Are your student experiences free?
Yes! Schools can also apply for bus transportation reimbursement if they have the need. You can let us know when you book online.
What happens during a school experience?
A Discovery Center staff member will guide your group in exploring the topic you selected on our booking site. This includes viewing specific exhibits and engaging in conversations and hands-on activities. The experience lasts about 90 minutes. We recommend planning for an additional 30 minutes to allow your students to explore our interactive exhibits on their own.
What topics do you offer?
We offer several topics at any given time, all of which are suitable for grades 6 and up.
How far in advance do I need to schedule a school experience?
You must book at least two weeks in advance so we can ensure staff availability. Our online booking calendar lists the available dates and times.
Which days is the Discovery Center open for school groups?
We offer student experiences Tuesday through Saturday. We prefer that large groups come on a Tuesday, when we are open only for school groups.
What grade levels are your student experiences for?
Most of our experiences are designed for middle school and high school students (grades 6 and above) and can be adapted for college students.
How many students can I bring?
On Tuesdays (when we are open only for school groups) and Thursday mornings, we can accommodate groups of up to 45 students. Have more questions? Please email us at [email protected] to discuss your specific needs.
Can I schedule multiple experiences in one day? Or over several days?
Yes. If you have multiple groups of students, you can book as many experiences as you need. Each experience must be booked separately, however. If you have more specific needs, please email us at [email protected].
How do I sign up for a student experience?
Book online—it’s easy! If you have difficulty finding a suitable time for your group, email us at [email protected].
Do you offer virtual school experiences?
Yes, although our offerings are best experienced in person. If your school group cannot come to the Discovery Center, we can adapt any school experience for a virtual format (Microsoft Teams or Zoom). Email us at [email protected], and we’ll work to set up a virtual session for your class.
What if the experience I want is not available at the time I need?
Just reach out! Email us at [email protected], and we’ll try to accommodate your scheduling needs.
How long is a student experience?
Student experiences last about 90 minutes. We recommend planning for an additional 30 minutes to allow your students to explore our interactive exhibits on their own.
Do you have language interpreters available?
Our school experiences are conducted in English. We offer simultaneous translation in American Sign Language, and we can provide printed translations of our main exhibit text in French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish. Some of our onsite staff speak Spanish and can answer questions from individual students.
What accommodations do you offer for people with hearing loss?
You can request an ASL interpreter when you book an experience. Videos in the Discovery Center’s permanent exhibits are closed-captioned, and hearing assistance devices are available for the video presentations in our theater. We can also provide written outlines of the experiences in advance, upon request.
What accommodations do you offer for people with other disabilities?
Please see our accessibility page for complete information. If you have accessibility needs that are not addressed on that page, please email us at [email protected].
Do you provide bus stipends?
Yes! We offer reimbursement for bus expenses for schools with that need. When you book online, you can apply for reimbursement. A Discovery Center staff member will contact you to confirm eligibility. If approved, the reimbursement may take a few weeks after your visit to be processed.
Where should our school bus park?
Unfortunately, we don’t have designated bus parking at the Discovery Center. However, several parking options are available in and around Seattle Center.
If my students have follow-up questions after the experience, can I contact you?
Yes! You can reach out to the Discovery Center staff member who contacted you before your visit. That person can answer any follow-up questions or respond to requests for additional resources.
The experience has inspired my students to get involved in shaping a better world. Can the Discovery Center help them with next steps?
Yes! We believe that young people are critical to solving the toughest challenges locally and globally. We offer several youth programs to help them get involved.
Are school groups required to be masked or vaccinated against COVID-19?
No. Visitors to the Discovery Center are not required to be masked or vaccinated, but we support those who choose to wear a mask while in our space. We ask that visitors who are feeling unwell stay home.
What if I have other questions?
Feel free to contact us at [email protected] with any additional questions.