A volunteer in an orange shirt and a boy in a blue shirt smile together in the museum lobby.

Every child gets to play.

Inclusive programs for kids of all abilities: a weeknight club, low-sensory evenings, an accessible Halloween, and a summer camp where friends explore together.

Why we do this.

Making our community the best place for every child to grow up.

Creative, hands-on play matters for healthy development, and every child deserves it. The museum provides accommodations so all children have equal opportunities to play and explore, and these four programs go further: each one is built from the ground up around the kids it serves.

Four kids sit on a classroom floor with workbooks while a volunteer in purple looks on.
Weeknight respite

Club Discovery.

Two hours on Tuesday nights where kids of all abilities make friends, spark curiosity and enjoy the museum with trained volunteers and a predictable routine of activities. Every Club night comes with snacks, laughs and growing peer interaction.

When
Tuesdays 5:30–7:30 PM
Who
Kindergarten through 5th grade
Price
$25 per person per session

2026 fall sessions

  • Session 1: September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
  • Session 2: October 20, 27 and November 3, 10, 17
Register today

Registration questions? ssw@cdmfun.org

A toddler scoops fake snow with a wooden spoon at a sensory table.
Free, low-sensory evening

Sensory Night.

A free, low-stimulus evening for children with sensory sensitivities and their families. Overhead announcements, food smells and other sensory inputs are turned down, and attendance is limited so there is room to move.

When
Select Thursdays 5:30–8 PM
Price
Free with registration
Registration
Opens two weeks before each night

2026 dates

  • March 12
  • May 14
  • August 13
  • December 10
A child in a butterfly costume collects candy from seated volunteers along a farm-themed trick-or-treat route.
Accessible Halloween

Turquoise Trail.

The museum's accessible, sensory-friendly trick-or-treat, built so guests with mobility, developmental and sensory differences can experience the joy of the tradition in a safe, supportive and authentically inclusive environment.

2025
Over 300 guests and nearly 100 volunteers
Sponsor
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation
Bonus
WTCI PBS screened Carl the Collector

Save the date

  • Monday, October 26, 2026
A volunteer in an orange shirt and a boy in a blue shirt smile together in the museum lobby.
Summer camp

Friends' Discovery Camp.

A summer camp where friends with disabilities and their typically developing peers explore the museum together for a week of fun, with UTC Big Buddies alongside.

Format
One week, full days
Who
Rising 1st through 8th graders, by week

2026 weeks

  • June 1–5: rising 1st–3rd graders
  • June 8–12: rising 3rd–5th graders
  • July 13–17: rising 6th–8th graders

Questions about fit or access?

We want every child to have an accessible place to play where their needs are met. If you have questions about the suitability or accessibility of any inclusive program, contact the Education Programs Manager.