SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) invites families to make the most of their summer with the launch of its all-new ‘Chill with Us’ summer passport program — an exciting initiative designed to encourage young learners to explore, engage and earn rewards all summer long.
“Summer at the museum is all about discovery, creativity and family,” said Curator of Education Eliana Zacarias. “The summer passport program is a fun way to reward young visitors for showing up, participating and making memories that last.”
From July through August, young museum visitors are invited to join Blizzard the Polar Bear as he travels through the museum for a chill summer adventure! Visitors who attend and participate in five (5) museum programs or events will receive a free meal voucher for Old Spaghetti Factory in Redlands, simply by collecting stamps in their summer passport. Passports are available beginning July 8 and can be picked up at SBCM’s admission desk.
Participating programs and events include:
Engage in STEAM Lab art activities
Get creative in our indoor and outdoor STEAM Lab spaces with hands-on art activities for all ages. Our lab offers multisensory arts experiences that emphasize self-expression and experimentation with science-inspired crafts, kids and kids at heart can take home their own mini masterpieces.
Learn more at Cart Talk Saturdays
Join us every Saturday in July for cart talks where our education team and volunteers will be highlighting our fascinating artifacts, specimens and hands-on demos throughout the museum. Get up close and personal with your local natural and cultural history — please ask all the questions you’ve been wondering about!
Attend a summer event
Visit the museum for unforgettable summer nights under the stars―or under lights of friendly competition! The museum will extend their hours for the Through the Decades Trivia Night on Friday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Cosmic Nights is set to end the summer festivities on Saturday, August 30 from 7 – 10 p.m. Whether you’re a cosmic explorer or a trivia champ, there is something for everyone at the museum.
Enjoy family picnic lunches or play lawn games in the courtyard
Relax in our shaded outdoor courtyard with your own picnic lunch and enjoy the museum’s tranquil desert gardens, a historic train, and mining exhibits. Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Families also can play corn hole, get creative with chalk and engage in other super-sized lawn games.
Support a frozen treat vendor
What’s summer without a little something cool and refreshing? Keep an eye out for pop-up frozen treat vendors on select weekends!
Each time a child attends a qualifying event or program, they can ask a museum staff member to stamp their passport. Once five (5) stamps are collected, participants can pick up their free Wally the Trolley meal voucher at the museum admissions desk redeemable at Old Spaghetti Factory.
The program is designed to promote informal learning during the summer months while also supporting local businesses and building museum connections with young families across the region. Come chill with us — and make this summer one to remember! Families are encouraged to share their summer adventures on social media using #ChillatSBCM.
The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to people with disabilities.
The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
