Field Trips
Immerse your students in the wonders of science through a captivating field trip to the Challenger Learning Center! Our facility offers an IMAX theater, a mesmerizing planetarium, a thrilling space mission simulator, and engaging educational demos that will spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists. Join us for an unforgettable experience that combines entertainment and learning, making science come alive in ways you've never imagined.
Planning Your Visit
From Space Mission Simulations, to Dynamic Demos & Learning Labs, to IMAX movies and Planetarium shows, we bring science to life for your students in a variety of ways. To book your upcoming field trip, filling out the request form. If you have questions, contact our sales coordinator today at 850.645.7777.
TINY EXPLORERS (Pre K - 1st Grade)
Tiny Explorers is a 2-hour program designed for early learners. Students will enjoy a fun and educational show in the Planetarium accompanied by a hands-on activity to learn about the planets in our solar system.
Recommended shows for this age include: One World, One Sky; In My Backyard; and Perfect Little Planet
MARS EXPLORERS (Kindergarten - 1st Grade)
Mars Explorers is a 2-hour program designed for early learners. Students will fly a mission in our Space Mission Simulator, complete a hands-on activity, and participate in Astronaut Training.
- MISSION - Students will assist our favorite Rover, Perserverance, aka "Percy" with his daily activities on Mars. Learn about food groups, practice comparing shapes and separating colors, and help identify constellations.
- ACTIVITY - Students will learn all about NASA's newest, most powerful rocket, and even build it stage by stage! Students will leave with an SLS craft activity.
- ASTRONAUT TRAINING - Students will practice their flexibility, dexterity, balance, and endurance with our Flight Directors in this interactive session.
Additional add-ons include:
- Space Science DEMO (45 minutes)
- IMAX Movie or Planetarium Show (40 minutes)
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: One World, One Sky; In My Backyard; and Perfect Little Planet
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: Hubble 3D, A Beautiful Planet 3D, Dream Big 3D
MOON EXPLORERS (2nd - 5th Grade)
Moon Explorers is a 2-hour program designed for older elementary ages. Students will fly a mission in our Space Mission Simulator accompanied by additional hands-on activities.
- MISSION - Earth’s moon is the only astral object that humans have set foot on thus far, and remains our most constant companion (and only natural satellite). Despite its proximity and the utter fervor of the space race, only around five percent of the moon has been explored. However, we’re working to change that. Students will launch from Earth and complete tasks around the spacecraft, eventually releasing numerous “CubeSats” - ten centimeter long satellites that will orbit the moon and send back data about its surface and the cosmos beyond, studying geology, geography, and the constellations above. As of December 2023, more than 2300 CubeSats have been launched!
- ACTIVITIES - Students will learn about NASA's Artemis Mission and create a model of the Space Launch System. They'll also use Sphero robots to complete a Moon Orbit.
Additional add-ons include:
- Space Science DEMO (45 minutes)
- IMAX Movie or Planetarium Show (40 minutes)
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: Journey to Space
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: Hubble 3D, A Beautiful Planet 3D, Dream Big 3D
VENUS EXPLORERS (6th - 8th Grade)
Venus Explorers is a 2-hour program designed for middle schoolers. Students will fly a mission in our Space Mission Simulator accompanied by additional hands-on activities.
- MISSION - The planet Venus is sometimes referred to as “Earth’s Evil Twin”. The planets are roughly the same size, and Venus is our closest neighbor facing the Sun - with a few major differences. An apparent lack of plate tectonics, temperature extremes, pressure, and an atmosphere made up of carbon dioxide, with sulfuric acid clouds only being some of them. Students will work together to crew a mission orbiting the upper atmosphere of the planet Venus, at a level where the air pressure is more like that on Earth. The crew will learn what investigative efforts have already been made on Venus’ surface and perform their own experiments about pressure, extreme temperatures, and how engineers combat those problems to keep astronauts safe on long missions. By the end of the mission, they will construct a probe to land on the surface of Venus, and retrieve seismic data which may shed some light on the planet’s history and similarity to our own world.
- ACTIVITY - Inspired by NASA’s DaVinci Mission, students will design a space probe to study Venus’s atmosphere and build a landing vehicle to protect a special probe and landing vehicle from a big drop. Using only the materials we provide; students test their creativity to see if their creation can survive a fall—twice! This hands-on activity will have students thinking like engineers as they create, build, and explore the exciting world of space science.
Add-ons include:
- Space Science DEMO (45 minutes)
- IMAX Movie or Planetarium Show (40 minutes)
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: Journey to Space, Mysteries of the Unseen World
- Recommended Planetarium shows for this age include: Hubble 3D, A Beautiful Planet 3D, Dream Big 3D
LUNAR QUEST (5th Grade & Up)
Lunar Quest is a 2-hour simulated space mission for grades 5 and up.
We need a sustainable habitat on the Moon. Can your students determine where? NASA recently launched a Rover to the Moon to explore new areas and collect critical scientific data. However, the Rover lost power before any of the findings were sent back to Earth. We need a faster and more reliable process to gather this type of information. NASA has a new directive—human astronauts will return to the Moon!
As a team of astronauts, your students must board a Spacecraft and launch to the Moon in search of a long-term habitat. Another team of scientists and engineers are stationed in Mission Control on Earth to command and assist the astronauts on this mission. Once the Spacecraft crew successfully lands on the Moon, they must deploy a Lunar Exploration Rover to identify a suitable location for a sustainable long-term human habitat.
However, when the crew receives troubling readings from below the Moon’s surface, the two teams must work together and make critical decisions to turn a potential catastrophe into NASA’s finest hour.
Concessions & Gift Shop Packages
Provide your students with a special treat during their field trip with Concessions and Gift Shop packages designed for every budget. In order to ensure availability of product and receive the discounted prices, please confirm your group order at least one week prior to your visit. A minimum order of 10 is required to receive discounted prices.
Classroom Outreach
Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee offers a variety of flexible program options to fit into busy classroom schedules. These include virtual and on-site options.
Wonderful facility, amazing films and excellent customer service. What more could we want?
I really appreciate how the staff at CLC was able to make adjustments for my very special group. It was their first time experiencing anything like the CLC and it will change their lives forever. We really appreciate the opportunities that our students was able to experience because of your kindness towards us and we look forward to hopefully having this opportunity once again!
The staff is always so well prepared. I am impressed each year with the improvements that are made.
My students loved [our field trip] and it sparked their interest in science. That’s all they can talk about.
View more of what members say about the Challenger Learning Center here!