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Join us for the 33rd Science Treasure Hunt in partnership with the Peoria Academy of Science! The Treasure Hunt is a combination family adventure and scavenger hunt focusing on science and technology facilities and resources in the Peoria area. To be eligible to participate, the hunter must be between 1st grade and 8th grade as of April 1, 2023. Multiple children may participate in the same family.
The Hunt runs annually with the opening day being April 8, and the closing day is September 4. Visit local science sites, participate in science experiments, and be entered to win fantastic prizes! Up to 100 winners will receive several prizes consisting of books, puzzles, and other neat science stuff. Three winners will be chosen for even bigger prizes!
How to Participate:
Visit ScienceTreasureHunt.org and create an account to view the various sites participating in this year’s Treasure Hunt.
Local Science Sites have created series of questions that can be answered as you visit them. Once you find out an answer, enter it on ScienceTreasureHunt.org using your computer or mobile device.
There are also several everyday science experiments listed on ScienceTreasureHunt.org, complete with materials and instructions. When you complete one, submit your results online.
Once you have visited eight or more Science Sites and completed five or more everyday science activities, you will be automatically entered into our prize drawing.
Following the end of the Treasure Hunt at 11:59 PM Central Time on Monday, September 4, up to 100 winners will be chosen at random from the eligible hunters.
Good luck!
It’s great to be eight! We’re celebrating 8 years of the PlayHouse.
In celebration of our birthday, admission is FREE ALL DAY! In addition, we’ll have story time in the Julep room, face painting, and a birthday hat maker space in our Open Art Studio.
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
HopScotch is the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum’s annual adults-only fundraising event. Leave the children at home and enjoy whiskey-based cocktails and craft brews from local restaurants and breweries. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, play games, bid against other attendees in our silent auction, and take a chance to win the grand prize raffle.
Check out the Hopscotch 2023 page for information on our auction items and more!
Do you need more information?
Check out our FAQ page or email Executive Director, Melissa Sierra.
All proceeds go towards building and maintaining our exhibit spaces to empower children to become the creators and explorers of the world.
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, more than 2,100 Museum Stores representing all fifty states and the District of Columbia, 25 countries, and five continents will offer relaxing, inspired shopping at your favorite museums and cultural institutions. Museum Store Sunday offers a special shopping experience in one-of-a kind stores (in person or online, or both), showcasing broad assortments of highly curated, unique, mission-specific gifts. From books to jewelry to children’s products to home accessories and gourmet food, there is something for everyone. Shop knowing you are supporting the missions and programs of each participating museum and cultural institution.
We invite you, your family, and your community, to “Be A Patron” at the PlayHouse on this Museum Store Sunday! Holiday shoppers will not only find quality gifts filled with inspiration and educational value but through their purchases, will also directly support their favorite museums. Shoppers foster ongoing appreciation and knowledge of art, nature, culture, science, and history. When you, the patron, purchase a gift from the museum store, you help to sustain the museum’s service to the public.
Join Peoria Playhouse on April 6 from 9:00 to 4:00 for a free day sponsored by Bright Start, an Illinois’ 529 college savings plan. In addition to free admission, the first 100 children can take part in the Bright Start “Little Savers Crafting Workshop” to decorate and take home their very own piggy bank.
Speak directly with the Bright Start team to have your questions answered and learn how a Bright Start 529 account can help you reach your college savings goals. A 529 plan is a type of investment account that can be used to save for higher education. Illinois families that save for post-secondary education with Bright Start may also receive tax savings benefits. See how easy it is to give your child the gift of education at BrightStart.com.
We hope to see you on April 6 for a fun-filled and educational day!
The Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program is sponsored by the State of Illinois and administered by the Illinois State Treasurer, as Trustee. Union Bank and Trust Company serves as Program Manager. Balances in your Bright Start account are not guaranteed or insured by Bright Start, the State of Illinois, the Illinois State Treasurer, any other state or federal agency, Union Bank and Trust Company or any of its affiliates, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (except as provided in the Program Disclosure Statement solely with respect to the FDIC-insured bank savings Underlying Investment), or any other entity.
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other important information is contained in the Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program Disclosure Statement, which can be obtained at BrightStart.com and should be read carefully before investing. You can lose money by investing in a portfolio. Each of the portfolios involves investment risks, which are described in the Program Disclosure Statement.
Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state’s 529 plan.
Membership Swap Weekend is here!
If you are a member of the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, from April 12-14 you can enjoy FREE general admission to these awesome Peoria-area attractions: Wildlife Prairie Park, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, and the Peoria Zoo!
All you have to do is present your membership card & a photo ID and then go enjoy your weekend!
Charges may apply for additional experiences.
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!