SUMMERTIME : Exhibiting Fun and Learning : Museums boldly break their musty image with imaginative new programs designed for children. Topics range from how to build kites or gliders to dissecting frogs and worms.

Looking back on the summers of your childhood, what do you remember? Long days of crafts at summer camp, a family vacation, day after day at the beach?

You can give your children the opportunity to “remember when” by visiting area museums, which offer extensive summer programs, from a day of hip-hop at the Kidspace Museum to workshops on robots or rockets at the California Museum of Science and Industry.

At the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, children will learn to cook like pioneers and make the sort of toys once played with in the American West, in keeping with the museum’s philosophy to “provide a hands-on history experience,” said Noel Toal, the museum’s assistant director of education.

Not wild about the constant mess summer brings home? Take the kids to the Los Angeles Children’s Museum, where they can burn energy building a structure of straws and paper clips. At the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, there are weeklong workshops for children with a scientific bent. After exploring the real bugs and bones, imagine the tales they will tell.

GENE AUTRY WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM

4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays. Admission $7, $5 students and senior citizens, $3 children 2 to 12. Weeklong classes are for ages 8 to 12; preregistration required. Call (213) 667-2000.

* Pioneers to California!: Cook a pioneer meal, make California Indian toys and a pinata in a study of the Gold Rush, ranchos, farming, fiestas and foods. 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday. $65.

* Here’s Looking at You, Kid: Examine family photos and objects, interview family members and record oral histories. Speakers share traditions of various cultures. 9 a.m. to noon July 11 to 15. $65.

* Western Make-Believe: Make a short film, written, produced, directed and starring class members. Each student takes home a video. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 18 to 22. $140.

* Animated Animals of the American West: Make animal-shaped pull toys. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 2. Free with admission, for all ages.

CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY 700 State Drive, Exposition Park. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission free. Classes available for ages 4 to 16, by the day or week, $35 to $250. Call (213) 744-7444.

* Science Summer Stock: Develop and perform a play in two-week workshops culminating in two performances. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 25 to Aug. 5. Ages 8 to 16.

* Robot Summer Camp: Two-week summer camp utilizes robots to convey scientific concepts, for ages 5 to 16, with different activities for each age group. 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1 to 5 and Aug. 8 to 12. $355.

Classes for ages 4 to 6:

* Dino for a Day: Look at dinosaurs through art, music and math. Practice observation and classification. July 11 to 15, 18 to 22 or 25 to 29.

* Light and Shadows: Experiment with opaque objects and transparent materials to learn how light causes shadows. July 16.

* The Ocean in Motion: Explore sea life that lives in sand, rocks and tide pools. Aug. 8 to 12, 15 to 19, 22 to 26.

* Rocketry P/C: Build and launch a rocket. $42. July 16 or 24.

Classes for ages 6 to 8:

* Birds on a Stick: How to attract birds and butterflies to your door. July 10 or 25 to 29.

* Curious Kevin’s Science Magic: Learn to invent, solve science puzzles and dramatize scientific discoveries. July 10 or 24 or Aug. 14.

* Life in the Sea: Explore marine animals. Aug. 6, 15 to 19 or 22 to 26.

* Tune In: Investigate the physics behind musical instruments. July 10, 16, 24 or Aug. 6.

* Model Rocketry P/C: Build a working rocket model and launch system. July 10 or Aug. 6, or Aug. 8 to 12. $42. For the whole family.

* Sea, Sand and Shells: Figure out how to catch a big fish, build boats, create and clean up an oil spill. July 11 to 15, 18 to 22 or 25 to 29.

* Earthquakes: A Shattering Experience: Make a seismometer and models to determine what causes earthquakes. July 24, Aug. 6 or 14.

* Sun Fun Photos: Create prints through light, special paper and enlargers. July 11 to 15 or July 16 or Aug. 1 to 5.

Classes for ages 8 to 11:

* Bats, Rats and Troglobites: Explore myths of cave-dwelling animals. July 24 or Aug. 6.

* Beasty Biology II: Hands-on study of invertebrates. July 16 or Aug. 14.

* Crime Lab Chemistry: Study fingerprints and solve the mystery of which black pen was used to write a ransom note. Aug. 22 to 26.

* Discovering Science Secrets: Make raisins dance, change milk into glue, print with water. July 10 or 16.

* Earth Cadets: Find out how to save natural resources with Cycler, the recycling robot. July 10 or 16 or Aug. 6 or 14.

* Getting Down to the Bone: Dissect frogs, earthworms, grasshoppers and more. Use a microscope. July 25 to 29 or Aug. 1 to 5.

* Investigating Artifacts: Sort and classify natural objects to understand how other cultures lived. July 16 or 24, Aug. 6 or 14.

* Lenses! Take a Closer Look: Explore optical illusions and experiment with reflected and refracted light. Build a periscope and kaleidoscope. July 18 to 22.

