Missouri
A Scientific World of Discovery With Your Younger Grandchild
Program No. 2289560MEADV-1116-60
Delve into science, technology, engineering, art and math with your grandchild during hands-on experiments and activities with scientists and art experts.
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We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Age 6 - 8
ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
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DATES | ||||
Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2025
1,649 1,199 | ||||
Jun 22 - Jun 27, 2025
| 1,649 / Adult
1,199 / Child
| 1,649 / Adult
1,199 / Child
| 2,149 / Adult
1,199 / Child
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Jul 27 - Aug 1, 2025
1,649 1,199 | ||||
Jul 27 - Aug 1, 2025
| 1,649 / Adult
1,199 / Child
| 1,649 / Adult
1,199 / Child
| 2,149 / Adult
1,199 / Child
| |
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5B 3L 4D
2
St. Louis Science Center Field Trip
St. Charles
5
St. Louis Arch, Aquarium at Union Station
St. Charles
6
Program Concludes
St. Charles
At a Glance
Step into the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) — where butterflies flutter freely and you can become an astronaut for the day. Explore a place where science and art experts use hands-on experiments and projects to discover lessons your grandchildren will love. Put on your lab coat and become a scientist, engineer and artist, and inspire discovery in the eyes of your grandchild in the exciting city of St. Louis and its charming, historic neighbor, St. Charles.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Considerable standing, 2-3 miles of walking per day and boarding buses.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Head to the famous Saint Louis Science Center, where you’ll work together with your grandchild to create a “Scribble Bot” robot.
- Experience the magic of 1,000 live tropical butterflies flying freely at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.
- Embrace your inner astronaut at the Challenger Learning Center’s simulated spacecraft before tackling hands-on projects that explore the possibility of life on Mars.
General Notes
Program is for grandchildren ages 6-8. For a program for older grandchildren (ages 9-11), check out "To Missouri & Beyond: Space & Robots With Your Grandchild" (#21935).
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Scientific World of Discovery With Your Younger Grandchild
Program Number: 22895
St. Charles (Then and Now)
Settled in 1769, St. Charles is an example of historic preservation -- though by the 1960s many of the buildings had deteriorated. Prompted by the restorations of the first state capitol property and the efforts of dedicated citizens the area underwent a period of revitalization and restoration. Through photos, both old and new, readers will see the city of St. Charles as it was and is now. In June of 1970 the Main Street Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly
Aimed for young readers, this accessible, illustrated book perfectly introduces the four stages of a caterpillar’s life.
Images of America: St. Charles
This Missouri city began humbly when a French Canadian fur trader built a cabin on the Missouri River in 1769. He named the settlement Les Petites Cotes (the little hills). St. Charles has seen much excitement over the years, including a visit by Lewis and Clark and a number of devastating natural disasters.
Smithsonian Handbook: Butterflies and Moths
This photographic field guide to butterflies and moths is illustrated in the attractive Eyewitness style, and includes key identification features for each species.
The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book
Using common household items, kids can recreate dozens of fun and educational science experiments, covering fields from biology to chemistry and physics to outer space. Experiments answer questions such as: can you blow up a balloon without blowing into it? What is inside a coin? Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide
For young naturalists, this is the perfect introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars and butterflies. Includes handy identification information and fun facts.
Weird Missouri
Part of an award-winning series, Weird Missouri introduces tourists to the off-the-beaten path destinations, including ghostly sites and peculiar roadside attractions, as well as local legends and crazy characters. Heavily illustrated.
Face to Face With Butterflies
The wild and wonderful world of magnificent butterflies by the photographer and biologist author of Face to Face with Caterpillars.
A World of Butterflies
Vivid color images and short descriptions of some the world's most beautiful butterflies fill this photographic celebration.
