Discovery Days

DISCOVERY DAYS | Summer 2026
Registration is now open!
Discovery Days returns to the Museum for a summer of hands-on exploration, creativity, and play. Designed for curious children ages 5–12, this Museum-based program invites young learners to investigate the Island’s history, science, and culture through weekly themes rooted in real artifacts and big ideas.
Led by MVM’s Education Team, Discovery Days blends summer fun with critical thinking. Each session encourages children to ask questions, experiment, collaborate, and create—using the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, and classrooms as a springboard for discovery.
Every week begins with a guiding “Big Question,” followed by activities that help children explore possible answers together. Through investigation, storytelling, making, and play, participants build friendships and develop a deeper connection to the Island and the stories preserved here.
Program Information
Registration
Registration is by session. Each session runs Tuesday through Friday (four days total).
Daily Schedule
9 am–1 pm
Ages
Discovery Days is designed for children ages 5–12, with age-appropriate variations within each weekly theme.
What to Bring
Children should arrive each day with a water bottle, healthy snack and lunch.
Pricing
- $400 / session – Non-Members
- $350 / session – Members
A 10% discount is available for year-round Island families.
Eligibility requires confirmation of a permanent Island address and school enrollment for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Important Information
Discovery Days Handbook
Additional program details, expectations, and policies are outlined in the Discovery Days Handbook, which is required reading for all parents and guardians prior to registration.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds are not given later than one week after booking.
Questions
For program-related questions, please contact the Museum’s Education Department.
2026 Sessions
- June 30-July 3: Island Navigators
- Learn: How the first people reached the Island—and how navigation evolved over time
- Explore: Navigational tools and systems preserved in Museum collections
- Make: Maps and journals to guide fellow explorers
- Do: Scavenger hunts using teamwork and creative way-finding
- July 7-10: Craft
- Learn: About Island artists and makers, past and present
- Explore: Handcrafted artifacts from Museum collections
- Make: Original projects using materials such as fiber, clay, paper, paint, wood, and shells
- Do: Create a mini exhibition showcasing camper-made works
- July 14-17: Ocean Guardians
- Learn: About Vineyard marine life—from seaweed to sharks
- Explore: Artifacts that reveal how humans and sea life are connected
- Make: A model biome representing ocean ecosystems
- Do: Discover ways to protect and steward Island waters
- July 21-24: Legends & Lore
- Learn: Hidden histories and remarkable true Vineyard stories
- Explore: Storytelling traditions including oral histories, logbooks, music, poetry, and art
- Make: Original stories using multiple creative formats
- Do: Combine history and imagination to bring the past to life
- July 28-31: All Hands on Deck
- Learn: Maritime trades and traditions of the Vineyard and beyond
- Explore: Artifacts and tools used by sailors, fishermen, captains, and Island workers
- Make: A personal logbook documenting “life at sea”
- Do: Complete seamanship challenges and earn a place on the crew
- August 4-7: Vineyard Time Travelers
- Learn: How daily life on the Island has changed over time
- Explore: Archival materials and artifacts from different eras
- Make: A time capsule capturing moments from Vineyard history
- Do: Step into the roles of early explorers, colonists, revolutionaries, and Victorian-era visitors
- August 11-14: Game Time
- Learn: How play and sport have shaped Island life, from Wampanoag traditions to modern competitions
- Explore: Games and sporting traditions through artifacts and oral histories
- Make: A new game inspired by the past or a toy crafted from natural materials
- Do: Compete in the Discovery Days Olympics

