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Outreaches

Learn about local animals, where and how they live. Observe tracks, teeth, and skulls of herbivores and carnivores, and touch skin and furs!

Burpee Museum in Motion: Traveling Science Outreach Programs

Bring the wonder of the Burpee Museum of Natural History directly to your classroom, school, or community event! Our dynamic STEM outreach programs bring science to life through hands-on learning experiences in paleontology, biology, and geology. From live reptiles to rare fossils and insect specimens, we offer unforgettable educational experiences for all ages.

For more information or to set up an outreach event with us, contact Nicole Hayes (nicole.hayes@burpee.org).

Flexible Formats to Fit Your Needs

We customize our mobile museum experiences to match your space, schedule, and audience size:

  • Classroom Workshops: Small-group settings that maximize hands-on interaction, science experiments, and in-depth discussions.
  • Rotational Sessions: Multiple live animals or specimen stations moving through classrooms throughout the day.
  • Large Group Assemblies: Engaging, multi-class or multi-grade presentations perfect for auditoriums.

Enhance Your Science Curriculum (Multi-Visit Packages)

Deepen student engagement with a recurring museum visit. We will align our mobile programming directly with your school’s curriculum, state science standards, and specific learning objectives—all while bringing exciting, tactile materials right to your students.

Hosting a School STEM Night or Community Event?

Make your next family night unforgettable! We bring the best of Burpee to you, featuring:

  • Live animal meet-and-greets
  • Interactive “Dino Dig” pits
  • Hands-on science activities and specimens

Book Your Museum Outreach Event Today

Ready to inspire your students? For pricing, availability, or to customize your program, contact Nicole Hayes at nicole.hayes@burpee.org.

Meet Burpee’s live reptiles up close! Discover their incredible survival adaptations and explore their unique relationships with humans.
Meet the Reptiles
Journey back through Earth’s deep geological time. Get hands-on with fascinating fossil specimens and real dinosaur history
Dig Into Dinos
Explore the rich pottery traditions of regional Indigenous cultures, then design and shape your very own unique clay piece.
Make Pottery
Investigate how living things connect to their environments through interactive, hands-on activities aligned directly with Illinois learning standards.
Examine Habitats
Explore extreme arid environments and discover how wildlife beats the heat. Meet live desert reptiles up close to see their amazing survival strategies!
Desert Survival
Journey into the layers of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems. Meet live rainforest reptiles and amphibians that call these dense jungles home!
Rainforest
Step back in time to when giant mammoths roamed the Midwest. Compare the skulls and adaptations of ancient ice age giants with modern animals!
Icy Illinois
Uncover the ancient secrets of prehistoric seas that once covered our region. Examine fascinating marine fossils and discover how underwater life evolved!
Fossil Oceans
Discover what makes a mammal unique, from fur to fascinating survival adaptations. Investigate how these warm-blooded creatures thrive in ecosystems all over the globe!
Mammals
Take flight into the incredible world of avian science and feather adaptations. Examine real wings, beaks, and feet to discover how birds conquer the skies!
Explore Birds
Get an up-close look at the planet’s most diverse group of creepy-crawlies. Meet live insects and arachnids while learning how these tiny titans support our ecosystems!
Meet Arthropods
Ignite curiosity through fizzing, color-changing, and interactive lab experiments. Explore the building blocks of matter and witness the fun side of physical science!
Chemistry & Liquids
EDUCATION IN ACTION