Explorit Science Center birthday party packages offer hands-on and minds-on science fun for children ages 4-11. Parties take place in the Explorer Room in the new main public site at 2801 2nd St. in Davis. Explorit now has two party packages:

• The Basic Party offers your group use of the Explorer Room for your own activities and food plus time in the museum exhibit hall to explore all of the science activities in the Changing Exhibition.
  Available times on Saturdays and Sundays*: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2:30–4 p.m.


• The Super Party includes use of the Explorer Room, time in the exhibit hall and an hour of educator-led group activities of a chosen theme with a make-'n'-take item for every party guest. [Details below]
  Available times on Saturdays and Sundays*: 11:00 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2:30–4:30 p.m.

*Party scheduling is subject to staffing and space availability. Reservations must be made at least 3 weeks in advance.
To sign up for a birthday party: Call Explorit at (530) 756-0191 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Birthday Party FAQ

The Basic Party Package includes:

• A 90-minute party for up to 10 children with use of the Explorer Room for the party celebration, food, and your activities, plus time in our exhibit hall
• Cost is $90 for Explorit members, $110 for non-members.
• Each additional child is $5 (20 children maximum).
• Add 30 extra minutes for $25.
• Adult chaperones are free.

Super Party Package includes:

• A two-hour party for up to 10 children, with 60 minutes of group activities of the chosen theme led by an Explorit educator; and 60 minutes for party celebration, food, and activities in our exhibit hall
• Gift (t-shirt) from Explorit to the birthday child
  
• Cost is $145 for Explorit members, $175 for non-members.
• Each additional child is $10 (15 children maximum).
• Adult chaperones are free.

Choice of themes for educator-led activities: [Scroll down for details]
•  Slither, Leap and Hop
•  Fascinating Fossils
•  Magical Chem-Mysteries
•  Scientastic Sleuthing
•  Starry Science;
•  Inventor's Challenge.

Both party packages include:

• Coordinator to check in guests and provide orientation
• Admission to the exhibition hall for everyone in your group
• Acknowledgment of birthday child at entrance to Explorit, a certificate for the child and an announcement of the child's name over Explorit's PA system
• Nametag and one Explorit-buck for each party guest
• Use of Explorer Overlook or upstairs gallery for refreshments, with access to refrigerator, freezer and microwave
• Map with the date and time of party for your invitations

Optional extras:

• Add inline skating at DISC to your party package for $5 per skater (includes rental and unlimited skating from 1-3 p.m.) Available only after Sunday morning parties.


• For goody bags, consider buying items from the Explorit store before party day. Or buy Exploritbucks (one buck equals $1) for your guests to use in the store the day of the party.

Themes for Super Party Package

Slither, Leap and Hop
Animals are divided into groups that have certain characteristics in common. Learn about animals from around the world, the classes they fit into and how their special adaptations help them survive. Experience how a walking stick insect walks, discover how snakes move without legs, and touch some live animals (snakes, cockroaches, millipedes and more)! Activities may include creating a food web, making a cast of an animal track as well as investigating a variety of exotic animal specimens.

Fascinating Fossils
Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago but we can still learn about them today. Discover how paleontologists learn about these ancient reptiles by investigating real fossils and replicas. Make your own fossil cast to take home and discover how these fossils form in nature. Investigate what reptiles, like lizards and snakes, live today and the unique characteristics that help them survive and link them to the dinosaurs of the past. Meet and hold a live reptile too!

Magical Chem-Mysteries
Magic is more than just illusions and card tricks. It's Science! Experiment with states of matter that seem to act both as a solid and as a liquid at the same time. Take home a slime sample to continue the experiment. Use a purple “potion” to make liquids change color, watch as a powder expands by adding water, and blow out a candle without using your breath. Understand why these magic tricks can actually be explained by science.

Scientastic Sleuthing (best for ages 6 and older)
Use scientific principles to investigate a mock crime scene. Get out your magnifying glass and put on your thinking cap in this mystery program where you collect clues just like a detective. Practice observation skills, record data from experiments, use microscopes to examine evidence, and prepare a report to finger the suspect…or suspects! Chemical tests and fingerprint examination are two of several activities that will lead to the mystery’s solution.

Starry Science
From planets to stars and beyond, this out-of-this-world program is sure to be a gas as you use the tools of astronomers to detect what makes up a nebula, discovery the interesting properties of Mars sand, and count down to launch a simple rocket that you design. Learn a little bit more about how astronauts work in space, taste some space food and imagine what it would be like to discover life on another planet. After this program, you’ll never look at the night sky the same way again!

Inventor’s Challenge
Explore the mathematical concepts of design and architecture through the use of a variety of building materials. Make patterns out of geometric shapes, transform flat shapes like squares and triangles into pyramids and cubes, and design a sturdy structure using only newspaper and masking tape. Assemble various parts to construct a creation that you can walk into or connect pieces to create bridges that span the length of the room. The only limit is your imagination!