Explore nature and science with us
We offer Discovery Tours and Mobile Museum outreach programs for schools, early childhood centers, and community organizations.
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Discovery Tours
Educators and group leaders: looking for a wild experience for your classes or groups? The newly-renovated Delaware Museum of Nature and Science has something for everyone!
| Program Title | Grades | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dino Descendants | PreK-K | Fly (or don’t) to the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science to investigate the animals that rule our skies. We investigate key features that make these amazing animals so unique. Meet our Sun Conures and figure out why they act and look like they do. Come find out how these animals have survived on our planet for millions of years! NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3 |
| Home Sweet Habitat | PreK-K |
What do living things need to survive AND thrive? All over the world and even in our state there are some amazing relationships plants and animals have with their environment! Using hands on activities and our brand-new exhibits, take a glimpse into a moment in time for these amazing creatures. Participants may even learn a rhyme to help them identify these key components. GS: 24, 25 / NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1 |
| Exploring Extinction | Grades 1-2 | Travel back in time at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science. Students will explore dinosaurs, fossils, and especially extinction through hands-on activities as well as inquiry-based learning. One of our stations even includes meeting some live dinosaurs! NGSS: 1-LS3-1, 2PS1-1, 2-ESS1-1, 2-LS4-1 |
| Cycle of Life | 1-3 | Do you look like your parents? Do you eat the same things they do? Why is that?! Come explore how diverse organisms change as they grow and develop, and which ones are just like their parents. Food webs are good for more than just who eats who, find out how all life works together! (Previously Habitats & Their Inhabitants) NGSS: 1-LS3-1, 2-LS4-1 |
| Delaware & Beyond | For all ages | We’ll take you on a guided tour of the museum’s new galleries, featuring a variety of ecosystems near and far. Experience hands-on science, interactive exhibits, up-close encounters with live animals, and a visit to our PaleoZone featuring Cretaceous creatures, including dinosaurs. |
| Self-Guided | For all ages | Explore the museum without a tour-guide, and check out our exhibits at your own pace. |
$10 per participant/student
Adults are covered at a 10:1 participant to adult ratio
$13 per additional adult not covered under this ratio
1-1.5 hours
Minimum 15 paid participants per Discovery Tour or $150.
Participants will be split into groups of approximately 25 for the various activities during the tour.
Your group is welcome to explore the museum’s galleries and outdoor areas before or after your tour (depending on the tour start time). Allow for at least an hour for free exploration. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The outdoor areas and back patio are open for all museum guests to use for snack and lunch on a first-come, first-served basis.
To schedule a Discovery Tour, please fill out a registration form.
Programs must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance. We will do our best to accommodate any requests within that time period based on availability. You will hear back from the DelMNS Education Team within two weeks of completing and submitting your registration form.
Any questions? Please contact the Registration Coordinator at education@delmns.org or 302-658-9111, ext. 331.
Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled program. If you cancel less than 48 hours prior to your program start time, you will not receive a refund for your program.
Due to COVID-19, the following health and safety measures will be in effect until further notice for all Discovery Tour programming:
All participants over the age of 2 years old are required to maintain adequate social distancing. Masks are optional but recommended for all participants.
Programs and activities are engaging and educational while following best practice guidelines from the State of DE and the CDC regarding social distancing procedures and hands-on activities.
All scheduled programs are subject to change at the behest of DelMNS staff based on new or increased concerns over Covid-19.
If you have any questions regarding protocols, please contact us.
Mobile Museum Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs bring the fun of a field trip to you! We offer exciting, hands-on programs for camps, schools, daycares, community organizations, libraries, and more. Through engaging discussion, live animal presentations, relevant specimens, and props, our programs complement what you are teaching in the classroom.
