UPDATE 12:30 p.m. Thursday: The Sunflower Summer app is now available in the Google Play Store.
TOPEKA — A new program will help children stay engaged in learning throughout the summer months while spending quality time with family members and friends touring some of Kansas’ greatest attractions – all for free.
The Sunflower Summer program, which is being funded by federal COVID-19 money to offer summer enrichment activities for Kansas students, is a collaboration between the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), Kansas Department of Commerce, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research, and Greenbush Education Service Center.
“This is a win-win for Kansas students and Kansas attractions,” said Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson. “The Sunflower Summer program can help enrich summer learning and is an excellent opportunity for students and families to go on educational adventures together while supporting nearly 70 Kansas attractions.”
Adults can visit sunflowersummer.org to download the Sunflower Summer mobile app to their phone or tablet device. The app is currently available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
An adult will need to register their family members and include their county and school district. There are nearly 70 attractions to choose from across the state, including zoos, museums, historic landmarks, libraries and outdoor locations.
Within the Sunflower Summer app is a passport that allows participants to track where they have visited on their adventures.
Once a location has been selected, tickets can be claimed within the app. When attendees are ready to enter, the ticket can be activated and presented to the ticket taker.
Child care facilities also can access and use the app for field trips. However, only one ticket per child and adult can be redeemed at each location. More information and a frequently-asked-questions section are available at www.sunflowersummer.org.
The Sunflower Summer program runs through Aug. 15. Funding for this program is limited, and tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Following is the list of participating locations.
ATTRACTIONS & LANDMARKS
Cosmosphere
Curious Minds Discovery Zone
Evel Knievel Museum
Exploration Place
Kansas Aviation Museum
Kansas Children's Discovery Center
Kansas State Capitol
Lee Richardson Zoo
Mid-America Air Museum
Rolling Hills Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo
The Topeka Zoo
Wright Park Zoo
HISTORY
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
Boot Hill Museum, Inc.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Eisenhower Presidential Library***
El Quartelejo Museum & Jerry Thomas Gallery and Collection
Fick Fossil & History Museum
Fort Larned National Historic Site
Johnson County Museum
Kansas Museum of History
Kiowa County Historical Museum & Soda Fountain
Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Mid-America All-Indian Museum
Miners Hall Museum
Nicodemus National Historic Site
Old Cowtown Museum
Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site
Pony Express Barn & Museum
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
The Big Well Museum
ART & THEATER
Prairie Museum of Art & History
Red Barn Studio Museum
Theatre In The Park
NATURE AREAS
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens
Cedar Bluff State Park
Cheney State Park
Clinton State Park - OK Kids
Cowley Lake Waterfall
Crawford State Park
Cross Timbers State Park
El Dorado State Park
Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center
Fall River State Park
Flint Hills Discovery Center
Flint Hills Trail State Park
Hillsdale State Park
Lehigh Portland Trails
Little Jerusalem State Park
Lovewell State Park
Meade State Park
Milford State Park
Monument Rocks Natural Area
Perry State Park
Pomona State Park
Santa Fe Trail Center Museum & Research Library
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Tuttle Creek State Park
Webster State Park
Wyandotte County Lake Park
LIBRARIES
Clay Center Carnegie Library
Hays Public Library
Hoisington Public Library
Lawrence Public Library
Salina Public Library
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
***Requires reservation online through their website prior to entry with code SUMMERFUN.