SHERIDAN CLASSES: Registration opens April 1 at 7am
BUFFALO CLASSES: Registration opens April 15 at 7am
Scroll down for class descriptions and dates!
Ready, Set, Register!
Check out this sample registration form to help you gather the information you need to register with ease!
Summer Classes
and Special Offerings
Kids + Outdoors + Skilled Educators = Great Science Learning
Tailored Adventures
Our educational experiences are tailored to each age group, enriched by diverse scientific subjects and interdisciplinary adventures.
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6:1 Student-to-Teacher ratio
12 Students per class
Classes for 6-8, 9-12, and 12-14 year-olds
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Agriculture
Animal Behavior
Archeology
Chemistry
Ecology
Ethnobotany
Entomology
Freshwater Ecology
Geology
Mammalogy
Natural History
Ornithology
Paleontology
Physics
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Ornithology + Fine Art
Ethnobotany + History
Natural History + Photography
Earth Science + Stewardship
Soil Health + Culinary Arts
2026 Sheridan Classes
Ages 6 - 8
Rock and Rain
June 22–25, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Science rocks even when it rains! Sheridan has a lot of geological wonders! Students will explore the area in search of different types of rocks and even fossils! We will also look to the skies and learn about extreme weather and how plants and animals adapt to weather the storm. Using natural materials found outside, we will design and create simple structures that could serve as shelters in severe weather conditions.
Instructor: Tara King, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Bird Bonanza
June 22–23, 2026 ● 2 days
8:00am–1:00pm
Learn all about birds in this two-day class. What makes a bird a bird, why do they do the things they do, and where can we find them? Let's explore these questions and more while we learn how scientists study birds in the field. One special activity will be bird-banding, where students will get to hold live birds and participate in ongoing research. Get an up-close experience with local birds and be a community scientist!
Instructors: Audubon Rockies Community Naturalists
In partnership with: Audubon Rockies
Tuition: $85
Hands-on Nature
June 29–July 2, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Hop on in with nature-oriented activities for the young and curious! We’ll learn about the Earth and the way living things interact with the places they live, through hands-on experiences with nature and art. Let’s get outside and explore a variety of habitats and search out insects, animals and plants. This year, return to the pollinator garden we planted at Kendrick Park to see how the native plants and native bees are doing!
Instructor: Breanna Mills, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Precious Plants and Powerful Pollinators
July 6–9, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
What do tiny bees have to do with the crunchy apples and sweet raspberries we eat for lunch? Peer into the world of pollinators—bees, butterflies, beetles, flies and hummingbirds—and explore how they help plants make new seeds. Pollinators are powerful, and plants are precious, and together they make Earth beautiful and delicious.
Instructor: Sarah Flores, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Wings and Scales
July 22–23, 2026 ● 2 days
8:00am–1:00 pm
Join the University of Wyoming scientists in an exploration of the stunning variety of life on Earth as we get to know some incredibly important but often under-loved creatures: insects, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. Fall in love with the extraordinary features of these creatures, as we discover how they survive and thrive in Wyoming.
Instructors: Mason Lee, M.S. and colleagues
In partnership with: University of Wyoming Biodiversity Institute
Tuition: $85
Earth Explorers
July 27–30, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00am–1:00pm
Become an explorer of the Earth! We’ll learn about ecosystems (that’s a big word!) and the way living things interact with the places they live. Get moving and investigate the natural spaces near Sheridan with hands-on activities and the skills of a scientist as you observe, measure, and record your discoveries. As an Earth Explorer, our entire globe, from soil to sky, from microscopic organisms to megafauna, is waiting for you!
Instructor: Lauren Mills
Tuition: $130
2026 Sheridan Classes
Ages 9 - 11
Nature in Focus
June 15–18, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Set out on a photographic journey in this one-of-a-kind class. We will immerse ourselves in nature by learning the art of observation and use photography to capture what we see. Learn how to scout for unique and candid shots utilizing light, angles, and the organic filters of nature, while discovering what it means to be a naturalist.
