The Cook Museum will have a different children’s craft and coloring activity available each week on Tuesdays from 10 am – Noon during the summer.
This event is FREE for Members or included with General Admission
A Smart Kid's Guide to Summer!
Lillie Beth Warner • August 3, 2022
Looking for some Educational Activities........ Look no further!
Summer is one of the best times of the year. The sun is out and so are the kids for summer break! Kids and teachers get a little break from school and have a chance to relax for two months. Although some kids take the summer off from learning those kids who want to expand their knowledge over the break receive many benefits. Educational activities provide structure to children's summer experiences, making it more likely that they will stay engaged and focused and out of trouble once school starts back. It also keeps their academic skills polished and in some cases, makes it possible for them to get ahead. If you are wanting to keep your child learning over the break we have some super fun options for you!
One amazing opportunity for educational activities this summer is to visit the Cook Museum of Natural Science!
The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state-of-the-art natural science museum in downtown Decatur, AL. It provides a hands-on, immersive experience where kids can explore, interact with, and learn about nature. You'll leave the Cook Museum feeling fulfilled by the memories made and amazed by the things you saw and learned.
The Cook Museum of Natural Science has nine exhibits that explore different parts of our ecosystem! Inside the museum are live animals such as: bees, turtles, alligators, snakes, and more! If your child is looking for a fun and exciting experience the Cook Museum of Natural Science is the spot to be this summer. Check out some of their exhibits below!
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Along with the incredible exhibits that the Cook Museum of Natural Science has throughout the year, they also have special events happening almost everyday throughout the summer! These events will give kids the opportunity to see live animals, hear incredible stories, or show off their artistic side!
This summer, join the Cook Museum of Natural Science for an Oceans Tank Feeding for the fish on Wednesdays. Be sure to bring any questions you may have for a brief Q&A time with Animal Care following the feed.
Wednesdays in June & July at 3:30 pm
FREE for Members or included with General Admission
Join Cook Museum of Natural Science for Stories in the Store where we will read a couple of stories and children will be able to take an active role in the storytelling. Come early to choose your favorite stool! Story time will begin at 9:30 am outside of the Museum Store. New stories will be read each week. Admissions to the Exhibits is not included.
Thursdays in the summer starting at 9:30 AM!
Join the Cook Museum for this 20-30 minute meet & greet presentation with some of the Museum’s live Animal Ambassadors. Focusing on a different topic each week, the animals included will depend on availability, but could be a chuckwalla, an eastern indigo snake, a Mexican alligator lizard, a scorpion, or one of the other live animals from the Museum. Guests will have the opportunity to ask the Museum staff questions. Please note that guests will not be able to touch the animals.
Fridays in June, July, & August (Starting June 10) at 3 pm
FREE for Members or with General Admission
The live animals in the Discover Exhibit terrariums receive extra enrichment activities on Sundays during the summer.
Enrichment allows animals in captivity to experience something new and stimulating. This keeps their mind and senses active while encouraging the animals to use their natural behaviors.
Sundays in June & July from Noon – 5 pm
FREE for Members or with General Admission
Another great option for an educational summer is events at the Decatur Public Library!
The purpose of the Decatur Public Library is to provide to all those who live, work, own a business, or attend school in Morgan County, Alabama access to resources to fulfill their informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs and interests. This summer The Decatur Public Library is hosting educational events for children all over Morgan County!
This program is designed for little ones from birth to 4 years old. To complete this program, you need to log 1000 points in READsquared. You will need to have read 16 books with your little one by the end of the program.Each book read and logged counts for 50 points. Don’t forget to count any eBooks or audiobooks you read to them.
The Summer Reads program runs for 7 weeks (our program finale is July 22nd) but you will have until midnight on Friday, July 29th,to enter all your reading and earn your digital completion certificate (printable if you so desire).
The Decatur Public Library is hosting Pirate Day on July 22nd from 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM! This event will be wonderful way for kids to learn over the summer! Pirate day will have special guest Pirates and even a Pirate ship for young pirates to take photos with!
All aboard for a day of family-friendly fun! Depot Days in Hartselle, AL returns September 19, 2026, celebrating Hartselle’s rich railroad heritage in the heart of historic downtown.
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Who says field trips are just for school kids? Whether you're introducing a preschooler to the wonders of nature, planning a day out with grandparents, organizing a homeschool outing, or gathering a senior group for a day of discovery, Decatur & Morgan County is full of destinations that inspire curiosity at every age. From hands-on science exhibits to historic landmarks and beautiful outdoor spaces, these experiences prove that learning doesn't end when school does—it lasts a lifetime.
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