The Sunflower Summer App provides various ways for families to get out, explore something new, and enjoy time together. Kansas families can visit museums, zoos, historic landmarks, and more for FREE! You can visit attractions around KANSAS for FREE!!!
The Sunflower Summer Program benefits Kansas families with school-aged children, encouraging them to explore and fall in love with Kansas. With the Sunflower Summer app on your phone, Kansas families get FREE admission to attractions across the state all summer.
The Sunflower Summer App 2025
The 2025 Sunflower Summer app will continue for at least another year, but with some changes. Instead of the program starting on Memorial Day weekend, it will begin on July 1, 2025.
Why is the Sunflower Summer season shorter this year?
Sunflower Summer 2025 was uncertain, but funding for the program was secured with the Kansas Legislature’s approval of next year’s $25 billion budget. The program received $3.5 million, allowing Kansas families with school-aged children to continue enjoying free admission to various attractions across the state.
This was enough to keep it going, but “only allows for a shortened timeline” according to the program’s home page.
If you would like to sign the petition to support keeping the Sunflower app going, you can do so below.
The Sunflower Summer app is available for iPhone in the App Store and Android in Google Play. Check out this year’s information on the Sunflower Summer web page!
What is Kansas’ Sunflower Summer program?
The Sunflower Summer Learning Program includes one free visit for Kansas pre-K to 12th grade students, along with up to two ONE accompanying adult, to many (many) popular attractions in Kansas.
Note the change: In 2025, only one accompanying adult admission is covered by the Sunflower Summer app. Additional adults will need to purchase their own tickets.
According to SunflowerSummer.org, each Kansas student (pre-K to 12th grade) and one adult can access a voucher to get in free to each of the participating Sunflower Summer attractions.
Which Kansas attractions participate in the Sunflower Summer?
Keep in mind that the list of participating attractions in the Sunflower Summer could be abbreviated in 2025 because of the changes in the program. The 2025 participating venues will be announced in June, so check back then!
Following is the list of Kansas museums and attractions that participated previously and may again.
The list is so long, so here is a recap of some of our past FAVORITES to visit. Keep scrolling to see the complete list.
- Exploration Place
- 2025 Exhibit: Sharks
- Get 50% off a Membership this Summer
- Botanica the Wichita Gardens
- Wichita Art Museum
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Field Station: Dinosaurs in Derby
- Cosmosphere in Hutchinson
- Sedgwick County Zoo
- Rock River Rapids in Derby
- Cowtown
- Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
- Wichita Wind Surge
- Ulrich Museum of Art
- Museum of World Treasures
- Mid-American All-Indian Center
- Mark Arts
- Kansas Wildlife Exhibit
- Kansas Aviation Musuem
- The Kansas African American Museum
- Great Plains Nature Center
- City Arts
Amusement Parks and Water Parks in the Sunflower Summer App
Click this arrow to see the full list of Amusement and Water Parks
Field Station: Dinosaurs
– Derby
Jones Aquatic Center
– Emporia
Kenwood Cove Aquatic Park
– Salina
McPherson Water Park
– McPherson
Rock River Rapids
– Derby
Wetlands Waterpark at Great Bend
– Great Bend
Sunflower Summer Historical Museums and Attractions
Click the arrow to see Kansas Museums and Historical Attractions
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
– Abilene
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
– Atchison
Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
– Atchison
Anderson County Historical Museum
– Garnett
Atchison County Historical Society Museum and Santa Fe Depot
– Atchison
Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum
– Belleville
Big Brutus
– West Mineral
Big Well Museum & Visitor Information Center
– Greensburg
Boot Hill Museum
– Dodge City
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park
– Topeka
Buffalo Bill Cultural Center & Community Travel Information Center
– Oakley
C. W. Parker Carousel Museum
– Leavenworth
Chisholm Trail Museum
– Wellington
Cloud County Historical Society Museum
– Concordia
Coffey County Historical Museum
– Burlington
Columbus Museum
– Columbus
Combat Air Museum
– Topeka
Constitution Hall State Historic Site
– Lecompton
Coronado Quivira Museum
– Lyons
Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum
– Hutchinson
Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site
– Studley
Cowley County Historical Society Museum
– Winfield
Curious Minds Discovery Zone
– Parsons
Dickinson County Heritage Center
– Abilene
Dorothy’s House and The Land of Oz
– Liberal
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home
– Abilene
El Quartelejo Museum
– Scott City
Ellinwood Tunnels
– Ellinwood
Ellis County Historical Society
– Hays
Ellis Railroad Museum & Doll Display
– Ellis
Evah C. Cray Historical Home Museum
– Atchison
Exploration Place
– Wichita
Evel Knievel Museum
– Topeka
Fick Fossil and History Museum