Instructors: Jenae Neeson & Breanna Mills, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Hidden Microworlds
June 24–25, 2026 ● 2 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Discover Earth’s microworld! What sorts of creatures and beautiful structures can you find in a drop of pond water? From rotifers and diatoms, or microfossils and rock chips collected by harvester ants, you will explore the fantastical world of things too tiny to see without magnification. Learn all about our world at tiny scales, and polish your scientist skills. Explore and collect samples outdoors, then make observations in the lab with the help of compound and dissecting microscopes.
Instructor: Mike Bloodsworth, D.D.S.
Tuition: $85
Bug Out
July 6–9, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Bugs are everywhere; we just have to look for them! Spend a week identifying insects and other invertebrates, and find out the many wonderful and wacky things they do, many of which are helpful to humans. You’ll use a variety of tools to learn how insects are adapted to the Wyoming environment, and even start your own bug collection. It’s a fun experience for the aspiring entomologist!
Instructor: Emily Emond, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Science of Fly Fishing
July 13–16, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Cast into the science behind fly fishing! In this class, you will explore freshwater ecosystems to learn how fish, aquatic and terrestrial insects, and water quality are all connected. Learn about fish feeding behavior, and how the flies we use to catch trout imitate the looks and behavior of insects found in the wild. You will even get to practice the art of casting a fly rod! Join in to learn the science every successful fly fisher knows.
Instructors: Justin Kidneigh, M.A. and Breanna Mills, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Phenomenal Physics
July 20–23, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Have you ever wondered how humans use light and sound to communicate and record information? What about how machines make jobs easier and let people accomplish things they could not do alone? This class will teach the basics of light, sound, and motion, and explore simple machines that can be used to do almost anything. Physics is all around us…let’s get out there and grow our brains!
Instructor: Kaitlin Shaw
Tuition: $130
Forensics in the Field
July 27–30, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Whose scat is that? Put your observation skills to the test and join us in the field to gather clues. We will take a close look at habitat, food availability, tracks, and scat to determine what types of animals might cross our paths. Students will sketch and keep notes in a science field notebook as well as create animal footprints from plaster and molds.
Instructor: Tara King, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Mineral Miners & Fossil Finders
August 3–6, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Fossils and minerals and micro-belemnites, oh my! Learn alongside experts as you dig into the dirt beneath your feet to explore the realm of soil science and paleontology. Discover the rocks and minerals that teach us about Wyoming’s long-ago past. Trace the history of the coal industry along the Black Diamond Trail, try your hand at sifting sediment for treasures to take home, and more. This class is going to rock!
Instructor: Dave Nicolarsen
Tuition: $130
2026 Sheridan Classes
Ages 12 - 14
Measurement Mayhem
June 9–12, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Have you ever wondered how big? How small? How heavy? How far away is something? Almost everything can be measured, from the obvious to the obscure. In Measurement Mayhem, you will learn how to use science and math to answer all of these questions and more! What exactly is that scale measuring? What methods and tools can we use to measure that? What does that number even mean? You will be blown away by the ins and outs of measuring that people and science use to make sense of our universe!
PLEASE NOTE: This class is Tuesday through Friday!
Instructor: Robert Milne, M.A., Ph.D.
Tuition: $130
Advanced Insect Collecting
June 15–18, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Level up! For students who have completed beginner insect collecting, this class builds advanced skills to locate, capture, preserve, and identify insects. Deepen your understanding of insect diversity as you explore new habitats. Try exciting collection methods, like light-trapping moths with a kit to take home overnight! Improve your pinning and labeling skills, and curate your insect collection like a professional entomologist! Join in for outdoor exploration, careful observation, and the craft of building a scientific collection!
Instructor: Emily Emond, M.S.
Tuition: $130
Solar Science
August 3–6, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
How does the Sun’s energy get to Earth and become something that we experience? And how can we benefit from it in our daily lives? Through a series of demonstrations and experiments, students will explore principles of energy transfer, beginning with solar energy’s journey from the Sun all the way to Earth, and how that energy is recycled before traveling back to space. We will apply what we learn to three specific passive and active solar energy technologies, and investigate how those technologies can be used to supply and supplement home energy needs.
