IGNITE!
August 22nd
🚀🔬CALLING ALL SCIENTISTS, TINKERERS, ENGINEERS, ARTISTS & MATHEMATICIANS! 🎨⚙️🧪
Join us on August 22, 2026, for IGNITE! at Great Explorations Children’s Museum — an unforgettable celebration of creativity, curiosity, and discovery! ✨
🎉 BEST OF ALL — Guests who pre-register get into Ignite! for FREE thanks to Pinellas Community Foundation! 🎉
From robotics and rockets 🚀 to bubbles and biology 🫧🧬, every corner of the museum will spark imagination with hands-on experiments, interactive exhibits, and mind-blowing demonstrations designed for curious kids and families alike.
At IGNITE!, young innovators will discover that the future belongs to those who create, experiment, and dream without limits 💡🌟
Even better? IGNITE! helps raise funds to support hands-on STEAM programs and ensures all children in our community have access to inspiring, high-quality learning experiences at Great Explorations 💜
Interested in becoming a sponsor and helping us fuel the next generation of creators and explorers? Learn more here.
At Great Explorations, the greatest experiment is the one you create yourself! 🔥
Discovery Center
🚀 Exciting News from Great Explorations!
We’re thrilled to share that Great Explorations is growing—and we want our community to help shape what comes next.
As part of our vision for the future, we’re exploring the development of a new Discovery Center that would expand access to hands-on science learning for children and families in our region. Imagine a place where older children can engage in science experiments, chemical reactions, 3D printing, space exploration, engineering challenges, and other immersive learning experiences designed to inspire curiosity and innovation.
To help guide this exciting expansion, we’re inviting community members, partners, educators, and supporters to join us for a Community Forum. Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the programs, services, and experiences we prioritize as we plan for our future location at 5800 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg, FL.
This is more than a building project—it’s an opportunity to create a community-driven destination for discovery, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Please RSVP using the link below and save the date. With limited access available in July, attendees will also have the opportunity for a special sneak peek of what’s ahead.
Thank you for your continued support of Great Explorations and the children and families we serve. We look forward to hearing your ideas and building the future together.
RSVP HERE!
Early Explorations Preschool
✨ Big things are happening at Great Explorations Preschool! ✨
Due to growing demand, we’re opening a brand-new classroom for 3-year-olds!
Give your child the opportunity to learn through creativity, play, and hands-on discovery in a fun, engaging environment designed to spark curiosity every day.
Space is limited, and enrollment is now open!
📧 Contact Emily Barnes at ebarnes@greatex.org or more information and to reserve your spot.
July Monthly Reciprocal
The Dali Museum
🎨 Adventure Awaits at The Dali Museum! 🎨
Your Great Explorations membership doesn’t stop at our doors—it opens the door to even more family fun! Throughout July, Great Explorations members receive FREE reciprocal admission to The Dali Museum.
Spend the day exploring colorful masterpieces, larger-than-life imagination, and interactive experiences that will inspire curious minds of all ages. It’s the perfect family outing to spark creativity and make unforgettable memories together!
Not a member yet? Join the Great Explorations family and enjoy unlimited museum visits, exclusive member perks, reciprocal admission to incredible attractions like The Dali Museum, and a full year of hands-on fun. Your next adventure is waiting! 💜
Planetarium Monday
July 6th
🪐 Attention space explorers! 💫
July Planetarium Monday is launching on July 6th!
With fresh topics every month and multiple stellar shows scheduled throughout the day, there’s no limit to what we can explore.
Come journey through the cosmos with us! 🚀
This special event is free for Museums for All (SNAP, WIC, EBT) participants thanks to the generous support of the Chapman Foundation. 💜
🎟️ Included with standard museum admission for all other guests.
Great Connections: A Free Program for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum or with Sensory Processing Differences
July 12th
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Great Explorations Children’s Museum
✨ Join us for June Great Connections! ✨
Enjoy the museum with fewer crowds, dimmed overhead lighting, and soft, calming music throughout the space 🎶
Need a break? Our cool-down room will be available for anyone who needs a quiet moment 🧸
We can’t wait to welcome you for a relaxed, inclusive, and joyful museum experience 🌟
A heartfelt thank you to Guardian Trust for their generous support in making this special gathering possible. 💜
World Snake Day
July 16th
🐍 World Snake Day at Great Ex!
Join us on July 16th for a special celebration of World Snake Day! Spend the day discovering the fascinating world of snakes through hands-on activities, up-close encounters, and interactive learning experiences throughout the museum.
Meet our resident snakes, learn how these incredible reptiles survive in the wild, and explore the important role they play in healthy ecosystems.
🍽️ Live Snake Feeding at 1:30 PM
Don’t miss the chance to watch all four of our resident snakes enjoy their lunch! Learn how snakes eat without arms, how they swallow their food, and what makes them such unique predators.
🐍 Snake encounters throughout the day
🎨 Snake-themed activities and crafts
🦎 Hands-on learning and reptile discovery
This special event is free for Museums for All (SNAP, WIC, EBT) participants thanks to the generous support of the Chapman Foundation. 💜
🎟️ Included with standard museum admission for all other guests.
National Moon Day
July 20th
🌕 National Moon Day at Great Ex! 🚀
Join us on July 20th as we celebrate National Moon Day, commemorating the historic first moon landing in 1969. Discover the wonders of space through hands-on activities, lunar-themed crafts, and out-of-this-world exploration happening throughout the museum all day long.
🪐 Planetarium Experience 🪐
Journey through the stars in our planetarium from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM and explore the mysteries of our solar system.
Space-themed activities will be available throughout the day and are included with museum admission.
Celebrate one of humanity’s greatest achievements and ignite your curiosity about the universe at Great Explorations!
This special event is free for Museums for All (SNAP, WIC, EBT) participants thanks to the generous support of the Chapman Foundation. 💜
🎟️ Included with standard museum admission for all other guests.
In the Spotlight
Grain & Berry
We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity and support of Grain & Berry, located at 2446 4th St N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704. Their commitment to our community and to Great Explorations helps us continue inspiring curiosity, creativity, and learning through play for local children and families.
Beyond their delicious açaí bowls, smoothies, and healthy eats, the Grain & Berry team consistently delivers outstanding customer service with a smile. Their welcoming atmosphere and dedication to supporting local organizations make them a true community champion.
Planning a baby shower, work event, birthday party, or special celebration? Grain & Berry’s catering services are a crowd favorite and add a fresh, flavorful touch to events of all kinds!
If you want to support the people who support Great Ex, visit Grain & Berry!
Community Survey
At Great Explorations Children’s Museum, our community shapes everything we do. 💜
We’re inviting you to complete our Community Survey to help us better understand and serve the families who walk through our doors every day. Your feedback helps guide programming, access initiatives, and future growth.
The survey takes less than 5 minutes, and all responses are anonymous and confidential.
Thank you for helping us build a museum where every child feels seen, welcomed, and inspired. 🌟
Explorers’ Circle
Giving Program
Join the Explorers’ Circle today by pledging an ongoing monthly donation to Great Explorations Children’s Museum!
Donations like these help give students and families access to a world of creativity and knowledge.