National Geographic Kids Everything Robotics
This heavily illustrated National Geographic book introduces kids to everything robotics, from the tiniest robo-bees to giant factory machines.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
St. Charles
Program Concludes
St. Charles
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
12
| 5B |
3L |
4D |
Activity Level
Step into the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) — where butterflies flutter freely and you can become an astronaut for the day. Explore a place where science and art experts use hands-on experiments and projects to discover lessons your grandchildren will love. Put on your lab coat and become a scientist, engineer and artist, and inspire discovery in the eyes of your grandchild in the exciting city of St. Louis and its charming, historic neighbor, St. Charles.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Head to the famous Saint Louis Science Center, where you’ll work together with your grandchild to create a “Scribble Bot” robot.
- Experience the magic of 1,000 live tropical butterflies flying freely at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.
- Embrace your inner astronaut at the Challenger Learning Center’s simulated spacecraft before tackling hands-on projects that explore the possibility of life on Mars.
General Notes
Program is for grandchildren ages 6-8. For a program for older grandchildren (ages 9-11), check out "To Missouri & Beyond: Space & Robots With Your Grandchild" (#21935).
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Varies by date
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(10 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals | 5B | 3L | 4D |
5 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
7 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check In, Registration, Orientation, Dinner, Mad Science
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
D
Stay:
Country Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the Breakfast Room off the main lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private bus (no restroom aboard) unless noted otherwise. Meals will feature mostly locally-owned restaurants and caterers. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Mad Science! Members of the Mad Science team will lead us through an exciting, interactive, hands-on experiment. Mad Science is an educational enrichment source that uses fun approaches to getting kids excited about science. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
St. Louis Science Center Field Trip
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Country Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hour riding time. Walking during field trip at St. Louis Science Center, a 3-story facility with elevators. Extent of walking and other activities during independent time according to personal choice. Seating available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board our bus for a field trip to the St. Louis Science Center (SLSC), one of the top five science centers in the nation. There, grandkids with help from grandparents will build our very own DIY robot — a Scribble Bot — using a low voltage DC motor, copper wire, batteries, markers, and a few household items. Then we’ll create art using our robot! After our directed learning session is over, we’ll have time to explore the Science Center on our own. The SLSC was recently named one of the Top 10 Science Centers for Families by “Parents” magazine. There are more than 700 hands-on exhibits from Amazing Science Demonstrations to a life-sized animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex and much, much more.
Lunch:
At the Science Center, we’ll have box lunches.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our field trip at the Science Center with an interactive science-themed story followed by a hands-on activity related to the book’s themes. We’ll then ride back to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We’ll remain where we are and watch “Monument to the Dream,” a short movie about the creation of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Arch that stands today as the nation's tallest arch and national monument. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure for a swim in the pool (with grandparents present), spending time with new Road Scholar friends, or just relaxing.
Day
3
Sachs Butterfly House, Play-Well TEKnologies at SCC campus.
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Country Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 40 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hour total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll take a field trip to the Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park, a component of the Missouri Botanical Garden. More than 1,000 live butterflies representing more than 60 species fly freely in the glass conservatory building. A docent will lead us in a hands-on, student driven investigation examining the world of arthropods up close — designed to foster a greater understanding of their importance to the balance of life on Earth. We’ll use living animals and real specimens, not easily obtained for classroom use. After the study sessions, we will visit with the butterflies.
Lunch:
On the grounds of the Butterfly House, we will have box lunches.
Afternoon:
We’ll drive to St. Charles Community College and let our imagination run wild with thousands of LEGO parts and meet with Play-Well TEKnologies experts to learn about renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to swim in the pool (with grandparents present), spend time with new Road Scholar friends, or just relax.
Day
4
Challenger Learning Center Field Trip, Free Time
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
B
Stay:
Country Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 25 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking and standing at field trip site.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll set out for a day of space adventures at the Challenger Learning Center. We will take on the roles of astronauts in the simulated spacecraft and work as a team to keep the crew safe and launch a scientific probe. We’ll think like planetary scientists as we complete hands-on projects to explore the possibility of life on Mars. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trip.