Instructor: Eric Comstock
Tuition: $130
World of Nature Journaling
August 10–13, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Join us on a journey that engages your senses, develops your observation skills, and connects you more deeply to the natural world. Learn the sketching and note-taking skills to document your experience outdoors — a vital step of the scientific method — and start your own nature journal! We will explore a variety of environments, looking closely at intricate, fine details, as well as zooming out to see the big picture.
Instructor: Emily Kidneigh
Tuition: $130
Psst. Parents– we've got your round-trip covered!
Science Kids will head to classes on board our Science Kids adventure buses, making the journey to and from our classes as joyful as the learning. Let the exploration begin!
2026 Buffalo Classes
Ages 6 - 8
Note: Buffalo classes are special offerings
just for Johnson County residents.
Earth Explorers
June 29–July 2, 2026 ● 4 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Become an explorer of the Earth! We’ll learn about ecosystems (that’s a big word!) and the way living things interact with the places they live. Get moving and investigate the natural spaces near Buffalo with hands-on activities and the skills of a scientist as you observe, measure, and record your discoveries. As an Earth Explorer, our entire globe, from soil to sky, from microscopic organisms to megafauna, is waiting for you!
PLEASE NOTE: Pick up/drop off in Buffalo, WY at the Bomber Mountain Civic Center.
Instructor: Lauren Mills
Tuition: $130
Nature’s Playground
July 20–21, 2026 ● 2 days
8:00 am–1:00 pm
Nature is everywhere; we just need to know where to look. We’ll explore the woods, meadows, and streams around Buffalo to discover amazing things that happen outside. We’ll learn about animals and insects, plants, rocks, and ancient humans, using our eyes, ears, nose, and sense of touch to experience the world like never before. By the end of the class, you’ll be a real naturalist experiencing nature, even in your own backyard, in a new way.
PLEASE NOTE: Pick up/drop off in Buffalo, WY, at the Bomber Mountain Civic Center.
Instructors: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office Staff and Partners
In partnership with: BLM
Tuition: $85
Spark Curiosity, Not Costs!
Science Kids finds local partners to offer scholarships based on financial need.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Science Kids is a science-education, field-based program designed to get kids outdoors, where great science learning happens. We have been offering classes as a nonprofit in the Sheridan area since 2009. Students explore and learn about the ecosystems they are a part of, through hands-on activities. Classes are offered to children ages 6 – 8, 9 – 11, and 12 – 14.
Science Kids also partners with location organizations to offer science programming to families, often free of charge. -
Summer classes cost anywhere between $45 and $155, which is an hourly cost of $6.43 to $10.63 for quality outdoor science education, with experienced, enthusiastic staff.
Scholarships are available. -
Our preferred method is to use the online registration process. Your registration is processed immediately, and a confirmation is instantly e-mailed to you. If you need assistance, we are happy to help and are just a call (307-429-2767) or email away info@science-kids.org
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Payment is due at the time of registration.
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Yes. Scholarships are available for those needing financial support. Apply anytime! Applications received and approved before registration opens may be eligible for early-bird registration. Applications will be reviewed, and applicants rapidly notified by email if the scholarship has been awarded.
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Cancellation Policy: If cancellation is necessary, please immediately contact Science Kids (info@science-kids.org; 307-429-2767). We aim to fill every seat on the bus for every class every day! If you know you will not be attending, please let us know as soon as possible so we can do our best to recruit a new student. An empty seat on our bus makes us sad.
Science Kids must have the parent name, student name, class title, class dates, and reason for cancellation. To process any refund, a request must be received by the refund deadlines referred to below. In addition, a processing fee of $30 will be deducted from all refund amounts.
• One month or more before the start date of class: Full refund minus processing fee.
• 14-30 days notice before the start date of class: 75% refund minus processing fee.
• 7-13 days notice before the start date of class: 50% refund minus processing fee.
• Within one week of class: No refund