OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Constructivist Approach
Children are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge by teachers; but rather continually constructing their own knowledge. Constructivist teaching invites learners to consider socially important, relevant challenges and endeavors.
Fail Forward
Failure is not a bad thing. It helps us to develop ‘GRIT’. Grit is a distinct combination of passion, resilience, determination, and focus that allows a person to maintain the discipline and optimism to persevere in their goals even in the face of discomfort, rejection, and a lack of visible progress for years, or even decades.
Play to Learn
Through play children can learn to make sense of the world around them. Play helps children to develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.
WHAT OUR PROGRAMS OFFER
For Families and Children:
Our curriculum, exhibits and educational approach are unique by design, developed to spark inventive solutions, build confidence by embracing the “fail forward” concept and foster teamwork through hands-on workshops and activities that pose challenges with multiple outcomes or solutions. Because of this focus on creativity and innovation, the Explorium is recognized as Long Island’s Family Maker Space, a place for families to play, create, build and grow together.
For Students:
Our workshops are smart and fun! We nurture children’s thinking as they work to develop their own solutions to open-ended challenges. STEM workshops include evidence-based writing, career awareness, and civic engagement components. Our distinctive challenge-based programs are built on New York State Science Learning Standards, New York State English Language Arts and Mathermatics Learning Standards, and the National Core Arts Standards.
For Educators:
The Long Island Explorium is a New York State certified provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education ( CTLE) credits. Our programs help inspire teachers to incorporate STEAM and constructivist approaches into their standards-based lessons. Teachers learn how to foster engagement of all learners through hands-on challenges that explore the engineering design process, encourage teamwork, and incorporate career and civic awareness.
VISIT US
Our current General Hours are:
Saturday and Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM
School Year Hours in effect starting September 2nd, 2024
Additional hours during special events, school breaks, and holidays as noted. See our Calendar of Events page for upcoming events
Stay informed by signing up for our newsletter and following us on social media.
For more details, including a virtual tour, map, and additional information, visit our Visit Us Page.
Children: $6
Adults: $8
Members and children under 1 are free
Port Jefferson Library card holders - $1 off each admission ticket
Current Hours
In addition to our regular hours, we will be OPEN:
- Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday, 1/20/25.
- Lunar New Year: Wednesday, 1/29/25.
- February Break: Monday, 2/17/25 through Friday, 2/21/25.
- Spring Break: Monday, 4/14/25 through Friday, 4/18/25.
- Memorial Day: Monday, 5/26/25.
- Juneteenth: Thursday, 6/19/25.
Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Additional dates to be added
FREE for active-duty military personnel and their family members within the same household* (Proud to be a Blue Star Museum)
FREE for SNAP/EBT cardholders and family members within their household.
Talk to one of our staff to obtain an annual membership.