NEW! 2025/2026 Field Trip Guide
Early Learning (Pre-K to 1st Grade)
Elementary (2nd – 5th Grade)
Middle School (6th – 8th Grade)
High School (9th – 12th Grade)
When you are ready to make a reservation, submit the online form. If you have any questions, you can contact reservations at reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov.
Group programs are available Tuesday-Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Groups of 15 or more may reserve tours, workshops and Planetarium shows. See below for descriptions of our programs.
If you are interested in making five or more reservations in a school year and will be paying for all with one PO, please contact our reservationist directly at Reservations.NJSM@sos.nj.gov. You will get a personal account representative who will work with you to schedule all of the trips. An Administrative fee of $100 will be added to all Bulk Orders.
Trenton Public Schools and Title 1 schools receive a 20% discount. It is the responsibility of the group making the reservation to notify the reservationist if eligible for one of the discounts.
If your group needs additional accommodations, please let us know in advance of your trip so we may prepare as needed.
To help you prepare for your field trip, we have created an orientation video. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/2aZ9GE1lG-0
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your first activity. If you are bringing over 100 people, you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your first activity. This will give your group time to be checked in, drop off backpacks and any food and drink in bins available at the main entrance and receive an orientation. We are unable to hold Planetarium shows for late arrivals.
We request one (1) chaperone per ten (10) students, and for our youngest visitors (ages 6 and younger), we request one (1) chaperone per five (5) students. Chaperones are required to remain with students at all times. Chaperones must pay for seats in the Planetarium.
If groups bring ten (10) or more people than reserved (students and/or chaperones), this will affect capacities for workshop classrooms and show seating. Additional people may not be accommodated in shows or programs. Additional students and chaperones will be invoiced for payment after the trip.
Groups that arrive late may have programs canceled without a refund.
Lunches can be stored in bins inside the main entrance of the Museum. Lunch room reservations are no longer accepted. Limited seating (up to 60) is available indoor on the Museum’s first floor. It is on a first come basis. Please tell students not to spread out so that there is seating available for other small groups. All groups must limit their lunch to 30 minutes with no exceptions.
Outdoor seating is available for up to 150 at the picnic tables surrounding the Museum building. Groups may also picnic on the lawn throughout the capital complex. There is no alternate space available in the case of inclement weather.
Bus drop-off and pick-up is available on West State Street in front of the Museum. Buses are not allowed to stay on West State Street during the visit.
Where can we park? Bus parking is available at the Perry Street Parking Lot (about 4 blocks from West State Street) at the corner of Perry Street and Route 1. “No Parking” regulations in the Capitol Complex area are strictly enforced. A map is available on request.
If your group is coming in separate vehicles, please plan a meeting spot; we suggest the Group check-in desk at the main West State Street entrance.
On weekdays, metered street parking for cars is available, as is parking in paid lots throughout the downtown Trenton area. Parking is free but limited in the State House Parking Garage. On weekends, free parking is available in the lot behind and adjacent to the Museum.
If your group is arriving by van that has a handicap tag, you can park in one of four (4) handicap spots located at the Planetarium entrance at the rear of the building. Access from Memorial Drive or the alley off West State Street.
Please Note: All in-person programs are subject to change. We reserve the option to reschedule or cancel programs if we are unable to safely serve you.
Homeschools
Homeschools groups are also welcome to reserve any of our workshops or Planetarium shows at any time. Each workshop requires a minimum of 15 students, and Planetarium shows require a total group size of 15. Homeschool groups can also sign up for one of our two Home School Days at the Museum, fall and spring. Registration for the fall event, September 12 is here.
Summer Camp Groups
2026 summer groups (July 7- August 28, 2026) will choose from Planetarium public shows and a simplified list of workshops options. Registration for summer will open in February 2026.
Gallery Guides
Gallery guides are available for long-term exhibits. https://nj.gov/state/museum/virtual-gallery-guides.shtml.
Planetarium Shows
Our Planetarium features a fully upgraded Ultra-High Resolution 8K projection system, so your experience is sure to be out of this world!