* Math Worlds of Wonder: Venture into the first, second and third dimension. Learn about points, lines, surfaces and volumes, fractals and topology. Aug. 15 to 19.

* Of Cabbage and Chemistry: Explore acids and bases using properties of red cabbage. July 10 or 24.

* Space Settlements: Design and build models of space settlements. Take home a solar system. July 18 to 22 or July 25 to 29 or Aug. 1 to 5.

* Spring, Pop and Fly: Learn how human machines were invented by adapting the motions of animals. July 11 to 15 or July 25 to 29.

Classes for ages 11 to 13:

* Advanced Rocketry: Make a scale drawing, select rocket parts, assemble, paint and test your design. Aug. 15 to 19. $70.

* Aviation: The Sky’s the Limit: Build kites, hot-air balloons and high-performance gliders to learn about gravity. July 11 to 15 or Aug. 15 to 19.

* Math Worlds of Wonder: Venture into the first, second and third dimension. Learn about points, lines, surfaces and volumes, fractals and topology. Aug. 1 to 5.

* A Number Symphony: Investigate the characteristics of prime and transcendental numbers. July 18 to 22 or Aug. 22 to 26.

* Zip Zap: Test conductors and insulators, use meters and motors to discover everyday applications of electricity. July 11 to 15 or 18 to 22.

* Star-Spangled Skies: Develop a universe by making a new set of constellations. Create a 3-D night-sky scene. July 25 to 29. For ages 12 to 16.

THE J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission free, but advance parking reservations required. Call (310) 458-2003.

* Myths in the Morning: Storytellers recount tales of Greek heroes. Stories, for children of all ages, last about 15 minutes and are told outdoors at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

* Gallery Game Boxes: Two game boxes, in English and Spanish, can be checked out from the information desk. “Puzzling Pots” focuses on the museum’s collection of Greek vases and includes a hunt for mythological heroes and monsters, a vase shape decoder and a set of reproduction vase fragments. “Perplexing Paintings” includes activities that help visitors explore the painting collection.

KIDSPACE 390 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Open 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Last Wednesday of the month admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission $5, $3.50 seniors, $2.50 children 1 and 2, free for children under 1. Classes are at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. unless noted. Call (818) 449-9143.

* Drip Drop Concert: Explore sounds that can be made with water; make a water instrument. Ages 5 and older. Saturday.

* Puppets, Plays and Props: Take part in a storytelling adventure with a puppeteer. Ages 4 and older. Tuesday.

* Flamenco Dancing: Learn flamenco at 6 and 7 p.m. Wednesday on free family night. Ages 5 and older.

* Stars and Stripes Celebration: Build a bell, paint faces to celebrate 218th birthday of the United States. 1 to 4 p.m. July 3.

* Hip Hop Non-Stop: Hip-hopper Lee Jackson leads workshops. 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. July 6, 13. Ages 4 and older.

* Habitat Journeys: Create a home-eco pyramid and learn about animal living. July 8. Ages 6 and older.

* Nova Scotian Lobster Carnival: Make Fish King crowns and do a lobster dance to celebrate end of the Canadian fishing season. 1 to 4 p.m. July 9.

* Secret Garden Club: Plow, plant and water. 2 to 4 p.m. July 15. Ages 4 and older.

* Paulie’s Rhythms: Resident musician Paul Cuneo teaches polyrhythms. July 16. Ages 6 and older.

* Kite-Making Celebration: Build a kite to celebrate birthday of Lu Pan, Hong Kong’s patron saint of carpenters and builders. 1 to 4 p.m. July 17. Ages 4 and older.

* T-Shirt Designing: Experiment with printing techniques on a T-shirt. $5 fee includes T-shirt. July 21. Ages 5 and older.

* Leaping Liquids: Investigate flow, form and ways of water. July 22. Ages 6 and older.

* Wind Instruments: Tune in to sounds of trumpets, saxophones, tubas, flutes and slide trombones. July 23.

* Take Flight: Celebrate Amelia Earhart’s birthday by making paper airplanes. 1 to 4 p.m. July 24. Ages 5 and older.

* Stories to Get You Moving: Storytellers weave tales at 6 and 7 p.m. on free family night July 27.

* Sunprints: Transform everyday objects into photographic prints. $2 fee. July 28. Ages 5 and older.

* We’re All Connected: Find out how all living things work together to maintain a balanced ecosystem. July 29. Ages 6 and older.

* 59 Days in Space: Learn to navigate to celebrate launching of Skylab 2 (July 28, 1973) and make Skylab sculptures. 1 to 4 p.m. July 30.

* The Most Amazing Instrument, You: Use your body as a musical instrument. July 31. Ages 4 and older.

* Story StARTers: Tell “pass it along” stories by adding one word at a time. Color on film slides to tell a collaborative tale. Aug. 2. Ages 6 and older.

