All Student Field Experience programs include the three elements in the General Student Field Experience; however, for groups less than 30 students we offer an Enriched program, which includes a classroom activity as described below.  In addition, your students may join the public Twilight Program and Star Party (available on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only) for additional fees.  With advance arrangements, meals can be purchased in the StarDate Café. These Pre & Post Visit Activities and Behavior Expectation Forms are intended to engage students before the trip, and to reinforce what they learned after they return to their classroom.

General Program: For 12 to 100 Students

The following three elements are included in all Student Field Experience programs and facilitated in inquiry-based fashion.

• Explore McDonald Observatory and see the 2.7m (107-inch) Harlan Smith Telescope
• Decoding Starlight Exhibit Hall
• Investigate Our Star, the Sun

Enriched Program: For Groups with 30 Students or Fewer

The Enriched Student Field Experience program offers the three elements listed above, plus an additional hands-on and TEKS/TAKS based activity in our multi-media classroom.  The activity you choose requires students to work in cooperative groups to explore concepts and practice science skills at a deeper level.  We are happy to assist you in choosing the most appropriate classroom activity for your students. Recently, we have added new activities that focus students learning on our star the Sun. See a menu of classroom activities.

Request a reservation using our online form.

Support for HST-ED90234-01 was provided by NASA through a grant from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities in Astronomy, Incorporated, under NASA contract NAS5-26555.