YOUTH + FAMILY PROGRAMS

NUMU offers a wide variety of programs and events for youth and families, giving the opportunity for all ages to explore art and history through hands-on crafts, tours, and activities. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming programs!

Museum admission is FREE for youth under 18 years of age. When visiting NUMU during museum visiting hours, families and youth can always make use of NUMU’s Lounge, an interactive space open to the public to create art or peruse our collection of art and history books.

An adult chaperone must accompany all youth under 13 when visiting the museum.

Questions? Email programs@numulosgatos.org

sign up for family program updates
UPCOMING YOUTH + FAMILY PROGRAMS
Monthly Craft: DIY Folding Fan
Aug 1
Monthly Craft: DIY Folding Fan

Beat the heat this August with NUMU’s monthly craft: DIY folding fans! Visitors can decorate and make their own folding fans with paper and popsicle sticks. Find inspiration in summer scenes, fruity eats, or design your own pattern.

Learn More.

Read more →
Handwriting the Constitution (8/20)
Aug 20
Handwriting the Constitution (8/20)

Celebrate our nation’s 250th Sesquicentennial by participating in our Handwriting the Constitution community art project. Participants will transcribe portions of the U.S. Constitution on large foamcore whiteboards using black felt-tip markers.

Learn More.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Aug 30
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Monthly Craft: Paper Owls
Sep 3
Monthly Craft: Paper Owls

Hoo’s ready for September’s monthly craft? Visitors can use upcycled cardboard, paper, and more to make their own horned owl, a popular sight to see as Los Gatos enters fall. If you need more inspiration, you can check out our collection of taxidermied owls on display in the Los Gatos History Project and Collections Lab. It’s a hoot!

Learn More.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (September 2026)
Sep 6
Free First Sunday (September 2026)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (October 2026)
Oct 4
Free First Sunday (October 2026)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Oct 4
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (November 2026)
Nov 1
Free First Sunday (November 2026)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Reawakening Community Day
Nov 7
Reawakening Community Day

New Museum Los Gatos welcomes the South Bay community to celebrate Reawakening: Muwekma Ohlone Culture and Connection in Pursuit of Recognition and Reawakening: Reciprocity of Land, Sea, and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe at our Community Day on November 7th. This occasion will feature family-friendly activities, refreshments, games, and exhibition-inspired activations to honor and celebrate the culture and experiences of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Stay tuned for more details!

Learn more.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Nov 8
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (December 2026)
Dec 6
Free First Sunday (December 2026)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Festive Night at the Museum
Dec 11
Festive Night at the Museum

Join us for a festive night at the museum with additional open hours & free admission! As a featured stop along the Los Gatos Chamber's Holiday Trolley route, we'll be staying open late to spread some holiday cheer. This is a fun family tradition with light refreshments, holiday-themed crafts, music, and lots of local art and history!

Learn more & register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (January 2027)
Jan 3
Free First Sunday (January 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Jan 24
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (February 2027)
Feb 1
Free First Sunday (February 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Cadette Book Artist Badge
Feb 7
Girl Scouts Cadette Book Artist Badge

Learn about the art of bookmaking at NUMU! We will explore how books are made and try a variety of bookmaking techniques for ourselves. Girl Scout Cadettes will fold, stitch, staple, and experiment with bookmaking tools to make fun and functional books. We will use a variety of interesting papers and design our own marbled paper using shaving cream!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (March 2027)
Mar 7
Free First Sunday (March 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Mar 21
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (April 2027)
Apr 4
Free First Sunday (April 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Apr 18
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (May 2027)
May 2
Free First Sunday (May 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
May 23
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Free First Sunday (June 2027)
Jun 6
Free First Sunday (June 2027)

Enjoy free general admission and tours on the first Sunday of the month @ NUMU! The museum is open from 10 AM-4 PM, and we can't wait to see you there!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
See all upcoming youth programs

MakerSpace

Join us on most open days to make a self-led craft for all ages in our MakerSpace!
Crafts might be seasonal or related to our current exhibitions.

Featured
Monthly Craft: DIY Folding Fan
Aug 1
Monthly Craft: DIY Folding Fan

Beat the heat this August with NUMU’s monthly craft: DIY folding fans! Visitors can decorate and make their own folding fans with paper and popsicle sticks. Find inspiration in summer scenes, fruity eats, or design your own pattern.

Learn More.

Read more →
See upcoming MakerSpace activities

Girl Scouts

NUMU Partners with Girl Scouts of Northern California to offer arts-based badge programs. NUMU is currently offering programs for Brownies Painting Badge and Juniors Drawing Badge. Each badge workshop includes a tour of an exhibition in conjunction with the arts-based activity to earn the badge.

