Summer Solstice Celebration! | Saturday, June 21 | 11:00am - 3:00pm

The Summer Solstice is upon us—a perfect day to celebrate the beauty of nature with science and art on the longest day of the year! 

Cranbrook Institute of Science and the Cranbrook Art Museum invite you to our second annual Summer Solstice Celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 11:00am to 3:00pm, for a festive day filled with hands-on activities, creative exploration, and nature-inspired fun for all ages!

The best part? One ticket (per person) gives you access to both the Institute of Science and the Art Museum–double the fun, double the adventure! Two incredible experiences for one great price.

Here’s what’s heating up at this solstice celebration:

📸 Strike a Pose with Steggy: Grab a FREE professional family photo with everyone’s favorite dinosaur, Steggy the Stegosaurus! Catch this amazing experience from 11:00am to 2:00pm—say cheese! 🦖📸

🧬 Pokémon exploreLAB Experience: For almost 30 years, Pokémon have dominated pop culture, but what many people might not know is that the franchise is heavily rooted in natural science. Step into the prehistoric world of Pokémon and meet their real-life counterparts! Discover how real paleontology inspired their designs in this fun, fossil-filled exploreLAB adventure for all ages. Three showtimes will be available throughout the day. Available for an additional fee.

🎨 Summer Crafts Station: Get crafty with sunshine vibes! Make your own colorful paper flowers and build a sundial to take home. 

🔍 Solstice Scavenger Hunt: Explore the Institute inside and out with a scavenger hunt that mixes nature, art, and science into one unforgettable quest. Discover hidden gems, solve clues, and let the summer adventures begin! 

🌿 Outdoor Campus Walks: Enjoy a guided walk around Cranbrook’s beautiful campus to uncover blooming plants, curious critters, stunning sculptures, and scenic views of Kingswood Lake. Each walk is a mini expedition—so wear comfy shoes and get ready for a mix of gravel paths, grassy trails, and dirt walkways. Walks depart at 11:15am, 12:30pm, and 1:45pm. 

🐉 Pokémon GO Adventure: Whether you’re wandering our sprawling 319-acre campus or joining us to celebrate the solstice (or both!), it’s always a great time to play Pokémon GO. With exciting new game updates, the Cranbrook Campus is your ideal playground to catch rare Pokémon, challenge gyms, spin the Institute’s PokéStops, and discover every corner of the grounds!

🌟 Planetarium Shows: Immerse yourself in the stars with awe-inspiring shows at the Acheson Planetarium—a cool retreat on a hot summer day. Available for an additional fee.

📚 Outside Storytime: Kick back and cool off under the big oak tree for some summer-themed tales! Let your imagination soar as we share stories at 11:30am, 12:15pm, 1:00pm, 1:45pm, and 2:30pm. 

🔭 Cranbrook Observatory: Peek into the cosmos and soak up the stars this summer with up-close views through our giant telescope. 

☀️ Mini Science Sessions: Travel through time and around the world as we explore how ancient cultures—from Central Mexico to Cambodia—built temples, tombs, and sky-aligned structures to celebrate the Summer Solstice. See select artifacts up close, then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on, cut-and-fold activity where kids can create their own solstice-inspired mini masterpiece! Structures of Summer will be offered just twice during the event.

And the summer celebration doesn’t stop there! Catch some rays and seasonal themed activities at the Cranbrook Art Museum, including: 

💃 Maypool Dance: Celebrate the upcoming summer season with a traditional folk dance on the Cranbrook Art Museum lawn. 

🎶 Sun-inspired Sounds: Enjoy music on the Cranbrook Art Museum’s peristyle, including a presentation of The Dolphins, a dynamic Juilliard string quartet dedicated to excellence, adventure, and accessibility by the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.

🌤️ Fun in the Sun: Join in on yard games, participate in special art making activities, and enjoy some delicious food and festive treats provided by our friends at the Cranbrook Art Museum.

This summer celebration is the perfect way for all ages and families to welcome the season together!

Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for general admission and $10 for members, with on-site tickets available for $15.

Summer Explore Camps | Monday - Friday | 9:00am - 3:00pm Daily 

The countdown is on! Our Summer Explore Camp kicks off in just a few days, and fewer than 100 spots remain—don’t miss out!

Soon campers will be busy exploring big ideas and getting their hands messy with awesome experiments, wild investigations, and action-packed STEAM fun, from digging into paleontology to reaching for the stars with astronomy! Each camp is designed to ignite curiosity, spark teamwork, and fuel a love of discovery.

Weekly Camp Themes: 

🧪 Science Sampler: Explore different topics of science through experiments and challenges.

🏕️ Outdoor Adventure: Discover how challenging living in the wild can be while learning key skills.

💎 Every Rock has a Story: Experiment with rocks, minerals, and fossils.

🦠 Life on Earth: Investigate microorganisms and search for critters that run, swim, fly, and more. 

🪐 Our Universe in Motion: Explore matter and the forces on and beyond Earth.

☀️Summer Break Explore Camp Dates: 

June 9 - 13 | June 16 - 20 | July 7 - 11 | July 14 - 18 | July 21 - 25 | July 28 - August 1 | August 4 - 8

Each week is different—sign up for one or multiple! Summer Camps are designed for students in grades K-3, with limited dates for students in grades 3-5.

Save the Date! | 8th Annual Women Rock Science Fundraising Gala | Wednesday, October 8, 2025 from 6:00 to 9:00pm

Women Rock Science is back! ✨

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, and join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and supporting curiosity in children. 

Whether you attend as a guest or sponsor, your support helps ignite curiosity, confidence, and opportunity in the next generation of STEAM leaders—right here in Michigan.

Proceeds from this women-led fundraising event support STEAM education programs led by Institute of Science educators, reaching Pre-K through 12th-grade students in under-resourced communities across the state including Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, Southfield, and beyond.



🎟️ Tickets will go on sale in early July—stay tuned and get ready to rock science with us! ✨

Summer has arrived on Cranbrook’s Campus! | Open to the Public

The sun is shining at the Institute, and Cranbrook’s Campus is blooming with adventure! 🌼

Whether you're chasing butterflies, strolling shaded trails, or saying hello to Steggy and Mary, there’s no better time to explore 300+ acres of science, nature, and discovery.

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

🌸 Gardens bursting with color

🌳 Peaceful paths for curious minds

🐢 Wildlife peeking out to say hello

💧 Sparkling streams, ponds, and lakes catching the sunlight

🧪 And of course, scientific fun awaits just inside the Institute’s doors.

So, pack a picnic, lace up your walking shoes, bring the whole fam, stop by the Institute to catch a planetarium show or see some dinosaurs, and come see what summer looks like at Cranbrook! ☀️

Don’t Forget! 

• Register for Free First Friday (June 6), courtesy of MASCO, to get FREE admission to the Institute! Free admission hours are from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Pre-registration is required.
• Jumpstart next school year with an unforgettable science experience from Cranbrook Institute of Science! Plan a field trip or classroom visit that turns your lessons into lasting memories and has your students’ curiosity shooting for the stars. Plan your next field trip!
• As a Cranbrook Institute of Science member, you’ll experience unlimited opportunities to explore, discover, and ignite your curiosity for the wonders of science and natural history. Renew or become a member today!
• Experience everything the museum has to offer for only $5 every Friday after 5:00pm! General admission and Acheson Planetarium tickets will be available for just $5 each. Learn more. 
• And during your next visit at the Institute, stop by our Science Shop and Reflections Café for apparel, books, souvenirs, and tasty snacks and beverages.

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