Museum Exploration Field Trip
Groups can schedule a visit to spectrUM's museum during public hours for a self-guided experience at no cost. spectrUM changes museum exhibits every 6 months, and Discovery Bench activities daily.
Science Lab Field Trip
Groups can book a classroom-style experience that includes 45 minutes of private, educator-led experiments, and 45 minutes of museum exploration. Science Lab activities are designed to support Next Generation Science Standards. While each lab topic explores different themes, all include hands-on activities inspired by real science research and model the scientific method.
Group leaders can access discussion questions and science resources after their visit to enhance learning and extend their field trip experience.
Group leaders choose one of the following themes for their classroom experience:
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What is chemistry and how do materials interact? Students will learn how to identify and create chemical reactions.
- Lab activities: Hands-on activities include grade-appropriate challenges exploring chemistry concepts, and may include chemical reactions that demonstrate color changes, temperature changes, and changes in states of matter.
- Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ research: Chemistry Lab activities are created in part by National Science Foundation research at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ led by Dr. Beverly Piggott.
- Formative assessment: Educators and Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will refer to chemistry terms and concepts, such as molecule, chemical, atom, pH, exothermic, endothermic, and states of matter, and use the scientific method during experimentation.
- Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts during experiments and upon reflection.
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What forces impact us and our universe? Students will learn physics theories and test forces.
- Lab activities: Hands-on activities include grade-appropriate challenges exploring physics concepts, and may include building and testing table-top crash spinners, catapults, and wrecking balls.
- Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ research: Crash Lab activities are inspired by a NASA project awarded to the spectrUM Discovery Area that demonstrated research conducted at the Langely Research Center.
- Formative assessment: Educators and Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will refer to physics terms and concepts, such as gravity, inertia, the conservation of angular moment, centripetal force, potential energy, and kinetic energy.
- Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts while building models to demonstrate understanding.
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What is fire and how do wildfires impact flora and fauna? Students will explore the chemistry of wildfire and understand its impact.
- Lab Activities: Hands-on activities include grade-appropriate challenges exploring the properties of fire and behavior of wildfire, and may include testing the fire triangle and modeling wildfire interventions with matchstick forests.
- Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ research: Fire Science Lab activities are created in part by a National Science Foundation award that is researching the effects of wildfire led by Dr. Rob Walker, Dr. Joe Shaw, Dr. Lu Hu and Dr. Elizabeth Metcalf.
- Formative assessment: Educators and Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will refer to terms and concepts involving the science of wildfires, natural hazards, weather, and climate, such as fuel, heat, oxygen, weather, topography, and air quality.
- Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts to demonstrate understanding throughout activities.
Scheduling
Now booking 2025-2026 field trips. Call 406-541-8971 or email caitlin.ervin@umontana.edu to schedule a visit or request more information.
Field trips must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance of the requested date. Science Lab field trips may take place between 10am and 6pm, Tuesday-Friday, according to spectrUM's availability. Museum Exploration visits may be requested between 10am and 6pm Tuesday-Saturday, according to spectrUM's availability. No field trips are scheduled on Mondays. Field trips are limited to 60 Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ at a time.
Location
All field trips take place at 455 East Main Street, Missoula, Montana, 59802. Indoor lunch space is limited and must be requested in advance. Bus parking is not available in the lot, but nearby arrangements may be available when scheduling your visits.
Cost
Museum Exploration: free
Science Lab Field Trips: $6.50 per student with a minimum of $100
Teachers, volunteers, parents, and paraeducators are free.
Scholarships
Needs-based scholarships are available, apply online.
spectrUM Field Trip Additions
Thanks to our friends at the your Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ can learn all about bugs and meet special bug ambassadors as part of your spectrUM field trip at 455 East Main Street.
$60 program + $15 admin fee: Drop-in Bug Encounter Cart
During your class's open exploration time in the museum, the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium will join you at the Discovery Bench with a line up of Bug Ambassadors to meet and hold. This is an informal opportunity for Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to drop in and meet the bugs as they explore the exhibits.
$100 program + $15 admin fee: Private Bug Survival Skills Field Trip
Your Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ will learn all about the special adaptations and behaviors arthropods use to survive in the wild through this formal program. Live Bug Ambassadors are an integral part of each program that also features games and activities facilitated by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic educator from the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium.
Cancellation Policy
A $50 cancellation fee is applied to cancellations made within 24 hours of field trip visit.