| Program Title | Grades | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dinos, Dinos, Dinos | PreK-K, 1-2, 3-5 | Dinosaurs come in all shapes and sizes. Explore real fossils, see different tools, and learn what makes a dinosaur. |
| Amazing Animal Adaptations |
PreK-K | Venom, claws, and stripes…Oh my! Explore these incredible animal adaptations with our live animals and amazing specimens from around the world. NGSS: K-LS1-1 |
| Buggin’ Out | PreK-K | There are many different insects in the world, and even right here in Delaware! GS: 24, 25 |
| Looking Out My Backdoor | PreK-K | Ever wonder what’s in your backyard? Unique and fascinating animals can be there. Find out what’s outside your door and learn how important all creatures are. GS: 24,25 |
| Exploring Earth | K | Hop and dance your way through the solar system, ending on Earth. Explore how what’s up in the sky affects what’s living on the Earth. |
| Earth and Sky | 1-2 | Take a trip through the solar system and end on our own planet Earth. Explore the amazing landscapes of Earth and how they are always changing. |
| How it’s Made | 1-2 | Examine how wood is grown (trees), how we use some natural resources, and how we combine many resources to use things that we use every day. GS: 24,26,27 / NGSS: K-PS3-1, K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS3-1, 2-PS1-1, 2-LS2-1 |
| Trait-astic! | 1-3 | Have you ever wondered why you look the way you do? What about why some plants are big while others are small? Or even why birds have all different colors of feathers? We will come to you with some hands-on activities/games to explore these possibilities. NGSS: 1-LS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4 |
| Animal Adaptations | 3-5 | Outline and explore major topics to comprehend how climate change can affect our planet. Investigate ongoing experiments and understand how data is collected to draw conclusions from the research. NGSS: 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-3 |
| Most Extreme Animals | 5-6 | Travel around the world to see the amazing ways animals survive in different habitats. |
Special program for Spring 2023
Longwood Gardens Community Read: Mobile Museum Outreach Program
This program is available beginning March 1, 2023, but you can register now.
Perfect for schools, libraries, daycares, afterschool groups, community centers, and more!
Fee: $150 per program | Maximum Participants: 40 | Length: 45-60 minutes
| Program Title | Ages | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bring me some apples and I’ll make you a pie: a story about Edna Lewis | 4-7 | In the children’s book, Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make you a Pie: A story about Edna Lewis, by Robbin Gourley, the characters focus on farm-to-table all year round. As part of the Longwood Gardens Community Read Program, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science comes to you to explore how the seasons are unique and their effect on the growth of local crops. Learn why we don’t only get flowers after May showers, but all year long! |
Fees and General Information
$150 for one program; $140 for two programs; $125 for three or more programs.
For destinations more than 25 miles away from the Museum one-way, an additional cost will be incurred (see below).
Each program consists of a 45-60 minute in-person program.
Outreach Programs are currently limited to 25 participants maximum. For larger groups, multiple programs can be scheduled in a day (provided timeslots are available).
Several Outreach Programs include live animals. Please have a reliable staff member available to help with loading and unloading of the live animals, if needed.
Destinations more than 25 miles from the museum one-way will be charged a travel fee.
0-25 miles: included in program fee
26-35 miles: $15
36-45 miles: $30
46-55 miles: $45
56-65 miles: $60
66-75 miles: $75
76-85 miles: $90
86-95 miles: $105
96-105 miles: $120
To schedule a Mobile Museum, please fill out a registration form.
Programs must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance. We will do our best to accommodate any requests within that time period based on availability. You will hear back from the DelMNS Education Team within two weeks of completing your registration form.
Any questions? Please contact the Registration Coordinator at education@delmns.org or 302-658-9111, ext. 331.
Due to COVID-19, the following health and safety measures will be in effect until further notice for ALL Mobile Museum programming:
All outreach program locations must be held in an indoor area that allows for social distancing or outdoors.
All participants over the age of 2 years old are required to maintain adequate social distancing. DelMNS will follow the host organization’s policies regarding masking.
Programs and activities are engaging and educational while following best practice guidelines from the State of DE and the CDC regarding social distancing procedures and hands-on activities.
All scheduled programs are subject to change at the behest of museum staff based on new or increased concerns over Covid-19.
If you have any questions regarding protocols, please contact us.
Design your own
Can’t find exactly what you are looking for? Design your own Discovery Tour or Mobile Museum program with themes such as behind the scenes, museum careers, live animal care, specialized biology subjects and many more.