Are you planning a family getaway for spring break? If you have a membership to Sunset Zoo, Flint Hills Discovery Center or Wonder Workshop, take advantage of reciprocal membership benefits for significant cost savings at zoos, science centers and children’s museums nationwide. With a little advance research on participating locations, including some top-notch favorites in our neighboring states, you can maximize fun and minimize expenses for your spring break adventures!
There are three reciprocal networks with participating locations in Manhattan. Review which applies to you, then read on for tips on accessing benefits and making sure you have appropriate proof of membership for each network.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
All levels of Sunset Zoo membership are eligible for discounted admission (generally 50%) at zoos and aquariums nationwide that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Reciprocity Program. The full chart of locations available here is valid through April 2026.
- Kansas: David Traylor Zoo of Emporia, Lee Richardson Zoo* (Garden City), Hutchinson Zoo, Rolling Hills Zoo (Salina), Topeka Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita)
- Missouri (includes KC): Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka), Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium, Saint Louis Zoo*, Dickerson Park Zoo (Springfield)
- Nebraska: Lincoln Children’s Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Tulsa Zoo
- Colorado: Pueblo Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion (Westminster)
*Always free admission to the public, reciprocal memberships may receive additional discounts outlined in the full list.
Association of Science and Technology Centers
All levels of Flint Hills Discovery Center center membership are eligible for free or discounted admission to more than 350 museums and science centers nationwide through the ASTC Travel Passport Program. The full list of Passport Program organizations is valid through April 30, 2026.
- Kansas: Cosmosphere Science Center and Space Museum (Hutchinson), Exploration Place Science and Discovery Center (Wichita), Sternberg Museum of Natural History (Hays), Strataca Underground Salt Museum (Hutchinson), University of Kansas Natural History Museum (Lawrence)
- Missouri (includes KC): Bootheel Youth Museum (Malden), Discovery Center of Springfield, Saint Louis Science Center, Union Station Kansas City
- Nebraska: Columbus Area Children’s Museum, Edgerton Explorit Center (Aurora), Hastings Museum, Omaha Children’s Museum, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum (Ashland), University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History-Morrill Hall (Lincoln)
- Oklahoma: Discovery Lab (Tulsa), Science Museum Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
- Colorado: Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Space Foundation Discovery Center (Colorado Springs), The Powerhouse (Durango), United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum (Colorado Springs), Wings Over the Rockies (Denver)
Association of Children’s Museums
Select levels of membership at the Wonder Workshop and Flint Hills Discovery Center are eligible for discounted admission through the Association of Children’s Museum Reciprocal Network.
- Wonder Workshop: Wonder Plus (+) Membership
- Flint Hills Discovery Center: Family, Family Plus and Patron levels
Applicable memberships will receive 50% off admission for up to six people at participating locations, and the membership cardholder must be present. I noticed a few locations listed on their brochure that weren’t on the online map, so consider calling ahead to confirm their participation in the reciprocal network. When using their “Find a Children’s Museum” map, make sure you’re looking for locations with the red “R” icon. Purple icons and blue “E” icons are not eligible for reciprocal benefits.
- Kansas: Kansas Children’s Discovery Center (Topeka); can also be used locally between the Flint Hills Discovery Center and Wonder Workshop
- Missouri (including KC): Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City, The Magic House (St. Louis), The Discovery Playhouse (Cape Girardeau)
- Nebraska: Omaha Children’s Museum, Columbus Area Children’s Museum, Lincoln Children’s Museum, Kearney Area Children’s Museum, North Platte Area Children’s Museum
- Oklahoma: Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab, Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum (Seminole)
- Colorado: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, WOW! Children’s Museum World of Wonder (Lafayette), Montrose Children’s Museum, The Powerhouse (Durango)
Receiving Reciprocal Membership Benefits
It is always advisable to call ahead and confirm available benefits before visiting a participating location. Reciprocal benefits can generally only be applied in person with staff assistance, so you likely won’t be able to order tickets online in advance. I also recommend asking staff how to apply these benefits immediately upon arrival, because I have been able to occasionally skip lines when a museum checked my membership at a separate desk from the general admission line.
Depending on your membership level (individual, family, etc.), participating locations may extend discounted or free admission to a certain number of people in your party. Discounts generally only apply to base-level admission, not paid extras like planetarium shows, zoo train rides, store discounts, etc. These nitty gritty details aren’t always conveyed in the master lists of participating locations, so calling ahead can really come in handy to know what to expect.
Showing Proof of Membership
Sunset Zoo
Sunset Zoo memberships have gone all-digital through the PassPlay app, and can be purchased online, by mail or in person. If you are purchasing a new membership in anticipation of spring break, make sure to do this well in advance, as it can take up to 10 business days to receive your PassPlay access link via email. Without PassPlay, other zoos have no way of verifying your membership to apply reciprocal discounts.
Flint Hills Discovery Center
Flint Hills Discovery Center prints physical membership cards. Memberships can be ordered in-person, by phone, or online, with the option to have your cards mailed or picked up in person. They have recently updated their membership tiers and reciprocal benefit options, so make sure you know which networks you are eligible for and have an appropriately updated card for any existing memberships.
- ASTC Passport Program (all memberships): The ASTC logo on the back of your membership card serves as proof of eligibility. Some locations may also require proof of residence, such as a drivers license, as locations too close to your home may be excluded from benefits.
- Association of Children’s Museums Reciprocal Network (Family, Family Plus and Patron memberships): This is a new benefit as of January 2026, so if you purchased an eligible membership before then, visit the Discovery Center front desk to have a special red “R” sticker applied, indicating participation in this museum network. New memberships at these levels will automatically have the sticker applied. There are no distance requirements like with the ASTC benefits, so you can use an eligible Discovery Center membership for discounted admission at Wonder Workshop.
Wonder Workshop
Wonder Workshop prints physical membership cards. Memberships can be ordered in-person or online; staff will contact you after ordering online to see if you want your cards mailed or held for pickup. Only the Wonder Plus (+) membership level is eligible for discounts, and the membership card will have a designation for discount eligibility through the Association of Children’s Museums. The discount can be used locally at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
