FAQ: The Lab

You will drop your teen off in the designated classroom at 9am the morning of your class.

We require parents to bring their teen to the classroom the morning of their class in order to collect that day’s emergency contact and allergy information as well as providing parents the opportunity to authorize their teens to participate in the “self-check-out” option for the day with an in-person signature.  

The Lab classes are intended to be more process oriented and less project based. Participants will get a better feel for how applied sciences are used in STEM careers.  

Absolutely. Please register for each day your teen would like to participate. 

The Teaching Assistant program is open to those who will be age 16 and up. The Moran Ecoteen Program and SciTeen program in Sugar Land accept applications from rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. The majority of successful applicants are already in 9th or 10th grade. For more information on these options, please visit www.hmns.org/teens. 

You can utilize the Museum parking garage. Summer Program patrons utilizing the museum garage will need to display a SUMMER PROGRAM PARKING PASS hangtag to exit the Museum garage without payment.  The parking pass will be available in the classroom at drop off or the Education Office in the Museum.  

There are also alternate lots available around the Museum. Please see this map to see alternate lots and parking options! 

All classes for The Lab will be held at HMNS in Hermann Park in a Lower Level classroom.  

If your teen has been given permission by a guardian to sign themselves out of class, as part of the morning check-in process, they will be released at 3:00 and escorted up to the Museum entrance near the Butterfly Center on Hermann Park Drive. This location is only for pick-up and loading and you will not be able to park in the loading area. We cannot accommodate alternative pick up locations during that window. 

Teens who have not been picked up by 3:45, will be escorted back to extended day and parent will need to come in and sign them out of after camp.  

These classes are only available for participants that will be 13 or 14 when the class occurs.  For a list available programs for those 12 and under, please visit www.hmns.org/summercamp. For opportunities for those 15 and up, please visit www.hmns.org/teens.  

If you need to extend your teen’s day from 8 to 9am or 3pm to 5:30pm, you may add Scouts-After Camp to your registration.  To do this, you will need to navigate to and click the Get Tickets link in the top right of hmns.org. Next, locate and click the Scouting tab at the top of the online box office. Look for “Scouts – Before Camp” and “Scouts – After Camp” in the available options. You may also use the Filter By drop down menu to make this step easier.  Make sure to select the specific day(s) you need extended care for as there are 1, 2 and 5 day options.  

Yes. Please send a sack lunch with your teen. 

Each sale will be considered final. Patrons who cancel a class will receive a 50% refund of the cost of a cancelled or dropped class if notification is received at least 10 working days before that class starts. In order to receive the 50% refund, patrons must contact the Education Department in writing. Please email summercamp@hmns.org. 

There are no refunds for camps or classes cancelled or dropped less than 10 working days before the program begins.  

We are happy to accommodate children with disabilities and special needs. If you have a participant who will need assistance to complete activities, a parent or caregiver should expect to stay in the room to assist. The individual that accompanies the participant must pass a background check.  

Please contact the Accessibility Program Manager at accessprogramming@hmns.org to discuss any special needs to help your child be successful at the museum. Notifying us ahead of your class of any disabilities, allergies, accessibility concerns, behavioral, psychological or emotional concerns, or any other special needs will help us create a successful environment for your child.  

All of our summer programs are discounted for Museum Members. HMNS Membership must be current FAMILY LEVEL or above to take advantage of the member discount and early registration dates. To qualify for the member rate, your membership must be valid at time of registration and during your purchased program. 

Bringing valuables like cell phones, electronic games, etc., to class for use during lunchtime, Before Class, or After Class is at the parent's discretion - HMNS is not responsible for loss or damage to valuables. Participants are encouraged not to share personal electronic devices and may not use electronic devices during instructional periods. 

Do not send your child if they exhibit a fever of 100.4 or above or have a contagious illness. At the request of the HMNS education staff, a parent or guardian must pick up any participant with a fever of 100.4 or above.  

Please call the Summer Camp office at 713-639-4651 or 713-639-4625, and a staff member will deliver your message to the appropriate person. After 5:15 PM, please call Museum Services at 713-639-4601, and your message will be delivered to the camp staff. After 5:15 PM, all remaining camp staff will be supervising campers in the classrooms.