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Just for Kids

For the Kid in All of Us

Enjoy the day with your little one at Tohono Chul!

The gardens at Tohono Chul provide a wonderful place to play, laugh, and learn. You’ll find all kinds of fun things for kids to do in the gardens, including chasing lizards and butterflies or floating your boat down our children’s stream. Your children will delight at the beauty of Tohono Chul and you’ll love that they’re learning while they’re having so much fun. It’s a great place to learn about the Sonoran Desert’s unique habitat and special critters—and create lasting memories.

I’ve been bringing my granddaughters to play here since they were toddlers and even now that they’re teenagers they always want to come back with me.

Julia Wait Bonse

Happening Now


Children’s Museum Oro Valley at Tohono Chul

Open 9 am – 1 pm | Tuesday – Sunday
Outdoor playspace open 8 am – 5 pm daily

Let your child run wild at CMOV@TC! The Children’s Museum Oro Valley at Tohono Chul is a unique place that inspires children to learn through play. The museum offers hands-on exhibits and programs that engage kids of all ages in nature, art, culture, and so much more. It’s a great place for kids to learn about what makes their community special. Click the link below for more information and plan your visit today!

More Info

On-Site Activity Guide & Mobile Scavenger Hunts

We have scavenger hunts to help you explore the gardens; once you complete one, you will be entered into a quarterly drawing to win a family guest pass. Scan this sign, located throughout the gardens, to start all the fun!

To continue the experience from home, we have special coloring pages linked to our current exhibitions and Permanent Collection. If you are looking for even more activities to do from home, visit our Tohono Chul @ Home page

Explorer Backpacks – Discover & Learn!

Available for Checkout at the Admissions Window
Free with Admission

Experience the natural wonders of the Sonoran Desert up close with our brand-new Explorer Backpacks! Equipped with binoculars, a magnifying glass, a compass, and other adventurous tools, these backpacks offer a hands-on experience of our beautiful gardens and all their hidden treasures.
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Grab an Explorer Backpack at the admissions window and get ready to unleash your child’s inner explorer!

Fun with Chemistry at CMOV

Saturday, October 19
9 AM – 12 PM
Free for Members | Free with Admission
Children’s Museum Oro Valley

Unleash your child’s inner mad scientist with the Women’s Chemistry Group (WCG) at CMOV!

Get ready for hands-on excitement as your little ones explore the magical world of chemistry through a series of playful experiments and creative projects. From mixing up colorful art using pH to whipping up their own batch of squishy gummi worms, UV-sensitive bracelets, and stretchy silly putty, every activity is a recipe for laughter and discovery.

This workshop provides a delightful blend of learning and creativity, where kids can let their imaginations run wild. Join us at CMOV for scientific shenanigans that will leave your children grinning from ear to ear.

Sonoran Cinema Presents | Hocus Pocus (1993)

Tuesday, October 29
Gates Open at 6:30 PM | Showtime at 7 PM
Member Admission $2 | General Admission $4
Performance Garden (outdoors)

Celebrate spooky season at Tohono Chul with a special screening of the 1993 Disney classic, Hocus Pocus!

FILM SUMMARY
For 30 years the Sanderson Sisters have been casting spells, now see them back on the big screen for a limited time as we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Hocus Pocus! Conjured up by some unsuspecting pranksters, a tricky trio of 300-year-old witches set out to cast a spell on the town and reclaim their youth. But first, they must get their act together and outwit three kids and a talking cat.

Rated PG | 1 hour 36 minutes long
Watch the official trailer!⁠

Get Tickets

SACA Clay Studio at CMOV

Thursday, October 31 (Halloween)
10 – 11 AM
Free for Members | Free with Admission
Children’s Museum Oro Valley

Step into the world of creativity at Children’s Museum Oro Valley (CMOV) with an interactive clay workshop for kids!

Join professional clay artists from the Southern Arizona Clay Artists (SACA) as they guide children and families through an enchanting journey of clay crafting. Each session is inspired by a captivating Storytelling book, ensuring a magical experience for all. In this special Halloween-themed workshop, kids can sculpt a pumpkin out of clay!

Don’t miss the chance to explore ceramic artistry and ignite your child’s imagination at CMOV’s clay studio!⁠

COLORING PAGES

We have a wide range of coloring pages that has pieces from the current exhibition and our Permanent Collection. Discover the artist in you as you color textiles, ceramic, photographs, and more.

Coloring pages from our The Elements – Water exhibit:

The Elements – Fire exhibit:

The Elements – Air exhibit :

wind driven
heaven
skull
breathe
monarch
launch

Roy J. Kurtz Collection

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Guided Tours for Schools:

Schools are welcome to visit on a guided tour. Please contact Stephen Spikes at docent@tohonochul.org or 742-6455 x 235 to make a reservation.

  • Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance to take advantage of the reduced school group admission fee
  • Minimum of 1 adult chaperone for every 10 children is required
  • Cost is $2 per student | free admission for one chaperone for every 10 students | $2 for each additional chaperone
  • Stay on the trails and refrain from touching, picking, or collecting anything; Tohono Chul is a living museum we wish all our guests to enjoy
  • Be sure to dress for the weather and for walking in the desert
  • Recommend wearing closed-toe shoes
  • Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun
  • Don’t forget to bring a water bottle.
    • There are water fountains designed to refill water bottles at Admissions and at the Education Center.
  • Please download, read and share the Guided Tour Information for Teachers and Chaperones

Please contact Stephen Spikes at docent@tohonochul.org or 742-6455 x 235

Fun and Smart Projects for Kids

Before your next visit, why not explore one of these activity sheets, great for a rainy (or too hot) day at home! Note: activity sheets are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format (portable document format) and some are for legal-sized paper (8-1/2 × 14″). (To access these forms you need the free downloadable software, Adobe Acrobat Reader.)