Curious children of all ages
Education
Outdoor Pop-Up Experiences Drop-In Programs Making Masterpieces Afternoon ABC 123 Baby Moves Fertile Minds Gardening Times Kids' Kitchen @ The Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market Paint in the Park Star Club School & Group Visits Field Trip Programs (Pre-K) Field Trip Programs (K-2) Self-Guided Field Trip Scheduling Outreach Programs StarLab Planetarium Captain Bubble Science Show Go, Slow, WHOA! Illumination Lab Marvelous Magnet Mystery Kinder Coding Meet the Beetles! Scheduling Healthy Eating Field Trips, Outreach Programs and Camps Family Learning Nights Children's Garden @ MHCM Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market

Drop-In Programs

PLEASE NOTE:  MHCM is  currently closed to visitors due to COVID-19. Drop-in programs will resume when we reopen.

 
children painting outside

Making Masterpieces

This facilitated art program invites parents and caregivers to work with their pre-school aged children to create something special to take home. Each month features a new project!

Cost:  Museum admission, plus $5.00 materials fee per child.

 
Preschool children reading books while sitting on a carpet

Afternoon ABC 123

This early literacy and math program features a playgroup format to engage both toddlers and their parents/caregivers in song, stories and hands-on projects. Parents will get take-home ideas to support early learning in the home. Each month has a different theme!

This program is free with museum admission.

 
Young woman working out with her baby boy at home

Baby Moves

This movement and baby sign language class is designed for pre-walking babies (up to 12 months) and their parent/caregiver.

Free with Museum admission.

Yoga mats provided (one per parent-child pair) or you may bring your own. Maximum 30 people per class.

 
Children with tomato plants during our Gardening program

Fertile Minds Gardening Times

Fertile Minds Gardening Time is a new seasonal program designed to introduce young children to gardening and to connect them to where their food comes from.

This program is free with museum admission.

 
Educator pouring healthy green drink

Kids' Kitchen @ The Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market

We’re making delicious food from the freshest ingredients you can get! Children will follow educators as we pick produce from either our children’s garden or venders at the market. Educators and kid volunteers will then demonstrate simple cooking techniques to turn the produce into a scrumptious kid friendly snack. And of course we’ll taste test our creations!

 

Paint in the Park

This seasonal workshop invites all Mini Monets, Petite Picassos and Wee Warhols, to gather outdoors for painting on canvas “en plein air” (outdoors) on the shore of the beautiful Hudson River.  Workshop is facilitated by our resident artist, Miss Josie and is designed to be age appropriate, for children age 2 and up.  Light refreshments will be served. Masterpieces will be created!

Cost:  $10.00 per child, plus Museum admission. Pre-registration recommended.

Workshop is seasonal and weather permitting: This event may be moved indoors or into the Pavilion in case of inclement weather.

 
Children looking up inside our StarLab Planetarium

Star Club

Journey into the museum’s StarLab planetarium to learn basic astronomy concepts.  After the program, your child will be able to find real constellations in the night sky!

Cost:  Museum admission, plus $5.00 per person; Space is limited.