Children's Education

Children in the Lecture Hall, 1907

The Wagner Institute has offered educational programs for children since the turn of the last century. These programs aim to promote children’s interest in science by introducing them to the natural sciences at an early age. Because the Institute’s programs are available at no cost, they are a popular resource for groups throughout the city, especially those in its immediate neighborhood.

Programming for children is varied and reaches more than 10,000 children each year. The Institute offers free, hands-on natural science lessons to school groups throughout the year. Visiting students have the unique and engaging experience of taking part in an interactive lesson in the historic lecture hall and also spend time exploring the museum collections during their field trip.  The Wagner's GeoKids program is an innovative museum-school partnership that since 1992 has grown to include collaboration with four schools in its North Philadelphia neighborhood. Museum educators work with several teachers at each school and their students over the course of the school year to bring real-life natural science to the classrooms on a weekly basis. Our newest outreach initiative, SNAP (Science, Nature and Art in Philadelphia), offers after school and summer programming in science and art to middle school students in our neighborhood. Programs are also offered for Scout groups and home schooled children. Outreach programs are offered through the Wagner-to-Go program.