Sunflower Summer at Maxwell
Sunflower Summer is a Kansas Tourism program that gives Kansas students free admission to more than 200 museums, zoos, and attractions across the state — including a tram tour here at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge. From July 9 through August 2, 2026, bring the kids out to meet the bison and elk on the open prairie, on us. Call 620-654-7230 or email us at maxwellwildliferefuge@gmail.com to make your reservation.
Free prairie days for Kansas kids.
Sunflower Summer is an initiative from Kansas Tourism that covers admission for Kansas students at over 200 participating museums, zoos, historical sites, and outdoor attractions statewide. Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is proud to take part — your student's tram tour ticket is free during the season, with one accompanying adult free as well.
- Free admission for Kansas students at 200+ attractions across the state, Maxwell included.
- One adult may accompany a group of students and receive a free ticket too.
- Runs for one summer season only — July 9 through August 2, 2026.
- Powered by the free Sunflower Summer app, available for Apple and Android devices.
Who's eligible
Made for Kansas students, Pre-K through 12th grade.
The program is open to all Kansas students, however they learn. Here's who qualifies for free admission to Maxwell during the Sunflower Summer season.
Kansas residents
The program is exclusively for Kansas residents — a wonderful way to explore your own state over the summer.
Pre-K through 12th grade
Every Kansas student from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade is welcome to take part.
Public, private & homeschool
It doesn't matter where or how a student learns — public, private, and homeschooled students all qualify.
One adult joins free
One adult may accompany a group of students and receive a free ticket to join the tram tour.
How it works
From app to prairie in four steps.
Getting your free Maxwell tram tour through Sunflower Summer is quick. Here's the whole process, start to finish.
Download the app
Get the free Sunflower Summer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and set up your student profile.
Find Maxwell
Search the in-app list of 200+ participating attractions and select Maxwell Wildlife Refuge.
Claim your ticket
Redeem a free ticket for each eligible student, plus one accompanying adult, right from the app.
Visit & enjoy
Show your ticket when you arrive and climb aboard the tram for an up-close look at the bison and elk.
Tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.
Here's the best part of planning a Sunflower Summer visit: during the season, Maxwell runs tram tours on a set weekly schedule — Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with tours at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. — so it's easy to find a time that works. Tours still fill up, so booking in advance is the surest way to get the day you want.
- Tour days & times: during Sunflower Summer, tram tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- Season dates: the 2026 season runs from July 9 through August 2, 2026.
- One visit per attraction, per season: each free ticket is good for a single Maxwell visit during the season.
- Reserve early: tours frequently sell out — line up your tram time as soon as you've claimed your tickets.
The app
Everything runs through the free app.
The Sunflower Summer app is your ticket, your map, and your help desk for the whole season. It's free to download and easy to use.
Apple & Android
Download the free app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to get started.
Free tickets in-app
Browse participating attractions and claim your students' free tickets right from your phone.
24/7 support
The app provides round-the-clock user support if you have questions or need a hand.
Ready for a free prairie adventure?
Download the Sunflower Summer app, claim your free tickets, and reserve a Maxwell tram tour between July 9 and August 2, 2026. Questions about your visit? We're happy to help.