Field Trips
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science,Social Studies
- State Standards:
- 3-LS4.4
5-ESS3-1
3-H3.0.4
3-H3.0.5
3-G5.0.1
4-H3.0.7
5-U1.1.1
5-U1.1.3
Allow Sleeping Bear Dunes to bring the night sky to your class via our mobile planetarium! This recent purchase, part of a grant from the National Park Foundation, enables immersive experiences of the night sky.
Educators located within 50 miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can now sign up for a team of rangers to visit their school with the planetarium. The program will also include a variety of other hands-on activity stations for students. Small groups of students will rotate through these stations, staffed by rangers, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate.
Important Logistical Information
This visit requires the use of a large room (such as a school gymnasium), which is big enough to fit a 17-foot-wide and 12-foot-tall dome, along with some additional space to set up the other stations. The room must also contain an accessible electrical outlet to plug in the electronics used with the planetarium. The number of stations can be modified based on the school’s available floor space.
The planetarium can fit about 20 students at a time, and each session takes about 30 minutes. Please keep this in mind when considering timing for the visit.
The planetarium is accessible for students with physical or mobility needs. Modifications can also be made for students who are blind or low vision.
Scheduling Your Visit
You must schedule your program at least two weeks in advance. Our calendar fills up fast, so please plan ahead. Before we schedule your field trip, please fill out Sections 1 and 3 of the education program request form and email the completed form to slbe_education@nps.gov.
Please let us know the best time for a phone call to confirm the details of your visit. If you have questions about logistics or scheduling, please contact our education team.
Last updated: September 12, 2024