HMNS After Dark

Have you ever wondered what really happens during a night at the museum?

Find out for yourself at an HMNS overnight! Our overnights are perfect for science clubs, student councils, field trips and more. Visit prehistoric beasts, dazzling gems, and fascinating cultures from around the world!

HMNS Overnights are available for children ages 6-12 and their adult (21+) chaperones. We require that groups maintain a ratio of 1 chaperone for every 10 children with a minimum of 2 adults per group. Our Overnights are not available for groups of adults or teenagers.

An Overnight includes:

• Pizza Dinner
• Hands-on activity with museum educators
• Photo scavenger hunt in one of our exhibit halls
• Evening snack
• Private showing in the Burke Baker Planetarium
• Sleeping in one of our world-renowned exhibit halls
• Continental breakfast
• Commemorative overnight patch
• Parking in the HMNS garage
• Admission to the museum’s permanent exhibit halls the day after your overnight adventure

Overnights typically last from 6:30 p.m. – 9 a.m. Availability is limited and many programs book 6 months in advance.

Join us at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on October 11, 2024, for a STEM themed Overnight for Cub Scouts ages 6-12 and their chaperones! As part of the event you and your scout will have access to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls after hours, activities, a late night snack, and a planetarium show in the Burke Baker Planetarium. Participants will sleep in a museum hall and be provided a light breakfast the next day. To register, please submit your 2024 Nova Registration Form to overnights@hmns.org.

Join us for this annual event on October 12th from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. STEM Day Community Booths will be in the Grand Hall and Glassell Hall, providing interactive activities and giveaways. Past STEM Days have included touchable museum specimens, drone flying demonstrations, and more! With admission to the museum, Scouting America members will also have the opportunity to complete activities tailored for their group by HMNS STEM Scouting staff.

STEM Day Labs

Add these labs to enhance your STEM Day experience at the museum. (Lab registration is not required to participate in STEM Day.)

• Scouts BSA Nation Badge – 12:00 p.m.
• Scouts BSA Weather Merit Badge – 12:00 p.m.
• Bear Cub Champions for Nature – 12:00 p.m.
• Wolf Cub Champions for Nature – 12:00 p.m.
• Webelos Champions for Nature – 12:00 p.m.
• Arrows of Light Champions for Nature – 12:00 p.m.

Apply Now!

Student STEM Ambassadors should be enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge with the Museum visitors during GEMS at their booth. Booths can involve something interactive, a demonstration or even a presentation of information explaining a concept. Hosting a booth at GEMS allows girls to share their interest in math and science with their peers and introduce them to the many opportunities in STEM related fields for young women today.

Student STEM Ambassadors have the opportunity to earn a cash prize to be used at the school of their choice to enhance STEM programming. One grand prize and two runner-up prizes will be awarded. Winning booth hosts will also receive a special prize for all their hard-work!

See the Student Info Packet for more details, and apply using the 2024 Student Booth Host Application.

Girls Exploring Math and Science (GEMS) is presented by CITGO Petroleum Corporation.

This event is sold out, please email Overnights@hmns.org to get put on the mailing list for 2025!

Join us at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for our annual GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) Overnight on November 1, 2024! The GEMS overnight is for Girl Scouts ages 6-12 and their chaperones. During the Overnight you and your Scout will have access to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls after hours, activities and a scavenger hunt, a late night snack, and a show in the Burke Baker Planetarium. For further information please email Overnights@hmns.org.

Join us for this annual event on November 2nd from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. GEMS (Girls Exploring Math and Science) Community Booths will be in the Grand Hall and Glassell Hall, providing interactive activities and giveaways. Past STEM Days have included touchable museum specimens, virtual reality experiences, and more! With admission to the museum, Girl Scouts will also have an opportunity to visit booths run by local troops and schools, competing for Scholarship Award!

Girls Exploring Math and Science (GEMS) is presented by CITGO Petroleum Corporation.

Are you good at solving mysteries? Can you untangle a web of clues, evidence, history and mystery? Are you looking for an out-of-the-ordinary adventure for you and your family, friends, co-workers or group? Then HMNS Sleuths & Secrets is for you! It all starts when you unlock a series of clues, riddles and objects found in a one of our HMNS Hermann Park exhibit halls for an escape room style experience. We currently have two options listed below to choose from!

In the Morian Cabinet Of Curiosities, you can explore the hall belonging to Ferrante Imperato, a 16th Century resident of Naples, Italy. While many believe he was merely an apothecary who liked to display his collections of unusual specimens, others speculate that in reality he was a dedicated alchemist. Did he solve the mysteries of transformation? Did he, in fact, turn a lowly base metal into pure gold? Will his specimens lead you to a hidden treasure?

In the Hall of Ancient Egypt, can you save the paranoid archeologist from the famed curse of the Mummy? After the discovery of King Tut’s Tomb in 1922 the media popularized the idea of ancient Egyptian curses. Egyptomania swept the globe! Can you escape the curse of the mummy and save the world while working together through puzzles and clues left behind by the archeologist who triggered the curse? Perfect for Young Professionals, family reunions, birthday parties, scout groups, teams, science clubs, student councils, sorority and fraternity councils and friends. Great for corporate team-building!

Experience the thrill of exploring the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) after dark with HMNS Late Nights. Whether you’re part of a science club, student council, scouts, or planning a unique birthday party, these after-hours events offer a memorable adventure. Discover the wonders of the museum with exclusive access and engaging activities designed to make your visit truly special.

Late-Nights are for children ages 6-16 with activities customizable to any group.

Private Late Nights
Late Night programs typically run from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and include dinner, a hands-on activity, scavenger hunt in one of our exhibit halls, and a private showing in the Burke Baker Planetarium.

Birthday Late Nights
Looking for a one-of-a-kind birthday party? Hang out with the Dinos after dark! Birthday Late Night programs include dinner, a hands-on activity, special interactive scavenger hunt in one of our exhibit halls, and a private showing in the Burke Baker Planetarium.