Programs + Events
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Aug 30
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Oct 4
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Nov 8
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Jan 24
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Cadette Book Artist Badge
Feb 7
Girl Scouts Cadette Book Artist Badge

Learn about the art of bookmaking at NUMU! We will explore how books are made and try a variety of bookmaking techniques for ourselves. Girl Scout Cadettes will fold, stitch, staple, and experiment with bookmaking tools to make fun and functional books. We will use a variety of interesting papers and design our own marbled paper using shaving cream!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
Mar 21
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge
Apr 18
Girl Scouts Brownie Art and Design Badge

Girl Scouts will explore art and design through hands-on activities including painting, printmaking, and building. Brownies will explore NUMU’s galleries with a museum professional, experiment with line-making, printmaking techniques, and create their own painted portraits. Each Girl Scout will also design and build a custom frame to display their artwork. This engaging program is a fun experience you won’t want to miss!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge
May 23
Girl Scouts Junior Art and Design Badge

In this program, Girl Scout Juniors will earn their Art and Design Badge by creating a Tiny Art Show. We will explore NUMU’s galleries looking for art and design, paint a tiny canvas, experiment with color saturation, sculpt tiny pottery from clay, and design our own tiny art show with pedestals and frames. This tiny art and design experience will be big fun!

Learn More & Register.

Read more →
Learn more

At-home Activities

Get creative at home with guided activities found on our blog.

NUMU Blog
Reflecting on the Land
Reflecting on the Land

Inspired by NUMU’s exhibitions that explore land as a core concept, we invite you to reflect on your own relationship with the land.

In both its strength and fragility, land is a source of pleasure, beauty and bounty, inspiring artists from every era. We have built our lives on the land; it is our physical foundation, essential for the survival of all human life, wildlife, and Earth’s vegetation – it is literally the ground beneath our feet and the dust to which we return.

Visit NUMU’s lounge to participate in-person, or create at home!

Read more →
Celebrating National Diversity Day: At-Home Weaving Activity
Celebrating National Diversity Day: At-Home Weaving Activity

Weaving is a practice used by many cultures and artists all over the world! During our event Fall Family Art Day on Oct 1, NUMU presented a weaving activity, inviting participants to create a weaving inspired by diversity and what it means to you. Below are some instructions for you to get creative at home.

We encourage you to dive a little deeper and choose colors of yarn for your weaving that represents your own diversity such as your personality, your family’s heritage, your life story, a flag, or how diversity makes you feel. Our Artist in Residence Alexander Hernandez is a great example of how textiles can be used in a meaningful way to communicate ideas of identity, as seen in his work for the exhibition RETAZOS.

Read more →
Art with Heart - A Toolkit
Art with Heart - A Toolkit

We’ve partnered with Counseling & Support Services for Youth (CASSY) to create this toolkit for you to explore healing through art making and reflection. CASSY partners with Bay Area schools to provide resources and professional, on-campus mental health services to students free of charge. We hope to connect the NUMU community to CASSY as a mental health resource, and provide some inspiration for youth, families, and adults to turn to art making in difficult moments of life. Through art we can reveal how we feel, take steps to heal, build empathy, and share our experiences with others.

Read more →
Let's Get Creative: In the Company of Trees
Let's Get Creative: In the Company of Trees

We invite you to come visit our exhibition Jane Olin: In the Company of Trees, on view until June 5, 2022, guest curated by Helaine Glick. Jane Olin’s photograph’s of trees convey an Intimate Conversation between artist and nature, and amplifies new research that reveals previously unknown information about tree’s complex social structures and ecological relationships. In celebration of Earth Day, we hosted a Family Art Day: Earth Day Poetry + Collage Workshop with Patrice Vecchione. We invite you to create poems and collages at home or at NUMU at our collage corner in our downstairs Lounge, inspired by Jane’s photographs and the nature around you in your every day life. Read below for some guiding reflection questions, tips for writing poetry and a step by step guide to collage. We hope you get inspired by the beautiful poems and collages created by the participants at NUMU on April 23 and Patrice Vecchione! Share what you make with us by tagging us on Instagram @newmuseumlosgatos.

Read more →

Educational Toolkits

Museum Explorer

NUMU’s Museum Explorer Program offers guided school tours and classroom visits related to NUMU’s Current Art Exhibitions and The Los Gatos History Project (LGHP), with hands-on activities introducing K-12 students in Santa Clara County to art and history in a museum setting. NUMU’s Museum Explorer programs support California State Curriculum Content Standards, and are led by museum staff.

Learn more

ACCESSIBILITY


NUMU strives to be an accessible organization by accommodating the needs of all our constituents. The museum's building is ADA compliant. Should you have any accessibility concerns please email us prior to your visit. If you have trouble viewing or have questions about the website please email us.

Email visit@numulosgatos.org

health & safety guidelines