Rockwell Museum

Offered Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Starting July 7 – August 6 (details below)

Suggested ages 5 to 12
Included with Museum admission

Explore the Museum galleries and engage with art!

Drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to pick up a self-guided kit that includes activities, games and take-home art projects all connected to weekly themes about our environments. Family visitors will be greeted by Rockwell Museum volunteers who will explain the activities and contents in the kits before you start your adventure and be available to answer any questions. Families can expect to spend between 30 – 90 minutes for the Summer Explorers program, intended to be completed at your own pace.

The Summer Explorers program includes…

• Each Spy, Think, Ponder art card set highlights 3 works of art in The Rockwell’s collection, tied to the weekly theme. The art cards incorporate youth-friendly language and fun prompts to engage your child’s imagination. Families will be exposed to using Visual Thinking Strategies in their museum experience by looking, making observations, thinking about what they see and wondering more about the topics presented.
• Art Hunts are a great way to search the Museum galleries and find details in the artwork.
• Simple gallery games and activities will stimulate self-guided exploration with loved ones to foster art appreciation as well as excitement to discover artwork on view.
• Each kit will include an Art On The Go project to be completed at home, encouraging families to continue their art adventure after they leave The Rockwell with enthusiasm to make their own art.
• The Southeast Steuben County Mobile Library will make an appearance each Wednesday, 2 – 4 p.m. Families will be able to use their library card to check out books connected to that week’s theme.  

Visit throughout Summer 2021 to pick up your Summer Explorers kit for new themes, artworks and activities each week:

• July 7 & 9 | Exploring Nature and the Great Outdoors
  This week: Use your Spy, Think, Ponder art cards to engage with 3 special artworks connected to the theme, use your Art Hunt to look for artwork details, play a Spin the Color Wheel activity, and then take your Rockwell experience home with you with the “en Plein Air” Art-On-The-Go project.

• July 14 & 16 | What’s Built in Our Environments?
  This week: Use your Spy, Think, Ponder art cards to engage with 3 special artworks connected to the theme, use your Art Hunt to look for artwork details, complete the Be An Architect activity, and then take your Rockwell experience home with you with the Monotype Printing Art-On-The-Go project.

• July 21 & 23 | Animals in the Wild
  This week: Use your Spy, Think, Ponder art cards to engage with 3 special artworks connected to the theme, use your Art Hunt to look for artwork details, complete the Animal Tracking activity, and then take your Rockwell experience home with you with the Torn Paper Animals Art-On-The-Go project.

• July 28 & 30 | The People We Connect With
  This week: Use your Spy, Think, Ponder art cards to engage with 3 special artworks connected to the theme, use your Art Hunt to look for artwork details, complete the Who’s Your Hero? activity, and then take your Rockwell experience home with you with the Journal Stories Art-On-The-Go project.

• August 4 & 6 | Taking Care of the Earth
  This week: Use your Spy, Think, Ponder art cards to engage with 3 special artworks connected to the theme, use your Art Hunt to look for artwork details, complete the Grab Bag Poster Challenge, and then take your Rockwell experience home with you with the Reusable Tote Art-On-The-Go project.

These summer activity resources are designed to encourage critical thinking, visual literacy, communication and collaboration through accessible arts experiences. Providing early exposure to welcoming museum environments supports literacy and educational STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) initiatives, emphasizing the value that art contributes to other academic subject areas. Supporting students in all areas of learning and enrichment activities is critical to early childhood development and cultivating social experiences in fun and inspiring environments.