEVII (4)    

Thurs   

4 to 5 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm   

EAEVIII (4)    

Fri   

4 to 5 years old   

12:30 – 2:00pm  

  

EAEV (4)    

Wed

4 to 5 years old   

3:30 – 5:00pm  

  

  

EAEIX (4)    

Fri   

4 to 5 years old   

3:30 – 5:00pm  

 

Refunds and Cancellations 

If your child is unable to participate in the Program after registering, please notify us in writing via email at [email protected] by Friday, August 1st, 2025

Please note that tuition payments are non-refundable after August 1st, 2025.  After that date, tuition will be applied towards The Early Adventures Program's financial aid fund. 

For any questions about the Early Adventures Program, feel free to contact us at [email protected]

 

For Children in Grades K-5

The Science and Nature Program offers classes during the school year for children in grades K-5. 

Health and Safety During Onsite Programs

The health and safety of our participants and staff is the top priority. You’ll notice some important changes to the Museum, our classrooms, and health and safety measures. For more information, please visit the Health and Safety page.

Children and Family Learning at the American Museum of Natural History provides exciting science learning opportunities for young children and families through OLogy, the Discovery Room, The Science and Nature Program, and Public Programs.

Support for Children and Family Learning programming has been provided by Shaiza Rizavi and Jonathan Friedland, the Filomen M. D’Agostino Foundation, and Ellen K. and Lawrence R. Gross.