MUSEUM HOURS:
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Field Trips
Join the list of school, preschool, camp and daycare groups that explore our museum offerings every year!
Our state-of-the-art science studios foster hands-on and inquiry-based learning, supporting your STEM curriculum.
NEW for this year includes our special solar eclipse programming: Zygmunt Digital Planetarium and Solar Eclipse: Science and Safety. More details below.
Want to enhance your students’ experiences? Try a museum tour or a hands-on workshop! We can also customize tours or workshops to suit your needs. If you don’t see the topics or activities you are looking for, please contact us! at 716.896.5200 x338.
Program Fees ( Per student)
- Group Admission $15
- add Hands-on Workshop (Maximum 20 students) +$80
- add 30-minute Zygmunt Planetarium Experience (Maximum 20 students) +$80
- add 60-minute Science on Stage show in the auditorium (Maximum 200 students) +$200
Special Exhibits
We regularly offer limited-time exhibits or experiences as part of our daily offerings, but be sure add it to your itinerary!
Workshops
Enrich your field trip with special themed activities with our team of facilitators. Workshops are approximately 45-60 minutes unless otherwise noted.
DISCOVERING DINOSAURS (SUGGESTED GRADES K-2)
Unearth animals that lived long ago! Participants will examine various fossils from our collections and make connections between extinct creatures and those that live today.
SUPER SOLAR SYSTEM (SUGGESTED GRADES K-6)
Explore our solar system and understand the motions of objects across the sky. Discover different planets and objects in our solar system and understand our place in space.
WEATHER WHYS (SUGGESTED GRADES K-6)
Investigate weather’s impact on in the world around us! Through demonstration and experimentation, students will develop an understanding of the basics of weather, including temperature, density, and pressure.
IT'S ELECTRIC (SUGGESTED GRADES K-6)
Explore electricity in a safe and hands-on way! Investigate insulators and conductors, build a circuit with your body, and feel the power of our Van de Graaff static electricity generator.
DYNAMIC EARTH (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-8)
Discover the science and wonder of rocks and minerals. Examine the geologic processes that make up the rock cycle, including plate tectonics, erosion, and more.
WILD ADAPTATIONS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-8)
Investigate the adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in their natural habitats and how changing environments affect living things.
REACH FOR THE STARS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-8)
Explore our galaxy near and far! Look into the secret lives of stars, name the constellations, and brush up on your sky watching skills.
CIVILIZATIONS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-12)
Discover major world civilizations around the world using artifacts they left behind. Compare traditions, beliefs, language, and geography using items from the Museum’s collection.
DISSECTIONS (SUGGESTED GRADES 7-12)
Choose from a wide selection of specimens. Investigate body systems and visualize how structure relates to function. Additional lab fees apply depending on specimen chosen. Book a minimum of 4 weeks in advance.
Zygmunt Planetarium
Step into our inflatable, digital Zygmunt Planetarium for a 20-30 minute facilitated experience that will allow your students to explore the night sky like never before. Limited capacity of 20 students and 2 chaperones per session.
*Also available as an outreach program to your site. See information under Science on Wheels.
Science on Stage
Gather your class in the Museum auditorium for an interactive and engaging
program bringing theatre and science together in dynamic ways!
WHAT'S THE MATTER (SUGGESTED GRADES K-2)
Students will embark on a journey to explore the fascinating world of the phases of matter, with a special focus on bubbles and ice-cold science. They will be blown away with the creation of captivating spheres using soap and other freezing phenomena.
SOLAR ECLIPSE: SCIENCE AND SAFETY (SUGGESTED GRADES 2+)
Explore patterns and the motion of objects in our solar system to understand what causes lunar and solar eclipses. Learn what causes an eclipse, why solar eclipses are so rare and how to safely view this special event in this 30-minute experience.
Note: This program will take place in two (2) 30-minute programs, limit of 150 per program.
PHYSICAL PHYSICS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-8)
Students gain insight into the laws and properties of matter and energy. Using
large scale demonstrations, students develop a better understanding of the world around them.
SCIENCE BELOW ZERO (SUGGESTED GRADES K-8)
Chill out during this super cool liquid nitrogen demonstration! Explore the phases of matter, as well as kinetic energy in amazing ways.
Group Visit FAQ to Help you Plan your Day
How can I create the best experience for my students?
- Choose your program based on grade level, content and/or process skills
- Decide on the level of engagement from self-guided discovery to facilitated workshops
- Teachers with Educator IDs are welcome to preview (most) exhibits, galleries, and programs at no charge
How many chaperones do you require?
We require at least one adult for every 10 students. Teachers and chaperones are admitted free of charge, up to 1 adult for every 10 students. Additional adults are $15 each. Discounts are not valid for group visits.
Can I adjust my reservation? What's your policy?
- Final group numbers or changes to your reservation must be provided to the Museum a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled visit. Groups that arrive with fewer people and fail to provide updated numbers 48 hours in advance will be charged the full total due on their initial reservation or the number of attendees the day of, whichever is higher.
- If your program requires an extra supply fee, the number of supplies to be ordered must be finalized three weeks prior to the program. Even if the number of attendants changes, you will still be responsible for the full number of supplies ordered for your program.
How do I book a group visit?
To expedite your reservation, please have the following information ready when you call:
- The complete name and mailing address of your school, the school phone number, fax number, and your e-mail address
- Grade level of your students
- Student total, teacher total, and chaperone total
- The date and time you are interested in booking
- Specific exhibits you wish to see or any programs in which you wish to participate
- Lunch reservations
How early should I make a reservation?
Make your reservation at least four (4) week s in advance.
- Reservations are recommended for groups of 10 or more and are required to receive the group rate
- You will receive your confirmation and pre-visit materials by mail, fax, or email
- If you need to cancel your visit, please call 716.896.5200 x338 to let us know as soon as possible
Anything I should know about my visit day-of?
- Take a head count of students, chaperones, and teachers as you will need that number when you check in *The balance of the payment is due on the day of your visit and can be paid by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard
- Any updates to head counts should be communicated to our Reservations Team 48 hours prior to your visit.
- Payment for all students, teachers, and chaperones should be made by the contact person upon arrival in a single payment
- You will receive your confirmation and pre-visit materials by mail, fax, or email
- Coupons or guest passes cannot be accepted with group admissions
What about visits to Tifft Nature Preserve?
Combination fees are available for more than one experience at either the Museum, Tifft Nature Preserve or both.
What about lunch?
- Make a lunchroom reservation when you book your visit and bring your lunch
- If you are having lunch with us, make sure all students have written their names on their lunch bags and/or class lunches are stored together in a bag, bin, or box for easy location and identification
- In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint we are encouraging all of our visitors to bring reusable lunch bags and other items that do not find their way into a landfill
- Upon arrival bring your lunches into the museum where a bin will be available for storage
Family Stem Engagement Night at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Looking for a truly unique family fun night for your student body and their families? Reserve the entire Museum after hours just for your organization! Base package includes a 3-hour event for up to 200 people with the option to add on additional experiences. Call 716.896.5200 x321 for all the details!
