Programs at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

Scouting

Girl Scouts
Juniors - "Get Moving!" Journey Workshop - learn about energy use and light pollution.
A 2-hour workshop can be tailored for all Girl Scout pathways to help complete new badges and journeys in the “Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting” and the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Workshop includes a planetarium show and hands-on activities.

Boy Scouts

• Astronomy Merit Badge
• Aviation Merit Badge
• Space Exploration Merit Badge

We can also help with Cub Scouting! Please call and we will help set up an appropriate workshops

Summer STEM Day Camps 

Does your child or teen love space? Our seven Summer STEM Day Camps offer a full week of exciting hands-on science and engineering adventures for kids ages 5 - 14, from June 26 through August 11. Check out our summer camp page for details!

Super Stellar Fridays

On the 1st Friday of the month, from October through May, enjoy an evening of astronomy with Discovery Center educators and special guest speakers. Topics vary, covering new discoveries, historical events, scientific concepts and more. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Our Tonight's Sky planetarium show begins at 7 PM, with the evening's feature presentation starting at 8:15. Recommended for ages 8+. During the summer months, on the 1st Fridays of June, July, August and September, we switch from serious science to classic sci-fi, with vintage creature features beginning at 7 p.m.  Our all-inclusive price for Super-Stellar Fridays: Free for members, $10/Adults, $9/Seniors & Students, $7/Children; children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 

If the skies are clear, members of the NH Astronomical Society will be out on the Discovery Center's southside front lawn, ready to provide a FREE skywatch. Gaze through their telescopes - or your own - at the wonders of the night sky. The skywatch begins at dusk during daylight savings time or 7 PM during standard time.

Educator Resources

Classroom Outreach

Can't come to us? We can come to you!

We will adjust the content of any of our programs to suit your students' grade level. The programs actively involve your students in exciting, enjoyable learning experiences. Some involve hands-on activities for every student. Others utilize volunteers from the audience. We will be happy to answer questions after each show. Name a topic in space science and we'll deliver a program to your students in a fun and educational way! Learn more about all the outreach possibilities.

Homeschool Program

Homeschool workshops are offered October through May on the second Thursday of the month from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. You are welcome to just participate in individual sessions or to enroll for the entire series. Homeschool workshops are offered at two levels: Level 1 (for Grades 1-4) covers the basics; Level 2 (for Grades 5-8) goes into greater depth.

Note: We have not scheduled Level 3 workshops (Grades 9-12) for the 2016/2017 season; however, if five or more students are interested in a Level 3 offering, with two weeks notice we can arrange a Level 3 session for each of these workshops.

Homeschool workshops do not include visiting the exhibits or a planetarium show. Workshop participants are invited to explore the museum from 12 to 1:30 PM the day of the workshop at a reduced admission rate.

$5 per person to see a content-related planetarium show at the conclusion of each workshop (optional).

The 2016-17 home school program will explore Earth as a series of interwoven systems, each influencing the other. Students will explore Earth science, atmospheric science, hydrology and climate change, here and on other planets!