SINGLE-DAY PROGRAMS
Sky School offers both single-day and single-evening programs. The Daytime Field Course focuses on natural sciences of the Sky Islands and building observational skills. The Evening Astronomy Course focuses on Arizona space sciences and telescope observing. Both courses are guided by graduate student instructors from the University of Arizona. While typically offered separately, schools can inquire about combining the two for a full day and evening of programming.
Daytime Field Course
The Daytime Field Course is designed for elementary and middle school students and takes place in local natural environments such as Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon, city parks or schoolyards. The program emphasizes observational skills and ecological exploration, as graduate student instructors guide participants to use hands-on with authentic tools and methods used by scientists to study biodiversity, climates, soil, water, trees, and other components of an ecosystem to understand how they all interact with one another. The programs are aligned with science standards and provide a meaningful introduction to field-based science.
- Audience: Elementary and Middle School
- Group Size: 20 minimum (Discount for 50+ students)
- Location: Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon, local parks or schoolyards
- Focus: Observational skills, ecological systems, scientific inquiry
Features: Hands-on activities in natural settings, guided science practices, alignment with grade-level standards
Evening Astronomy Course
The Evening Astronomy Course is designed for middle and high school students and offers an introduction to the world of astronomy in Southern Arizona. The program begins with a trip up the breathtaking Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway, where graduate student instructors introduce the geology and climate of the Sky Island region and what makes it such an ideal location for studying the night sky. From the summit, participants learn about local dark sky initiatives as they watch the lights come on in Tucson, tour the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory, and cap the night off with guided observing through one of the world's largest public observing telescopes.
- Audience: Middle and High School
- Group Size: 20-40 students
- Format: Single evening program at the Mt Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory
- Focus: Sky Island Geology, Dark Sky Initiatives, Astronomy
- Features: Stop along Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway, Observatory Tour, Telescope Viewing
Fees include instruction and all curricular materials. Meals and transportation must be provided by the school.
We charge fees that reflect approximately half of the actual cost of running programs. Through generous private donations we have limited scholarship funding available in cases of need. Please contact us at skyschool@arizona.edu for more information.