– Oakley
First City Museum
– Leavenworth
First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site
– Fort Riley
Flint Hills Discovery Center
– Manhattan
Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum Complex
– Kanopolis
Fort Hays State Historic Site
– Hays
Fort Scott National Historic Site
– Fort Scott
Fort Wallace Museum
– Wallace
Geneseo City Museum
– Geneseo
Girard History Museum
– Girard
Gordon Parks Museum
– Fort Scott
Greenwood County Historical Society Museum
– Eureka
Grinter Place State Historical Site
– Kansas City
Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives
– Newton
Heart of America Science Resource Center
– Haviland
Heart of the Heartlands Railroad Museum and Carona Depot Complex
– Corona
Herndon Community Museum
– Herndon
High Plains Museum
– Goodland
Hillsboro Museums
– Hillsboro
Historic Marshall County Courthouse Museum & Genealogical Library
– Marysville
Historic Trolley Tour
– Dodge City
Hodgen House Museum Complex
– Ellsworth
Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site
– Hanover
Home on the Range Cabin
– Athol
Howard Benson Museum
– Howard
Independence Historical Museum & Art Center
– Independence
Jewell County Historical Society Museum
– Mankato
John Brown Museum State Historic Site
– Osawatomie
Johnson County Museum
– Overland Park
Kansas African American Museum
– Wichita
Kansas Aviation Museum
– Wichita
Kansas Barbed Wire Museum
– La Crosse
Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
– Topeka
Kansas City Automotive Museum
– Olathe
Kansas Learning Center for Health
– Halstead
Kansas Motorcycle Museum
– Marquette
Kansas Oil Museum
– El Dorado
Kansas State Capitol Visitor Center
– Topeka
Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame and Gunfighters’ Wax Museum
– Dodge City
Kauffman Museum
– Newton
Kaw Mission and Last Chance Store Museums on the Santa Fe Trail
– Council Grove
Kiowa County Historical Museum & Soda Fountain
– Greensburg
Koester House Museum
– Marysville
KU Natural History Museum
– Lawrence
Legler Barn Museum Complex
– Lenexa
Lincoln Historical Museum Complex
– Lincoln
Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum
– Lindsborg
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
– Fort Scott
Lyon County History Center
– Emporia
Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site
– Pleasanton
Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum
– Chanute
McCune History Museum
– McCune
McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation
– McPherson
Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum
– Goessel
Mid-America All-Indian Museum
– Wichita
Midwest Dream Car Collection
– Manhattan
Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site
– Pleasanton
Miners Hall Museum
– Franklin
Morton County Historical Museum
– Elkhart
Museum at Prairiefire
– Overland Park
Museum of World Treasures
– Wichita
National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
– Bonner Springs
National Orphan Train Complex
– Concordia
NDGA National Glass Museum
– Wellington
Nicodemus National Historic Site
– Nicodemus
Old Cowtown Museum
– Wichita
Old Depot Museum
– Ottawa
Oswego Historical Museum and Genealogical Society
– Oswego
Oz Museum
– Wamego
Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site
– Republic
Pawnee Rock State Historic Site
– Pawnee Rock
Pony Express Home Station No 1, Barn & Museum
– Marysville
Pony Express Museum
– Seneca
Prairie Museum of Art & History
– Colby
Rawlins County Historical Museum & Church
– Atwood
Red Barn Studio Museum
– Lindsborg
Red Rocks State Historic Site
– Emporia
Riley County Historical Museum
– Manhattan
The Historic Ritchie House
– Topeka
Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
-Lawrence
Rush County Historical Society
– La Crosse
Scandia Museum
– Scandia
Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site
– Fairway
Shawnee Town 1929
– Shawnee
Smoky Hill Museum
– Salina
Stafford County Museum
– Stafford
Stanton County Museum
– Johnson City
Stauth Memorial Museum
– Montezuma
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
– Hays
Stockade Museum & Carry Nation Home
– Medicine Lodge
STRATACA
– Hutchinson
The Garage
– Salina
Trading Post Museum
– Pleasanton
Trego County Historical Society Museum
– WaKeeney
Tri-State Antique Engine and Threshers Association
– Bird City
Wabaunsee County Historical Museum
– Alma
Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home & Museum
– Ellis
Watkins Museum of History
– Lawrence
Wyandotte County Historical Society & Museum
– Bonner Springs
Sunflower Summer Zoos, Animals, and Nature
Click arrow to open the list of Natural Attractions and Zoos
A & H Farm/Pumpkin Patch
– Manhattan
Botanica Wichita
– Wichita
Cedar Bluff State Park
– Ellis
Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary & Education Center
– Louisburg
Cheney State Park
– Cheney
Clinton State Park
– Lawrence
Crawford State Park
– Farlington
Cross Timbers State Park – Toronto Lake
– Toronto
David Traylor Zoo of Emporia
– Emporia
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
– Overland Park
Eisenhower State Park
– Osage City
El Dorado State Park
– El Dorado
Elk City State Park
– Independence
Fall River State Park
– Fall River
Flint Hills Trail State Park
