FAQ

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Is there a cost?
All of our virtual experiences and in-person workshops are free.

How far out do I need to schedule my experience?
We need at least two weeks advance notice to schedule all experiences (in-person and virtual) to allow for staff scheduling.

Do you have any experiences available for elementary-aged students?
Unfortunately no, our content is designed for middle and high school students. Please continue to check our offerings as we are working on developing self-guided experiences for younger school groups.

Do you have experiences available for post-secondary students?
Yes! All of our virtual experiences and in-person workshops can be modified to serve college-age students. Please contact us with questions and to work with an educator to see how our offerings may fit into your course content.

How do I sign up?
Book online! Our schedule shows real-time experience availability for both our virtual experiences and in-person workshops. Once we confirm, you’ll get an email confirmation and see an appointment come through via Outlook. If you have questions about scheduling or are experiencing difficulties fitting your classes into our availability, email us.

What languages and accessibility accommodations do you offer?
Our virtual experiences and in-person tours are all offered in English. With two weeks’ notice, we can schedule an ASL interpreter to join, if that is a need for your group. Live closed captioning is an option which is available for all virtual school experiences. Outlines for programs are available upon request. Please review our Accessibility page if visiting the Discovery Center. Accessibility is a priority for us. If you have specific needs, please email us at [email protected].

What if I have more questions?
Just email us, we are here to help!

VIRTUAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCES

How long are the virtual school experiences?
We recommend planning for 60-minutes; however, we can adjust to fit a shorter time block to fit your school day.

What if the virtual experience I want is not available at the time I need?
Just reach out and ask! Email [email protected] and we’ll see what we can do. Chances are, we can line up the right staff person at the right time for you.

Can I schedule multiple virtual experiences on one day? How about over several days? How many can I reserve on a single day (I have three classes)?
Yes, although each experience needs to be booked separately. The booking calendar shows real-time availability. If you have more specific needs or need our scheduler to work directly with you, just email us.

How many classes can be grouped together in a session?
No more than two classes may be grouped into a single session. All of our virtual school experiences include frequent student participation. When too many students are on the call, this type of participatory experience can be challenging. Email us if you are trying to book multiple classes and running into issues.

What technology platforms do you use for virtual experiences?
Our educators are able to present using Microsoft Teams or Zoom. You can let us know your preference when you book online.

What will students need to participate? What do I need to do to prepare?
There are two primary ways that teachers have us facilitate in their classroom. Both have their advantages and disadvantages:

Option 1: Every student on a device. This allows students to participate in the chat and with their microphone, though there is the possibility of audio feedback. This setup generally allows for more individual student engagement with the presenter. Classroom Wi-Fi bandwidth can sometimes be an issue.
Option 2: Presenter projected on the board, teacher facilitating discussion. This is often the least technically complicated option. The presenter will speak and propose discussion questions and the teacher will facilitate the discussion using their own classroom protocols. Sometimes presenters will be able to hear student comments, sometimes not (depending on classroom setup). It is often helpful to identify students to “report back” to the presenter after discussion time.

We are happy to work with teachers to determine which option works best in their classroom setup and to test for technology issues before the virtual school experience.

My students may have additional questions about your experiences, can I follow up with you if I need more information or resources?
Your staff guide will reach out to you before your scheduled session. You can follow up directly with them to make sure any questions you have are addressed.

IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS (FIELD TRIPS)

Which days is the Discovery Center open for workshops with school groups?
School groups are welcome at the Discovery Center on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please see the booking calendar for live availability and email us if you would like assistance scheduling your group.

How many students can I bring?
We are currently open to the public Thursday – Saturday and can accommodate smaller school groups of up to 30 students on these days. On Tuesdays, we are open only for scheduled school groups and can therefore accommodate up to 45 students at a time. We may still be able to accommodate groups larger than 45 students by having students rotate through our space in two groups. Please email us to discuss your group’s needs.

Do you provide bus stipends?
Yes. When you book online, please indicate that you are interested in bus reimbursement and our scheduler will work with you to confirm your school is eligible and fill out the form. It may take a few weeks after your visit for the reimbursement to be processed.

Where should the school bus park?
Unfortunately, we don't have designated bus parking. However, there are several options in and around Seattle Center.

Are school groups required to be vaccinated?
At present, all eligible visitors are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative test result within 48 hours of their visit. Check back prior to your visit as requirements may change.

Will visitors be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or test results when they enter or register?
No, visitors are not required to show proof to gain entry to the Discovery Center.