General information

Spark! offers your kids the chance to have fun, build new friendships, and make lasting memories of their own time at the AG. Our Youth Programs manager brings in professional educators from various fields to present fun, interactive programs where kids have the chance to learn through new experiences and explore of a variety of topics and events.

Spark! availability is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. There is a non-refundable $20 per-child, per-day fee to attend any and/or all Spark! sessions. Should spots remain available, on-site Spark! registration will be $20 per day. Parents are expected to provide lunch for their child(ren).

Children must be dropped off before either the morning or afternoon sessions. Morning drop-off is between 8:30 - 9 a.m., and children must be picked up for lunch at 11:50 a.m. Sessions will end daily at 5 p.m., at which time children must be picked up for the day.

Note: If you wish for your child to attend all three days of Spark! programming, please ensure you have added each day selected on your registration before checkout. Any child registered in the wrong age group will be moved into the correct one or, if the proper age group is full, will be removed from the sessions and added to the wait list.

 

Session Descriptions

Challenge Island

Challenge Island will lead kids through group STEAM activities that encourage teamwork, creativity, and out of the box thinking to solve real problems.

Stone Lion Puppet Theater

Kids will learn about animals and nature while creating their very own puppets.

Science City on the Road

Kids will learn about the science behind motion, animation, and optical illusions while making thaumatropes.

Bricks 4 Kidz

Bricks 4 Kidz will help Spark! attendees explore the wonderful world of LEGO and STEM innovation. Through fun activities kids will learn the basics of engineering, programming, and how to create the perfect robot to solve a problem.

Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium

The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium will teach kids all about how to design the perfect habitat for animals living in the zoo or aquarium, and Spark! attendees will get to be zoo architects, too!

Irie Creative

Inspired by the Kansas City Parade of Hearts, children will paint heart-shaped ornaments. This project not only highlights local art but also gives the young participants a personal keepsake to remember the event. We will also create panels that express "What's on Your Mind?" using a variety of artistic mediums. Pieces will then become part of a collaborative mural that will reflect the diverse intellectual and creative energies of our young attendees.

Operation Wildlife

This wildlife education program will have Spark! attendees learning about adaptive survival characteristics of hawks and owls, the importance of protecting an animal’s natural environment and how to determine if an animal really needs help, and how to solve some animal-related mysteries.

St. Joseph Museum

The St. Joseph Museum will work with our older Spark! attendees on building an Emotional Toolbox while providing an in-depth look at stress and burnout, how it changes the brain, the body and your life. In a second program, they’ll also learn about Native American beading techniques, regional identification, and the importance of Native American heritage and culture, while you look at pieces not currently on display! Each participant will learn to loom bead while they bead their own bracelet or keychain to take home.

KU Natural History Museum

This geology-themed program will teach kids about the minerals, rocks, and fossils found in Kansas. They’ll learn how to identify rocks and minerals using real specimens, about the different kinds of fossils, and will make their own trace fossils out of clay.

Fun with Words with Richard Lederer

Linguist, author, and Mensa member Richard Lederer will take kids on a journey through the weird, wonderful, and sometimes wacky world of words and the English language.