* Picture Yourself in a Picasso: Construct an original Cubist costume. Aug. 4. Ages 5 and older.

* African Drumming: Master drummer Ayo Adeyemi and friends lead drumming circle. Aug. 6.

* Drama Muse and Mystery: Come dressed in a favorite costume and bring key words to help create a mysterious story. Aug. 9. Ages 5 and older.

* Lines, Mood, Movement and the Art of Jackson Pollack: Leap across a giant canvas while splashing paint. Aug. 11. Ages 6 and older.

* National Ice Cream Week: Make all kinds of ice cream flavors. Aug. 14. Ages 5 and older.

* Elementary! Detective Stories: Come dressed as your favorite detective to solve a crime. Aug. 16. Ages 5 and older.

* Mountains, Streams, Buildings and Bridges: Compose an original landscape collage. Bring scraps of photos, fabric and found objects. Aug. 18. Ages 6 and older.

* Power of Percussion: Make it, shake it and create a beat. Aug. 20. Ages 5 and older.

* Accordion Books: Make a book with secret spaces for hidden words and drawings. Aug. 23. Ages 5 and older.

* Create an Art Environment: Explore sculptures of Red Grooms. Work as a group to sculpt an art piece to sit in. Aug. 25. Ages 6 and older.

* I Have a Dream: Celebrate 31st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by creating dream tiles. Aug. 28. Ages 5 and older.

* Moving Pictures: Animation creations are featured in a moving picture show at 2:30, 3:30, 6 and 7 p.m. Aug. 31. (Free family night.)

LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 310 N. Main St., Los Angeles. Open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission $5. Classes are for children 2 to 12 and are offered throughout the day, unless noted. Call (213) 687-8800.

* Teatro Arco Iris: Youth theater group performs original music, “A time to cry, a time to laugh, mixtures of L.A.” at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Juggling: Learn to juggle at noon and 2 p.m. July 2 and 3.

* Youth Arts Day: Plaza de la Raza Youth Theatre Project presents scenes from “One Gun Family” at noon, and the Cal Arts African Ensemble performs traditional African dance and music at 2 p.m. July 10.

* Planting: Learn about the Earth’s ecosystems while planting a terrarium. July 16 and 17.

* Mail Art: Create postcards from recycled art materials. July 23 and 24.

* Dance: Ritmo Flamenco, a traditional Spanish dance troupe, performs at noon and 2 p.m. Aug. 6 and 7.

* Sing Along: Phyllis Chang, a Korean American vocalist, performs songs. Noon and 2 p.m. Aug. 20.

* Drinking Straw Construction: Build a sculpture using straws and paper clips. Aug. 27 and 28.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, till 9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free day second Wednesday of each month. Admission $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, $1 children 6 to 17, free under 5. Call (213) 857-6000.

* Sundays in the Museum: The last Sunday of the month, children from 5 to 12 can participate in family days, featuring activities, art workshops, performance tours and family guides. June’s event on Sunday is in conjunction with “Korean Arts of the Eighteenth Century: Splendor & Simplicity.” “A Graphic Odyssey: Romare Bearden as Printmaker” will be featured July 31. Aug. 28 will focus on “the camera I: Photographic Self-Portraits from the Audrey and Sidney Irmas Collection.”

* Art classes: Separate five-session classes for children 3 1/2 to 5 and their parents, children 6 to 8 and 9 to 11. For information and tuition fees, call (213) 857-6139.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission $8 adults, $5.50 students and seniors, $2 ages 5 to 12, children under 5 free. Classes are for ages 3 to 14. Call (213) 744-3534.

* Adventures in Nature 1994: Topics from insects to dinosaurs will be studied in three one-week courses. Work with scientific specimens, explore real bugs, bones and items from the museum’s collections. Other topics include mammals, plants, earthquakes, minerals, mummies, fish, reptiles, and whales and dolphins.

Sessions are July 18 to 22, July 25 to 29 and Aug. 1 to 5. Classes are from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Children must bring a sack lunch to eat during a supervised period.

Five-day sessions are $80. Extended day care for children from 6 to 14 is available the third week, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for $140 more.

MY JEWISH DISCOVERY PLACE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM At 5870 W. Olympic Blvd. Open 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission $4 adults and children over 7, $2 children 3 to 7, free for 2 and under.

* Story theater workshops: Educator and artist Temirah Rosenberg will teach Jewish stories and lead children and adults in story theater activities followed by an art project from 2 to 3 p.m. Story sessions: “The Story of the Hoopoe Birds,” July 10; Yiddish Storytelling, July 24; Tales of Today, Aug. 7; “Who Stole Shofar’s Voice?” on Aug. 21.

For ages 4 and up. Cost is $12 for up to five family members, $2.50 for each additional member. Paid registration required before July 1. Call Sherri Kadovitz, museum director, (213) 857-0036, Ext. 2257.