From the prehistoric jungles of Antarctica to the moons of Jupiter, we have shows for all age groups and interests!
Show times are 10:00am, 11:00am and 1:00pm, Tuesday-Friday
PLEASE NOTE:
Planetarium shows begin promptly at the scheduled time; groups arriving late may miss their show. We are unable to issue refunds for late arrivals.
Length: Shows range from 25 to 45 minutes
Cost: $5 per person, including teachers and chaperones.
Group Size: Our Planetarium seats 140 people; larger groups will be split into two or more shows. Minimum group size of 15 attendees. The first group to book a show time chooses the show!
When you are ready to make a reservation, submit the online form here. If you have any questions, you can contact reservations at reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov.
Workshops
Examine real fossils, engineer a home, or learn about seasons and weather in our solar system!
Enhance your field trip with these hands-on experiences, designed around New Jersey’s curriculum standards.
Paint Me a Story
Art and storytelling go hand in hand as we discover how art can tell stories and engage our minds and bodies.
Overview: Explore art in our gallery and then make your own masterpiece to take home! Students start this workshop in our fine art gallery with a story time that introduces the ideas of visiting an art gallery and all the things art makes her think and feel. Then, museum educators take students through a guided exploration of our art gallery, stopping at a few pieces and examining art! At each piece, we ask what students see, what it makes them feel or think about, and encourage students to interpret art on their own! Our last stop in the gallery is a final piece of art where all the students work together to make a story from the art on the wall through play-based learning cues. In the classroom, students get to practice being artists themselves, and spend the rest of the workshop making their own masterpiece.
Dino Motion
Discover how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved through their environments as we combine science and imaginative play.
Overview: Students learn about trackways and what they can tell us about ancient animals while exploring how scientists measure objects and collect data. In this workshop, learning is split between the gallery and the classroom. In our natural history gallery, museum educators lead students through an exploration of footprints and fossils and consider how different dinosaurs and ancient animals might have moved using kinetic learning. In the classroom, students explore how scientists interpret trackways and collect scientific information. As a class, students examine a pre-made trackway to try and learn how many different types of dinosaurs there were, when they made the footprints, and more! Then, in groups students measure individual, full-size dinosaur footprints using a variety of units of measurements. Finally, students make their own dinosaur environment to take home using dinosaur stamps, including a footprint stamp to make their own trackway.
Planets on Parade
Meet our favorite star and the planets in our solar system through kinetic learning.
Overview: This workshop is a great way to introduce young children to our solar system! Through physical activities, students learn the order of the planets and how they orbit around the Sun. We first introduce what the Sun is, what shape it is, and what it does for our planet Earth. Then we explore what an orbit is, through educator demonstration and student hands-on exploration with our Orbiting Game. Once students have become familiar with the different planets in our solar system, it’s their turn to make their own planet to take home!
NEW! Cycle of Life
Discover how animals and plants get their energy to survive by exploring the food web of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Overview – In our newest workshop, students will be introduced to animals and plants who call the Pine Barrens home through art-making and kinetic learning. This workshop starts with a discussion about what food webs are, why they are important, and a demonstration of the animals and plants in the Pine Barrens using puppets. Students will then be assigned an animal or plant in the food web and make headbands to wear and take home in the craft portion of the workshop. Then, students work together to form a physical food web in the classroom. The workshop concludes with an exploration of our natural history gallery and a prompt to observe food webs outside their classrooms and at home.
Elementary, Middle and High School Workshops [2nd – 12th grade]
Shifting Seasons [2nd – 5th grade]
Explore the connection between Earth’s orbit around the Sun and our four seasons. Learn how scientists can use weather data from the past to predict how the weather might change in the future.
Overview – In this workshop, students learn how the Earth’s and rotation cause our seasons. Students will work in groups to create a physical model of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun while identifying and describing seasons. Students will first assign the correct temperature to each season on the model, then work together to figure out how the Earth needs to be tilted for each season. For our older students (4th – 5th grade), the workshop includes a discussion about how temperatures in the same season can change over time, serving as a great introduction to climate change!
