Education Experiences

If your family is homeschooling or loves taking educational vacations, you may want to take advantage of the many learning opportunities in and around Grand Rapids to supplement your children's education. A variety of local attractions provide immersive experiences for students interested in art, history, nature, science and more. Following is an overview of learning sites and programs – always check with the sites for the most up-to-date offerings.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

One of the world’s 100 most visited art museums, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is committed to presenting fun, interactive and informative programs about plants, sculpture, the environment and the arts.

• The Lena Meijer Children’s Garden and Curiosity Courtyard are designed to encourage exploration and creative play in younger children.
• Student field trips may include guided tours, classroom programs and self-led visits.
• A wide variety of classes & camps are offered throughout the year. 
• An onsite library and suite of remote-learning educator resources offer reference material on art history, plant care, sculptures, butterflies, birds, garden design and more.
• A library of virtual visits makes the Gardens experience accessible to all, no matter where they are.

Explore the Educate & Learn drop-down menu on the Meijer Gardens website for more details.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) offers a variety of educational experiences that promote critical thinking and literacy skills while fostering an appreciation for works in the museum’s collection.

• Guided group tours and workshops enable students to engage with art and create their own art, encouraging a variety of techniques and mediums.
• The Creative Learning Center is a highly active space designed for hands-on play and creative exploration for all ages.
• The Drop-in Studio, open each Saturday from 11am-3pm, lets guests explore new artmaking techniques and projects.
• Summer art camps provide children ages 4-15 with the opportunity to observe and discuss artwork, discover hands-on art activities and learn collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Arts-oriented scout programming helps girl and boy scouts of all levels fulfill badge requirements, while an Early Learners Program engages children ages 3-5 in GRAM exhibitions through games, stories, music and an art project.
• For groups unable to visit in person, the GRAM invites learners to experience the museum from home via its online resources.

Visit the GRAM website and click Learn for additional information.

Grand Rapids Public Museum

A place of never-ending discovery, with a focus on science, history and culture, the Grand Rapids Public Museum offers a robust education program that includes a mix of free (with admission) and paid experiences:

• Onsite guided education programs for learners to explore through tours, hands-on activities and guided exploration.
• Education camps and classes, including week-long Immerse learning experiences, are scheduled throughout the year.
• Discovery Kits containing artifacts and specimens from the museum’s collection can be rented for one week at a time. They are organized around specific themes, including foodways, fossils, music, space exploration, zoology and more.
• The Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at Grand Rapids Public Museum offers immersive movies as well as live, expert-led shows on a variety of space topics.
• The museum offers a variety of virtual learning opportunities as well, including virtual games, tour videos, discovery kits, and scavenger hunts.

Click the Learn With Us drop-down menu on the GRPM website for more information.

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum

The GRCM’s mission is to encourage discovery and learning through play, so every trip is an educational experience.

• Regular open paint, imagination laboratory and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) discovery studio experiences encourage creativity and exploration.
• Biweekly Toddler Time is designed for little hands (ages 3 and under) to make music, create art, enjoy sensory play and more.
• Monthly low-sensory programming caters to learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other sensory challenges.
• Field trips including use of the entire museum for a two-hour period can be arranged.

Check out more details on GRCM programs.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Learners can explore history and democratic citizenship at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, which honors the Grand Rapids resident who became the 38th president of the United States. The DeVos Learning Center at the Museum helps instructors and learners maximize their visit.

• A variety of different programs developed for school grades from K-12 are available to homeschool groups.
• Teacher resources help instructors prepare learners pre-visit and continue the learning post-visit.
• Free, interactive virtual classes, virtual tours, interviews and other digital student resources are available if you can't make it to the museum in person.

Explore more about the Ford Museum’s educational offerings.

John Ball Zoo

Michigan’s fourth most attended cultural facility, John Ball Zoo makes learning come alive using fun, flexible and hands-on teaching methods. Programs are developed for students age 3 to adult.

• Homeschool and Established Youth Organizations (daycares, preschools, camps) larger than 15 students that pre-register and pre-pay for a field trip receive discounted student rates. Add an onsite program – like Wild Encounter, Penguineering or Exhibit Design – to enhance your field trip.
• Free learning resources are available to engage and educate students as they explore.
• Up-close animal encounters and guided tours deepen students’ understanding of the natural world and are available year-round for various ages.
• Spring break (K-5) and summer camps (ages 3 through 9th grade) offer games, animal encounters, interactive experiences and more.
• Offsite, preschool and scout programs are also offered.

Click here for more details on John Ball Zoo's educational experiences.

Blandford Nature Center

A 264-acre nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary 10 minutes from downtown GR, Blandford Nature Center offers a wealth of learning opportunities for all ages.

• Homeschool field trips for ages 5-12 and school field trips for all ages immerse students in nature while engaging their curiosity and connection to the natural world.
• Nature discovery programs, self-guided groups and wildlife encounters are offered throughout the year.
• Summer day camps, winter break camps and spring break camps offer a range of experiences for ages 4-12.
• Virtual programs feature a Blandford Educator presenting a live, 45-minute virtual session with your students.
• Offsite programs bring nature-based learning opportunities to different area parks.

Click here for more information on Blandford Nature Center experiences

Additional Education Experiences

• The Grand Rapids Symphony provides opportunities for schools and homeschool families to explore the world of classical music.
• The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts, Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Symphony, Opera Grand Rapids and St. Cecilia Music Center offer a number of programs aimed at cultivating students’ love for and growth in the performing arts.
• ArtPrize, the world’s most attended public art event, hosts students for guided tours of select ArtPrize exhibitions alongside interactive art-based workshops each fall.
• The Future Innovators Zone at the annual fall Confluence Festival invites kids of all ages to explore high tech drones, robots, rockets, and hands-on STEAM and AI activities.