– Multiple Cities: See Map
Glen Elder State Park
– Glen Elder
Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo
– Great Bend
Great Plains Nature Center
– Wichita
Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm and Bed & Breakfast Inn
– Nickerson
Hillsdale State Park
– Paola
Historic Lake Scott State Park
– Scott City
Hutchinson Zoo
– Hutchinson
Johnston Geology Museum
– Emporia
Kanopolis State Park
– Marquette
Kansas Wetlands Educational Center
– Great Bend
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit
– Wichita
Kaw River State Park
– Topeka
Lee Richardson Zoo & Safari Shoppe
– Garden City
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
– Oakley
Lovewell State Park
– Webber
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
– Olathe
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
– Pleasanton
Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and Bison Tour
– Canton
Meade State Park
– Meade
Milford State Park
– Milford
Mushroom Rock State Park
– Brookville
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
– Overland Park
Perry State Park
– Ozawkie
Pomona State Park
– Vassar
Prairie Dog State Park
– Norton
Prairie Spirit Trail State Park
– Multiple Cities: See Map
Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center
– Emporia
Rock City Park
– Minneapolis
Rolling Hills Zoo
– Salina
Sand Hills State Park
– Hutchinson
Schmidt Museum of Natural History
– Emporia
Sedgwick County Zoo
– Wichita
Sunset Zoo
– Manhattan
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
– Strong City
Tanganyika Wildlife Park
– Goddard
The Prairie Center and Archery Range
– Olathe
Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center
– Topeka
Tuttle Creek State Park
– Manhattan
Webster State Park
– Stockton
Wilson State Park
– Wilson
World’s Largest Ball of Twine
– Cawker City
Sunflower Summer Arts & Sports Attractions
Click arrow to see past participant Sporting Programs and Art Centers/Exhibits
5.4.7 Arts Center
– Greensburg
Baker Arts Center
– Liberal
Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery
– Lindsborg
Broadway RFD
– Lindsborg
Brown Grand Theatre
– Concordia
Circle of Art Atchison
-Atchison
CityArts
– Wichita
Coutts Museum of Art
– El Dorado
Eyegore’s Curiosities and Monster Museum
– Cawker City
Garden City Arts
– Garden City
Garden of Eden
– Lucas
Grassroots Art Center
– Lucas
Goodland Carnegie Arts Center
– Goodland
Lawrence Arts Center
– Lawrence
M.T. Liggett Art Environment
– Mullinville
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art
– Manhattan
Mark Arts
– Wichita
PBS Kansas Children’s Education & Discovery Center
– Wichita
Plaza Cinema Movie and Memorabilia Museum
– Ottawa
Salina Art Center
– Salina
Salina Liberty Indoor Football
– Salina
Small World Gallery
– Lindsborg
Theatre in the Park
– Shawnee
Ulrich Museum of Art-Wichita State University
– Wichita
Vernon Filley Art Museum
– Pratt
Wichita Art Museum
– Wichita
Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum
– Wichita
Wichita Wind Surge
– Wichita
Well, there you have it! The Sunflower Summer info in a nutshell. It truly is a great “Wichita on the Cheap” style program everyone can benefit from. <3 <3 <3
If you can tour the state and visit some of these places outside the Wichita area, I would do it. Kids remember these kinds of trips for the rest of their lives.
(The newest state park – Little Jerusalem – is also included. What a trip that would be!)
Related: Free and Cheap Things to Do with Kids this Summer in Wichita
Who is paying for the Sunflower Summer program?
The Kansas State Department of Education provides this program through a grant funded by Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief (ESSER) from The American Rescue Plan Act. This is all information from the Sunflower Summer website, which you can see here.
Sunflower Summer is FREE to Kansas students and their families.
Sunflower Summer Learning Program App
You’ll download the app and make an account, which requires your name, email address, and mobile number. You have to agree to the Terms and Conditions. The terms include information about who is behind the app, which I thought was helpful. (I always want to know these kinds of things.)
It says the app “is an interactive passport tour built and operated by SLCKET, Inc. [the app makers] in collaboration with the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research, and the Kansas State Department of Education…”
The terms also state that anyone can download the app but “only Kansas parents of children enrolled in Kansas schools are eligible for admission discounts.” Great! You should read the rest of the terms also, since you are agreeing to them.
The website, sunflowersummer.org, has a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a video overview of the program. I highly recommend you check it out (and check back until you see a link to the app) for more information. This is all I know right now! But it looks like it will be a lot of fun for students!!
Sunflower Summer App Attractions you can Visit for FREE
2 Responses
Can grandparents bring Kansas students instead of parents to free activities.
Yes, it includes Grandparents. I hope they keep this program going for 2025.