Lenape Pottery in the Archaeological Record [2nd – 8th grade]
Explore the development of pottery in New Jersey, start to think like an archaeologist, and learn how to make your own pot like the Lenape did!
Overview – In this workshop, students are introduced to the science of archaeology! Students can explore the Museum’s archaeology dig site room and learn how archaeologists find artifacts to study, what artifacts are, and why they are important to understanding past cultures. Students will also learn how the Lenape made pottery in the Woodland Period and why the development of pottery was an important technological advancement for the Lenape community. Students also develop skills that archaeologists use as they work in groups to put a pottery puzzle together, like observation and pattern recognition. Then, students make a pot to take home, modeling the coil method used by the Lenape.
Junior Paleontologist [2nd – 8th grade]
Do you have what it takes to be a paleontologist? Explore the history of Life on Earth, then describe and interpret real fossils through observation, just like real paleontologists!
Overview – In this workshop, learning is split between the Natural History gallery and our STEAM classroom. In the gallery, students travel back in time and learn about the evolution of life on our planet, and learn more about some fascinating animals that used to call New Jersey home! In the classroom, students practice scientific observation as they work in groups to describe and examine real fossils, including using a fossil guide to try and identify each fossil while learning interesting facts about ancient animals.
Hearth & Home [4th – 8th grade]
Using Indigenous homes as inspiration, students work together to build model homes designed for different biomes across North America.
Overview – In this workshop, students work in teams to identify resources and environmental concerns across different biomes in North America. Students will discuss the similarities and differences between architects and engineers before exploring what a biome is and why we need to consider our environment when building homes. At this point, students work in teams to examine a specific biome and design then build a home. Modeling approaches done by architects and engineers, students work together in a planning phase, identifying possible resources available and environmental conditions and making a sketch of their design. Then, students enter the building phase, where they work together to make their design come to life using items that represent possible resources available. At the end, students are encouraged to share their work to the class.
Revolutionary Choices, New Jersey Lives [4th – 12th grade]
Using primary source documents from the NJ State Archives, students work in teams to uncover stories from the past.
Overview - It all happened so long ago… Why does it still matter today? The American Revolution took place in the distant past, but the ideals behind it endure. In this workshop, students explore how foundational documents in the collection of the New Jersey State Archives guide us today. Through object-based learning combined with primary source documents students will team up to solve the case recreating stories of New Jersey’s past.
Changing Coastlines [9th – 12th grade]
Using scientific data, explore how climate scientists decode and predict patterns of change.
Ask the Experts
Our Ask the Experts Career Talks are great for any size group but especially large groups! Learn from museum professionals with different backgrounds as they share what drew them to their field of study, how they received their degree, and information about job options. Questions are encouraged during and after the talk. When you are ready to make a reservation, submit the online form. If you have any questions, you can contact reservations at reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov
Cost: $5 per student. Available for Middle and High School classes
Earth Sciences
What does it mean to be a paleontologist? Talk with paleontologist Dr. Devra Hock-Reid about her path in paleontology and career options within the earth sciences and science education.
Astronomy/Physics
What do astronomers do when the stars aren’t out? Talk with astrophysicist Dr. Jacob Hamer about what a day in the life of an astronomer looks like, and the path to careers in astronomy.
Fine Art
What can you do with an Art degree? Talk with Museum Technician Amy Stevens, MFA about art careers and her focus on art education in a variety of settings.
Public History
What is public history? Learn how archaeology, ethnography, historic preservation and history museum interpretation are all careers in Public History. Talk with Curator Beth Cooper, M.S. Ed. to learn more about these careers.
Guided Tours
Groups may choose to reserve a guided tour of a specific gallery, led by our expert docent corp. Guided tours are only 30 minutes and focus on one of our four long-term exhibits. Groups larger than 30 people may be split into multiple tours. Minimum group size is 15 people. Cost: FREE, advanced reservations required.
If you are interested in a tour, please contact reservations at reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey