The Smithsonian Early Explorer (SEE) program builds on 30 years of experience Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) educators have in using museums and community resources to enrich the lives of young children and provide a positive foundation for life-long learning experiences.

Apply Here for the Spring Semester

Program Update:

The Smithsonian Early Explorer Program is scheduled to restart in March 2023. To be placed on an interested participant list for the part-time program, please email seecinfo@si.edu.  Information about the full-time school and the full-time initial enrollment application.

Basic Information

• The Smithsonian Early Explorers (SEE) and is a program of the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC).
• Classes meet twice a week on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 – 11:30 in Wegman’s Wonderplace at the National Museum of American History and each class involves going on a museum visit.
• Spring cohort classes meet from March 13th – May 30th. (No class on Monday, April 10th or Monday, May 29th.)
• To enroll in our spring cohort, children need to have a birthdate between September 1, 2019 and September 1, 2021.
• Classes include caregiver and child.

Curriculum

Each class will include play experiences and museum visits. Embedded in these experiences are opportunities for the children to work on important developmental skills that are essential to any early childhood classroom. Our approach also supports the child as an individual, encouraging their interests and curiosity. All this is done within the framework of community and museum visits. We believe these visits give young children strong concrete connections that enhance their learning. The content areas to which the children are exposed are as varied as the Smithsonian collections – science, technology, engineering, math, art, culture, and history.

Our program also focuses on the caretakers and hopes to build a community in which families feel supported. Through everyday interactions, conferences, and resources, our educators help caregivers better understand their child’s development and support them in being their child’s first teacher.

We ultimately hope to instill a love of learning and a sense of wonder in both the child and adult.

Enrollment & Tuition

Application

• Apply here
• $50.00 application fee,
• Application reserves a spot in the program.

2023 Spring Tuition Rates

• Spring tuition: $2175
• Smithsonian Employees and siblings that are concurrently enrolled receive a 20% discount.

To be placed on our waitlist or to inquire about the 2023 spring cohort, please email seecinfo@si.edu 

The Learning Environment

Classes meet in Wegman’s Wonderplace at the National Museum of American History. Regular trips out of the classroom are integral to the SEE curriculum. Children learn about their world through frequent excursions beyond the classroom into the Smithsonian Institution, as well as into the greater community. Parents/Caregivers should plan on spending time in spaces outside of the classroom spaces and should dress their child accordingly.

2023 Spring Cohort Calendar

• This session will meet on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning on Monday, March 13 and ending Tuesday, June 2, 2023
• No class on Monday, April 10th or Monday, May 29th 

Daily Schedule

Classes meet from 9:30 – 11:30 am

• Learning Centers
• Morning Meeting
• Museum Visit

Caregiver Role

Parents or caregivers must participate in all aspects of the child’s experience and are required to participate in museum and community visits. Cell phone use is restricted to emergency calls and use as a camera.

Educators 

Lead Educator: Brianne Peck Bertuca

Brianne Peck Bertuca has been with SEEC since 2010, holding a variety of positions, from associate educator in a 3’s classroom to her current role as lead educator for in-person and virtual family programs. Brianne has worked in museum education since 2005, serving audiences of all ages from adults to our youngest learners. She began her career in museums at the Paul Revere House in Boston, MA, and has also worked at the Chicago History Museum. She holds a Master of Arts in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University. In her free time, Brianne loves to tackle house projects, spend time outdoors and share her passion for museums with her own three children, ages 10, 7 and 5.

Children with Special Needs

The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center welcomes children with diverse needs and seeks to support their growth through personalized interactions and collaboration with parents and external educational experts.