Sign up for our Family Newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming family programs!
Summer Camps
Students entering the 4th through 8th grades are invited to come to the Education Studio for a weeklong summer camp where they can make artworks of their very own. Campers will also have the opportunity to explore art in the museum’s galleries and go behind the scenes to view works that are rarely exhibited.
Summer Camp Pricing
• Children of Meadows Museum Members at the Individual level and above: $125*
◦ Membership to the Meadows Museum starts at $75 and comes with a host of benefits, in addition to the discounted camp price. To join the museum, please first call Membership Associate José María Fernando Rios at 214.768.2765 to join and activate your membership. Once active, you will be able to login and apply your membership discount to your camp registration.
• Children of non-member SMU Faculty/Staff/Students: $175
• Children of non-members, and members at the Paperless Pass level: $200
Please note that your membership must be current at the time of camp to qualify for member pricing.
Advance registration required, visit the Program Calendar to view camp details and register, or visit each camp at the links below:
Thanks to a generous grant from the Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee, scholarships are available to qualifying students. Apply for the scholarship.
Preschool Playdate
Second Tuesday of the Month
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Calling all little ones and their grown-ups! This program welcomes children 2-5 and their adults into the museum before it opens to explore art together. This program focuses on the making and the doing and not the final product. We will enjoy songs and story time led by Highland Park Library, look at a work of art, experience a new art-making process, and most importantly, have fun!
Recommended for ages 2–5, but all children are welcome. This is not a drop-off program; children must be accompanied by at least one adult over the age of 18. Both grown-ups and children need to register in advance.
Free with museum admission. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and over, $4 for non-SMU students. Members at the Individual level and above are free. Active military and their families are free. Free museum admission for youth 18 and under is made possible by a grant from Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee.
View and register for upcoming sessions on our Program Calendar.
Open Studio
Third Sunday of the Month (beginning September 2025)
1:00–4:00 p.m.
Drop by the Education Studio each month for the opportunity to explore materials and create art projects inspired by works on view at the museum. A new project is offered each month, so families are encouraged to return frequently. All materials will be provided.
This program is designed for children of all ages and advance registration is not required. This is not a drop-off program; children must be accompanied by at least one adult over the age of 18.
This program is free but does not include museum admission.
Children’s Drawing from the Masters
Third Saturday of the Month
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy afternoons of guided looking and informal drawing instruction with artist and educator Desireé Vaniecia. Each session offers the chance to carefully observe artworks, explore different techniques, and develop drawing skills in a fun, hands-on environment. Drawing materials will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own sketchpads and pencils.
This program is designed for children ages 7–11, but all are welcome. The program begins in the museum’s galleries at the featured work of art. This is not a drop-off program; children must be accompanied by at least one adult over the age of 18. Both grown-ups and children need to register.
Free with regular museum admission. Advance registration required.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and over, $4 for non-SMU students. Members are free. Active military and their immediate families are free. Free museum admission for youth 18 and under is made possible by a grant from Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee.
Sensory Cart
Second Weekend of the Month
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Stop by the Sensory Cart in the galleries to explore art through multiple senses. Visitors are invited to feel a variety of materials, experience specific scents, and listen to recordings that evoke a work of art. Each month, the cart will highlight a different work on view.
This program is free with museum admission. Advance registration is not required. Designed for all ages.
* Sensory Cart programs will not take place on days when SMU is playing a home football game. Please check the SMU football schedule.
Art-On-the-Go Kits
Each spring and fall, a new Art-on-the-Go Kit is released. The kit includes all of the materials required to complete a project designed for all ages. Families can pick up their complimentary art kit from the Meadows Museum Box Office or Highland Park’s Harvey R. “Bum” Bright Library.
Art-on-the-Go Kits can also be requested for distribution at your organization. A limited number of kits will be made each fall, spring, and summer, and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Kits available during the summer will contain the same project as the spring kit.
Activity Bags
The Meadows Museum welcomes families with children to explore art together in our galleries. Drop in and check out an Activity Bag from the Box Office to enjoy during your visit. These bags are filled with materials that will make your family visit to the Meadows Museum even more engaging. Come talk, make, and write about works of art together.
Free with regular museum admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Activity Bags are in English and Spanish.
Digital Sculpture Guide
Download and print this guide to our sculpture garden
, or pick up a copy at the front desk. It contains several fun activities designed for all ages!
Homeschool Programs
The Meadows Museum offers dedicated workshops for homeschool families each fall and spring. Each session explores a unique theme inspired by our current exhibitions and may feature special guest educators or artists. These programs provide hands-on artmaking and gallery experiences designed for a range of ages. Check our online calendar for upcoming dates, or sign up for our Family Newsletter to be the first to hear about future workshops.
