Compare A Scientific World of Discovery With Your Younger Grandchild by Road Scholar

Day 1 Check In, Registration, Orientation, Dinner, Mad Science St. Charles

Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Mad Science! Members of the Mad Science team will lead us through an exciting, interactive, hands-on experiment. Mad Science is an educational enrichment provider that uses fun approaches to getting kids excited about science. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

In the hotel breakfast room, we’ll have a catered buffet dinner, lemonade, milk, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 2 St. Louis Science Center, Lego Robotics, Experiment St. Charles

Getting on/off a bus. Walking according to personal preference at St. Louis Science Center, a 3-story facility with elevators.

We’ll board our bus for a field trip to the St. Louis Science Center (SLSC), one of the top five science centers in the nation. There, grandkids with help from grandparents will build our very own DIY robot — a Scribble Bot — using a low voltage DC motor, copper wire, batteries, markers, and a few household items. Then we’ll create art using our robot! After the session is over, we’ll have time to explore the Science Center on our own. The SLSC was recently named one of the Top 10 Science Centers for Families by “Parents” magazine. There are more than 700 hands-on exhibits from Amazing Science Demonstrations to a life-sized animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex and much, much more.

STEAM refers to science, technology, engineering, art, and math. At Bricks 4 Kidz, an expert STEM instructor will lead us in learning how to build robots using Lego WeDoRobotic kits. We will learn about sensor inputs and robotic brain outputs as we program the robots to perform assigned tasks.

Returning to the hotel, we’ll gather in the breakfast room for a hands-on experiment.

In the hotel breakfast room off the main lobby, the buffet offers a rotating variety of choices such as eggs and bacon, waffles, hot oatmeal, yogurt, cold cereal, fruit, and more.

At a local restaurant. We’ll then stop by a true St. Louis icon for a special treat. (Grandparents, this St. Louis landmark is located on historic Route 66!)

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal and order a select menu; milk, soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included, other beverages available for purchase.

Day 3 Sachs Butterfly House, Magic House, PJ Party & Movie St. Charles

Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 2 miles.

We’ll take a field trip to the Butterfly House at the Missouri Botanical Garden where more than 1,000 live butterflies representing more than 60 species fly freely in the glass conservatory building. A docent will lead us in a hands-on, student driven investigation examining the world of arthropods up close — designed to foster a greater understanding of their importance to the balance of life on Earth. We’ll use living animals and real specimens, not easily obtained for classroom use. After the study sessions, we will visit with the butterflies.

Next, we will visit the Magic House, a place like no other where you are free to explore, pretend, discover, experience, construct, and create. Express your artistic side by cutting and pasting a collage, transform 2D art into 3D models, decipher codes, crawl through an underground earthworm tunnel, play number games on a giant calculator, or climb up a three-story beanstalk, and much more! Truly a place that sparks the imagination.

We’ll put on our pj's and meet in the breakfast room for a movie night with popcorn and refreshments.

Hotel buffet.

On the grounds of the Butterfly House we will have a picnic lunch.

Hotel catered dinner.

Day 4 Challenger Learning Center St. Charles

Walking up to 2 miles.

Be prepared for a day of space adventures at the Challenger Learning Center. We will take on the roles of astronauts in the simulated spacecraft and work as a team to keep the crew safe and launch a scientific probe. Embrace your inner astronomer as you experience a personalized tour of the night sky through the Center's portable digital planetarium.

Think like a planetary scientist as you complete hands-on projects that explore the breadth of our Solar System and the possibility of life on Mars.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At the Challenger Learning Center, we’ll have box lunches with a drink.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous choices on Main Street in St. Charles.

Day 5 Hands-on History, Earth Science, Chemistry & Physics St. Charles

Walking up to 2 miles.

We will gather around the campfire and hear stories from the Native American people encountered during Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition. One of the stories will be a pictograph — a story written with drawings. Kids will have an opportunity to create their own pictographs before exploring in the museum. While in the Museum, we will see animals the Corps of Discovery would have seen and take part in a scavenger hunt. We will then visit the SCC campus, where we’ll be led by a zany scientist, a true aficionado. We will learn hands-on about earth science, chemistry, and physics through a series of fun, hands-on experiments.

We’ll return to the classroom of our scientist for more fun experiments.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Hotel buffet.

On the SCCC campus, we’ll have catered box lunches.

On the SCC campus, we’ll have a catered BBQ dinner with juice, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase and ice cream sundaes for dessert. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Day 6 Program Concludes St. Charles

Hotel buffet. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!