Smithsonian Early Explorers (SEE) · Ages 18–36 months
The Smithsonian,
for the very young.
Smithsonian Early Explorers (SEE) is SEEC's part-time toddler program for children ages 18–36 months and their caregivers. Together they explore the Smithsonian through play, observation, and genuine discovery.
- Ages
- 18–36 months at entry
- Meets
- Mondays & Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am
- Program year
- September 14, 2026 to June 1, 2027
- Who attends
- Caregiver and child together
- Where
- Wegmans Wonderplace, National Museum of American History
About Early Explorers
Designed for this stage.
Smithsonian Early Explorers (SEE) is SEEC's part-time toddler program for children ages 18–36 months at entry and the caregivers who know them best. Sessions meet twice a week in the galleries of the Smithsonian, led by SEEC educators who specialize in this uniquely rich developmental window.
Toddlers at this age are voracious learners: absorbing language, building physical confidence, discovering cause and effect, and forming the earliest social relationships. The galleries of the Smithsonian offer a remarkable environment for all of it, filled with objects and specimens that are real, fascinating, and endlessly varied.
Caregivers participate alongside children, supported by SEEC educators who help adults see the learning that's happening and understand how to extend it at home.
Program Details
What to expect.
Ages
18–36 months
Children are 18–36 months old at entry, and each child attends together with a primary caregiver.
Schedule
Mondays & Tuesdays
Sessions run from 9:30 to 11:30 am. The 2026–27 program year begins September 14, 2026 and ends June 1, 2027.
Setting
Wegmans Wonderplace
Classes meet at Wegmans Wonderplace in the National Museum of American History, steps from the galleries that serve as the school's everyday classrooms.
Tuition
Tuition for 2026–27.
Early Explorers tuition covers the full program year and both weekly sessions. Monthly payments spread the cost across nine months.
$6,840
Tuition for the full program year
$760
Per month, across nine monthly payments
$50
One-time application fee
Discounts are available for Smithsonian employees and for siblings. Looking for Full-Time School tuition? See the full table on our affordability page.
"I came expecting a playgroup. What I found was an approach to toddler learning that I carry with me every single day, a way of slowing down and noticing alongside my child."
Early Explorers Caregiver
Smithsonian Early Explorers participant
Join Early Explorers
Space in Early Explorers is limited.
The 2026–27 program year begins September 14. Contact us to learn about current openings.