EDUCATION >> CHILDREN/FAMILIES >> SUMMER GROUPS

Summer Group Programs

You may also download a pdf version of the 2012 Summer Group Offerings.

Please note:

Children must be at least 3 years old to attend programs in the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, except for Kaluoka-hina: The Enchanted Reef, which children under 3 may attend.
LASM requires at least ONE chaperone for every 10 children.
Minimum number of children for a group is 15.
Maximum group size for the planetarium is 170.
Maximum group size for the auditorium is 190.

Planetarium Shows
$3.50 per person, allow 1 hour. Any of the shows may be reserved at 9 AM.

Showtimes	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
9:00 a.m..	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN	OPEN
10:00 a.m.	Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef	Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef	Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef	Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef
11:00 p.m.	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean
12:00 p.m.	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System
1:00 p.m.	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean
2:00 p.m.	We Choose Space	We Choose Space	We Choose Space	We Choose Space
3:00 p.m.	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System	Wildest Weather in the Solar System
4:00 p.m.	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean	Wild Ocean

Kaluoka’hina: The Enchanted Reef

Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef, a humorous, animated, adventure story, transports young viewers to a colorful, unique tropical reef. Full of danger, mysteries, and myths, the reef is inhabited by humorous, lovable, and dangerous creatures. When a volcanic catastrophe breaks the spell of paradisiacal peace in which the inhabitants have always lived, it's up to two young fish to restore the magic of their home and save their beloved reef. This tale is entertaining and exciting, with many informative details about the underwater world.
Recommended ages: 4 and above

Wild Ocean

Filmed off the wild coast of South Africa, this is an explosive, symphonic documentary about man and nature. Each year, a feeding frenzy occurs as billions of sardines migrate up the KwaZula-Natal Coast. Wild Ocean captures breaching whales, feeding sharks, diving gannets, and massive bait balls up close. The migration provides an annual food source for both sea life and human life along the African shores, affecting the coastal communities economically and culturally.
Recommended ages: 7 and above

Wildest Weather in the Solar System

Join National Geographic on an exploration of the most beautiful, powerful, and mysterious weather phenomena in the solar system. Audiences witness the thick atmosphere of Venus, magnetic storms on the sun, liquid methane showers on Titan, and anticyclones whirling at hundreds of miles per hour on Jupiter. From a storm the size of a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb to a 400-year-old hurricane and a dust storm that could engulf entire planets, viewers will be glad they live on Earth!
Recommended ages: 8 and above.

We Choose Space

We Chose Space is a new planetarium show for audiences of all ages who dream of space and wonder about human spaceflight after the Shuttle. It's a show filled with real adventures from the near frontier. Positive, possible, and thrilling, this show is about a promise that can be made to children, the astronauts of the future.
Recommended ages: 7 and above.

Auditorium Interactive Programs
$3.50 per person, allow 45 minutes.

These programs are interactive, instructor-led, multimedia presentations on topics that blend science, technology, and art.

Colors of the Rainbow

This magical adventure integrates the art and the science of color. Kids learn about the color wheel, color mixing, and the visible light spectrum and color wavelengths.
Recommended ages: 4–8

Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Dr. Decibel, LASM’s wacky professor, leads youngsters in an interactive exploration of the world of sound. Junior scientists will learn about the anatomy of the ear, experiment with unique musical instruments, and become familiar with key vocabulary terms relating to sound.
Recommended ages: 4–8

Weatherwise

Campers join the studio audience of WLASM's simulated weathercast as our chief meteorologist, Wendy Wise, introduces them to the wonderful world of weather and its impact on the environment. This fast-paced educational adventure brings weather-related terms and concepts to life in a fun-filled, creative format. Also included are environmental topics such as coastal erosion, wetland preservation, and conservation of natural resources.
Recommended ages: 5–8

Miss Trudy's Traveling Trunk Show

Kids will be eager to join Miss Trudy for stories, songs, and games sprinkled with humor and fun! They’ll meet her special puppet friends, Sheldon the Sheepdog and Frederick the Mouse, and learn about the seasons of the year and all the surprises found in Miss Trudy’s Trunk.
Recommended ages: 4–6

Auditorium Films
$3.50 per person, allow 1 hour. Films are suitable for all ages.