Lunch:
The bus will return to the hotel after the Challenger Learning Center. Lunch has been excluded from the program costs and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to make suggestions. There are many choices on Main Street in St. Charles.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. You might like to take this opportunity to explore the historic St. Charles area. To mix a bit of history into our science experiences, walk in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark in the river town where their expedition began, visit Frontier Park, or do whatever appeals to you.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous choices on Main Street in St. Charles.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
St. Louis Arch, Aquarium at Union Station
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Country Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours total driving time. Walking approximately 3 miles and standing during field trips. Seating available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out on a field trip to explore the Gateway to the West at the St. Louis Arch. We’ll learn more — remember “Monument to the Dream”? — about the engineering marvel of this iconic structure. We’ll take a tram ride to the top for panoramic views of the Mississippi River, Busch Stadium, and the St. Louis Courthouse. We will have a Park Ranger-led presentation and activity about the history of westward expansion and confront some of the same choices early pioneers faced while traveling west from St. Louis to Oregon.
Lunch:
At the Arch café
Afternoon:
Next, we will take the bus to the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. We’ll learn about aquatic life in the 120,000-square foot aquarium, packed to the gills with more than 13,000 animals across 44 exhibits. In a classroom setting, we’ll learn about St. Louis’ closest water system: the Mississippi River and how the river has been impacted by human habitation and come up with our own solutions to reduce pollution. We will then have an expert-led exploration of the aquarium, followed by some independent time to see what interests each of us most at Union Station. Optional activities are available at additional cost.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure for a swim in the pool (with grandparents present), spending time with new Road Scholar friends, or just relaxing. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
St. Charles
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
12 Meals
5 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025
- Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 27, 2025
- Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 7 Reviews
Sort By:
This was a wonderful time away with our granddaughter. There was so much to do and it was all organised very well. Our tour leader was great. The group was not too big which was easy for the children to get to know each other. Personally think that age 5 is a little too young for this programme.
— Review left September 17, 2024
Wonderful experience for my grandson and me. Busy, full adventure. Great guide and terrific activities.
— Review left September 4, 2023
We had a blast! So did our grandson. It was his first extended time away from his parents, yet he got along fine. The days were a good mix of activities and down time. The hotel pool was a big plus. Debbie, our leader, and the individual program speakers were good at forming us into a cohesive group. Almost all had an excellent grasp of how to present to groups of children of this age. When there were wait times, expected or unexpected, Debbie was ready with some diversion. Amen!
Our grandson was able to play with the other kids, but he also made a strong connection with one boy. (That was just for the trip – they did not become pen pals.)
The event bus was crowded, but we all got along well and it was a time for chatting. That was a measure of Debbie's work to make us one group.
The hotel staff was friendly. Parking was easy and free. Rooms nice.
We were pleased that Debbie was so effective at negotiating gluten-free meals for us.
The hotel neighborhood restaurants were not oriented toward children or large groups. While our grandson and his new-found buddy did not seem to have any problems with the wait times, it was a point of stress for some children and their grandparents. Food selections for children were a little off, like white cheddar for Mac & C. :-)
But again, we had a blast!
Grandma Beth and Grandpa Tom
— Review left September 3, 2023
My granddaughter, a soon to be 7 yr old, and I had a wonderful time in St Louis. The program was spot on age appropriate and it had a good mix of activities to keep each day exciting. Our leader, Deborah, and her assistant, Terri, were warm and approachable for the children and well organized and clear communicators for the adults. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 14, 2023
Are you looking for a program with your younger grandchild? This one is perfect for 6-8 year olds! With only 7 children (max allowed is 10?) and two leaders, each child was given lots of attention. The programing was exceptional! From the Science Center to the Butterfly House to the Gateway Arch, each stop was age appropriate, educational, and fun. I loved every moment...and my grandson did, too!
— Review left July 10, 2023
Wonderful trip, for both grandparents and grandchildren. Great destinations that were fun learning experiences.
— Review left August 14, 2022
What a wonderful experience for my Grandson and I. We bonded in a way we never could have at home. I saw him learn and play and grow in such an enjoyable environment. We can't wait to plan our next trip.
— Review left July 5, 2022