Free Family Fun! Science Treasure Hunt

The Peoria Academy of Science and Peoria Riverfront Museum are pleased to welcome you to the 36th Annual Science Treasure Hunt. The Treasure Hunt is a combination of family adventure and scavenger hunt focusing on science and technology facilities and resources in the tri-county area. Families can have fun all summer visiting science sites, answering short questions, and completing everyday science activities. At the end of the summer, eligible hunters will get to attend a prize party, and be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card to NASCO science supplies! NEW in 2025, participants can also earn Peoria Riverfront Museum achievement passport points for all Science Treasure Hunt activities. Learn more about the achievement passport program here.

In 2025, the Science Treasure Hunt opens on April 7, and ends on Labor Day, September 1. Hunters who have completed eight or more science sites and 5 or more science activities will be invited to our prize party, held at the Peoria Riverfront Museum on September 28, at 2 PM. To be eligible to participate, the hunter must be between 1st grade and 8th grade for the 2025/2026 school year. Multiple children may participate in the same family.

How to Participate:

Visit ScienceTreasureHunt.org and create an account to view the various sites participating in this year's Treasure Hunt.

Our partner Science Sites have created a series of questions that can be answered as you visit them. Once you find out an answer, enter it on ScienceTreasureHunt.org using your computer or mobile device.

There are also several everyday science experiments listed on ScienceTreasureHunt.org, complete with materials and instructions. When you complete one, submit your results online.
Once you have visited eight or more Science Sites and completed five or more everyday science activities, you will be automatically entered into our prize drawing.

Following the end of the Treasure Hunt at 11:59 PM Central Time on Labor Day (Monday, September 1), up to 100 winners will be chosen at random from the eligible hunters. These winners will be invited to a celebration hosted at the Peoria Riverfront Museum on September 28, at 2 PM. Everyone who completed the hunt will receive several prizes consisting of books, puzzles, and other neat science stuff. Then, three of the initial winners are randomly selected for additional prizes.

Sponsored By the Rucker Family and the  Peoria Academy of Science