Flint Children's Museum

The Flint Children's Museum inspires discovery, learning and imagination through hands-on play. It's a great resource for teachers and schools looking to provide a valuable, engaging experience for elementary and preschool age children.

The FCM's exhibits reinforce Next Generation Science Standards and Michigan Curriculum benchmarks for children ages 2-10. They're the perfect way to complement your classroom lessons in a fun, hands-on environment! Children learn about…

• Physical Science
• Earth Science
• Life Science
• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• Performing Arts

Check out descriptions of all of our customized, age-appropriate Field Trip Program Activities HERE!

Every field trip includes…

• Hands-on, imaginative play with over 40 exhibits
• Optional customized field trip activity
• Optional space for lunch or a snack

Cost for admission:

• Groups of 20+: $4/person
• Under 20: $6/person
• 1 teacher free per group of 20 visitors

Customized field trips are available!

The Flint Children's Museum offers customized field trips to enhance your Museum experience! These activities are selected by you in advance of the field trip, and are conducted by Museum program staff. Customized field trip sessions are routinely 30 minutes or less, and are conducted in a classroom setting.

We offer transportation assistance for qualifying schools. Click HERE to download the PDF application. If you have questions, contact us at 810-767-KIDS(5437).

The Museum is all one floor, wheelchairs and walkers available for use throughout the museum. Exhibit clearance allows for all to pass by and are child level for easy access. Disability Parking and Front Door parking available. Other accommodations can be requested upon reservation set-up.

Hands-on programming and activities in the areas of:

• Physical Science
• Earth Science
• Life Science
• Mathematics
• Language Arts
• Performing Arts

Programs can be customized to fit learning goals, school standards, or a variety of age groups.

Please visit: https://flintchildrensmuseum.org/about-us/main/ for directions and hours. For more details instructions, feel free to call our front desk staff at (810)-767-5437 during operating hours.

The Flint Children’s Museum believes that play is fundamental to children’s educational, physical, emotional, social development and well-being, and that all children deserve access to enriching play experiences. Because of this belief, we were founded and exist to offer safe, stimulating, and unique opportunities for playful learning, and to advocate for the importance of hands-on, exploratory play for the children of Flint and beyond.

The FCM

• Helps children develop cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills through hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Lights the spark of curiosity and discovery that inspires lifelong learning.
• Represents a unique multidisciplinary institution, as children's museums are redefining how to teach the arts, humanities, and sciences in interactive and engaging ways.
• Is an environment where families connect in meaningful ways through educational play.
• Builds social capital, and encourages children to share their talents and points of view.
• Strengthens cultural awareness and diversity through the welcoming of all children and families, regardless of ability, background, belief, ethnicity or family structure.
• Provides community resources that educate and care for children especially where programs have been reduced or completely eliminated from schools and libraries due to budget constraints.
• Reduces economic barriers as a sought-after local and travel destination with discounted or free admission for low-income families.

In 1979, local educator Mary Newman began a mission to create a hands-on experiential learning center in her own community of Flint, Michigan. She was inspired, as we are today, by the research-backed belief that hands-on exploratory learning is an important component of early childhood educational development, and is the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

The first permanent site for that vision was established at the North Bank Center in downtown Flint, where the Flint Children's Museum ("FCM") operated for 7 years. Many parents of our current visitors share fond memories of this early location, making the FCM a proud host to generations of fun and learning in our community.

After several years of growth, the opportunity to relocate to the campus of Kettering University came in 1993. Since then, the FCM has become an integral part of the "University Avenue corridor," connecting the campuses of Kettering University and the University of Michigan-Flint, where the FCM is a valuable educational and community asset.

Today, the FCM serves more than 40,000 children and families each year. Through the support of generous donors and community partners, the FCM provides unique educational experience to the youngest and most at-risk youth - and always attempting to expand our reach into the community to serve as many children as possible.

The last several years have seen even more demand for our exhibits and programs, as well as the development of Sproutside, our outdoor learning area. Child-curated gardens, outdoor science demonstrations, and lots of room for nature-based activities make Sproutside one of our most popular features. The FCM is especially proud that in 2013, Sproutside became one of only three Nature Explore-certified outdoor classrooms in the State of Michigan.

For 40 years, the FCM has enjoyed supporting the development of every child through hands-on learning experiences and is dedicated to continuing to serve as many children and families as possible.

You can find the Flint Children's Museum on social media platforms:

• Facebook: Flint Children's Museum
• Twitter: FlintChildrensM
• Instagram: Flint Children's Museum