Forces of Nature

National Geographic and Graphic Films deliver a project 10 years in the making—the awesome spectacle of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tornadoes brought to the big screen! Peering over the brink of erupting volcanoes or barreling toward angry funnel clouds, your group will be amazed by the colossal powers that shape our world.

To Be An Astronaut

Starring the men and women of NASA, this movie presents the exciting story of astronaut training, including the precise, intense drama of preparing for in-flight situations and the personal reflections of members of the astronaut corps.

Whales: An Unforgettable Journey

This stunningly beautiful film will take your group to some of the wildest deep-sea locations on earth to witness the sights, sounds, and survival of the world's largest mammal.

More information about this film is available at the official website of the large-format film Whales: An Unforgettable Journey.

Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West

National Geographic brings to life the characters and thrilling story of the first crossing of what would become the United States. Visit the official website of the large-format film Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West for related activities and games.

Gallery Add-ons
$.50 each for individual galleries, allow 30 minutes.
Galleries must be booked in addition to a program above.

Art Gallery
The Floating World: Ukiyo-e Prints
Through June 24

The fleeting beauty of nature and pleasure are depicted in 50 colorful ukiyo-e prints dating from Japan’s Edo Period (1600–1868). Beautiful women, actors, the theater, landscapes, narrative scenes, and decorative themes feature widely in ukiyo-e prints, an art form that later influenced masters such as Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Vincent van Gogh. Ukiyo-e literally translates as “images of the floating world” and refers to the genre of woodblock printing that arose in the metropolitan culture of Edo, today known as Tokyo. Wallace B. Rogers, founder of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, collected the prints on view in just under five years during the 1920s.
Recommended ages: 6 and above

Numeral: Digital Paintings by John F. Simon Jr.
Starting June 30

Replacing the canvas with the computer screen, John F. Simon Jr., a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, has been at the forefront of digital art internationally since the 1990s. Using a software program of his own invention, he manipulates color, geometry, motion, and light to create dynamic algorithmic compositions that are constantly in motion yet non-repetitive. Much more than digital animation, his software art is shown upon LSD screens encased in elaborate frames and cabinets that enhance the iconography and multilayered meanings of the works. Simon’s work is included in many major international collections.
Recommended ages: 6 and above

Ancient Egypt Gallery

LASM houses one of the few Egyptian tomb exhibits in the southern United States. Kids tour a re-creation of a Ptolemaic-era tomb, ca. 300 BC, that houses an authentic 2,300-year-old mummy. On view in the outer gallery is a collection of ancient artifacts, together with maps, interpretive materials related to ancient burial customs, and recent information about the LASM mummy.
Recommended ages: 7 and above

Discovery Depot

This well-equipped educational play space for young visitors features toys and activities that focus on art and encourage creative play.
Recommended ages: 7 and under

Science Station

This interactive gallery features hands-on exhibits in physical science, life science, earth science, and mathematics. Youngsters explore the worlds of motion, sound, logic, light, and color with activities that engage them in the process of learning and discovery.
Recommended ages: 7 and above

Solar System

In the Solar System Gallery, on the first floor of the planetarium, campers can weigh themselves on the moon and planets, view images from the sun, meet four early astronomers, and marvel at the 40-foot orrery, among other education-packed exhibits. Along the back wall of the Solar System Gallery is a 28-foot-long, 4-foot-high photographic image of the Milky Way. The image contains over four million stars, nebulae, and star clusters. Using the interactive kiosk, kids will learn about and locate 12 different objects within the Milky Way. Adjacent to the gallery is the two-story Planet Tower, where they can compare sizes of the planets.
Recommended ages: 6 and above

The Museum Store at LASM

LASM encourages summer groups to visit The Museum Store at LASM to find a large assortment of interesting, educational items starting at just $1. A summer camper with $5 can find many items to choose from!

Allowing campers to shop gives them a chance to make independent decisions, helps teach the concept of budget management, and improves math and social skills! All sales profits from The Museum Store help maintain museum exhibits and fund future programs for your groups. We appreciate your support!