The Open Doors program helps to ensure accessibility to the Museum for all Houston audiences. The Museum currently partners with over 500 small community-specific, non-profit organizations to reach families that would likely not attend the Museum without encouragement and financial assistance. Open Doors agencies can make free and unlimited group visits to the Museum. They also help us to disseminate information about our programs and get free admission passes to families who need them. For more information, or to see if your agency qualifies for the program, please contact (713) 535-7240 or Fernando Perez.
Family Adventures
The Museum offers Houston area elementary schools a FREE evening of math activities, games, and FREE bus transportation. Two to three schools are invited per event. These events happen on Thursday during Free Family Nights. For details on participation or reservations, please contact (713) 535-7270 or Mary Ellen Salas.
Overnights at the Museum
Fourth grade girls from Houston I.S.D. schools are invited to a "sleep-over" at the Museum. The Junior League of Houston facilitates the activities with the girls alongside our talented Discovery Guides. Museum Overnights occur once a month through the school year on a Friday night at no charge. For details on participation or reservations, please contact (713) 535-7212 or Jennifer Belt.
Adventures After School
Any children's group can reserve a FREE hour of after school programming at CMH. The group receives a personalized tour of one exhibit with a Discovery Guide. Then the Discovery Guide leads an exhibit-related activity with the children reinforcing the concepts introduced in the exhibit tour. For details on participation or reservations please contact (713) 535-7240.
Adventures After School - Staff Training
Open Doors agencies with after school programs can receive FREE training in the areas of Physical Science, Environmental Science, Math, Arts and Literacy. The trainings can occur at CMH or at the site requesting the training. Sessions typically run an hour and certificates are available. For details on participation or reservations, please contact (713) 535-7240.
Parent Stars
Through the Parent Star program, the Museum develops partnerships with elementary schools through which we host Family Learning Events and Parent Workshops at school campuses. Schools can build their own programming schedule based on a menu of options. This program focuses primarily on Pre-K and Kindergarten students and their families. For details on participation, please contact Mary Ellen Salas.
Science Workshop
CMH has five after school workshops in HISD middle schools where students can explore practical implementation of the sciences. CMH staff, tools, and materials are available for the students to use in creating their own projects. Students pay no fee to participate. This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Prepared for Life. For details on participation or reservations contact Andrea Hernandez.
Exxon Mobil Magnificent Moments in Math (EMM3)
CMH partners with 11 after school sites in Houston in this math-based academic enrichment program. EMM3 partners receive hands-on activities and staff trainings that are aligned to TEKS math standards. For more information please contact Aaron Guerrero at (713) 535-7226.
Para los niños
Para los Niños is a program that was developed by the Museum in collaboration with Houston Public Library. The goal of the program is to provide monolingual Spanish speaking parents with increased access to resources and activities that will improve their ability to parent children ages birth to age seven. Come join us in our next child-centered workshop at a library near you! For more information contact Tiffany Fontenot.
Primary Explorations for Children and Educators in Science (PEACHES)
Trainings offer a chance for educators to receive curriculum designed by the Lawrence Hall of Science that stimulates young learners' (preK-1st) innate curiosity about the world around them. This rich curriculum offers a variety of topics in both the life and physical sciences through a variety of activities involving everything from ladybugs to bubbles. The curriculum is in use in Spring Branch ISD, Houston ISD, Galena Park ISD, Aldine ISD, Channelview ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Lamar CISD and Angleton ISD. For more information, please contact Karen Milnar.