Explore & More Day Camps and Classes

Explore & More Day Camps and Classes include STEM activities, art activities, and exclusive playtime in the museum. Children take part in activities within the Tinkering Tank, the Art Studio, and the Cooking Galley, and these activities are free with the price of admission during museum hours. Explore & More offers a variety of day camps all year long, from select days off from school to summer vacation, and day camps are ideal for children in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade.

• Ages: Kindergarten–3rd Grade
• Schedule: Day camps offered on select days off from school and during summer vacation
• Price: TODDLER TIME: $20 (includes class and museum admission for 1 child + 1 guardian); Admission is $16 for adults and kids ages 1 & up; Admission is free for children under 1; Members can receive a 10% discount on camps; Members get in free for general admission

Beach Week Day Camps run February 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, and Spring Into STEAM Day Camps run April 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Summer Camps start July 27. All camps are non-refundable and non-transferable, and members can enter 30 minutes before general admission on open days, excluding Sundays. Specialty classes like Toddler Time are available for an additional fee, and no outside food or drink is allowed inside the museum unless a child has food sensitivity or allergies.

Explore & More is licensed through the New York State Office of Child and Family Services as a child care center. The mission of Explore & More is to provide best-in-class PLAY experiences where all children, families and the community can explore, learn and develop together. Sensory-friendly backpacks, universal changing tables, sensory-friendly rooms, and Au-Some Evenings are available for accessibility and inclusion.

Explore & More has been bringing the power of play to children and their families for 30-plus years, starting in 1994 in a 500-square foot basement schoolroom with an all-volunteer staff that saw 1,000 visitors in its first year. The museum later served over 60,000 children and their families in a 6,000-square foot facility in East Aurora and now operates a 43,000-square foot, four story museum at Canalside. Dating back to 2007, Explore & More became the first organization to offer children’s programming at Canalside.

An early partnership with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation led to Explore & More being selected as the anchor attraction on Buffalo’s revitalized waterfront. Explore & More is 95% self-funded, so the support of the community is critical to the museum’s survival, and it states a commitment to doing its part to eliminate social injustice through providing resources for children and families and leveraging the healing powers of play that is inclusive to every color on the tapestry of humanity.

Explore & More has received several recognitions, including Best Programming for Kids in Western New York from Buffalo Spree in 2025 and #1 Place to Take Kids in and Around Buffalo from KidsOutAndAbout.com in 2024 and 2025. It was named Best Family Fun in Winter and Best Family Destination in Winter by Buffalo Spree in 2024, won Best Customer Service in the 2024 Best of 716 voting, and was named a favorite destination for a child’s birthday, a favorite museum, and a favorite indoor attraction in Best of 716 readers’ polls. Explore & More is licensed through the New York State Office of Child and Family Services as a child care center.

The leadership team includes President & CEO Michelle Urbanczyk and a Board of Trustees Executive Committee with President Jon Dandes, Vice Chair Jason Santiago, Treasurer Bryan Harbison, and Secretary Nick Ortiz, along with Members at Large and Ex-Officio members as listed in the provided facts.

Last updated February 7, 2026.