Griffith Observatory Pilot School Visit Program
Phase II (2007-08 School Year)

December 14, 2007 UPDATE: We regret we are unable to accept any further applications for the 2007-08 Pilot School Visit Program. We are trying to accommodate applications filed prior to today, but the program is just about full.

Soon after opening in 1935, Griffith Observatory initiated one of the first school visit programs in the region. Generations of Los Angeles-area students made the pilgrimage in buses up Mount Hollywood for an experience under the stars. With the reopening of the Observatory, we welcome back school groups for a unique experience in science education.

In Spring 2007, we conducted Phase I of our Pilot School Visit Program. The program used the Observatory’s exhibit and building content to illustrate the wonders of observation and astronomy. Thousands of fifth-grade students and hundreds of teachers from over 100 schools participated. Now, we are announcing the second phase of the Pilot School Visit Program, with the following features.

Who: Fifth-grade students ONLY. As with the Spring program, Phase II of the Pilot School Visit Program for 2007-08 is focused on fifth-grade students. The content and activities are aligned with the California State Board of Education Content Standards for fifth grade. Standards-aligned programming for other grades may be developed later as appropriate. Only fifth-grade classes will be considered for visits as part of the pilot program this year. As a pilot program, there will be no charge for students to attend.

What: Exhibit, building, and theater experiences. The Pilot School Visit Program will use the Observatory’s telescope, exhibit, and building content as well as programs in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater. Museum Guides and Observatory Lecturers will guide students in standards-based learning experiences using our unique facilities. Students will be divided into groups and will rotate through activities around the building.

There are three primary elements to the two-and-a-half-hour school-program experience. Each is designed to complement the others and to support the fifth-grade standards.

1. Program in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. The 30-minute program in the Observatory’s grand 75-foot planetarium theater introduces students to the beauty and wonder of the night sky using the most sophisticated star projector in the world, along with a stunning digital laser projection system. The content focuses on water on Earth and in the solar system. After exploring watery environments on Earth, water’s importance to life on Earth, and the water cycle, the program investigates whether there might be liquid water elsewhere in the Solar System. If so, might there be life beyond Earth? The session is presented by one of our experienced Observatory Lecturers, who are specially trained on this unique presentation (which is completely different in tone and content from the Observatory’s public planetarium show).

2. Demonstration and interactive session in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater. The 40-minute element in the theater covers themes of the solar system and the search for water. It includes interactive discussion and illustration of fundamental concepts related to those topics and a related demonstration. It is led by specially trained and knowledgeable Museum Guides.

3. Interactive demonstrations and discussions in the exhibit galleries. The Observatory’s talented team of Museum Guides leads groups of students in exercises and discussions in front of several of the main exhibit features. The Observatory’s exhibits are large, colorful, unique, and rich with content and meaning. This helps to make the experience even more memorable, not one you would be able to have sitting in front of a computer.

When: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. The pilot school visit program is offered each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon from November 7, 2007, to June 12, 2008. Buses must arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. so the program can start promptly at 9:30 a.m. The pilot program will accommodate at least 300 fifth grade students per day.

Where: Griffith Observatory. The programs will be held at historic Griffith Observatory (at 2800 East Observatory Road in Los Angeles). Access to the Observatory is available from Vermont Avenue. Observatory staff will greet buses, divide students into groups, and guide students through the program. Buses will be able to park in the Observatory’s lot during the program.

How: Advance reservations ONLY. Schools wishing to participate in the pilot school visit program MUST make an advance reservation. Availability is very limited, and we shall process reservations on a first-come, first-served basis.

December 14, 2007 UPDATE: We regret we are unable to accept any further applications for the 2007-08 Pilot School Visit Program. We are trying to accommodate applications filed prior to today, but the program is just about full.

All reservation requests will receive a reply (confirmation, questions, regrets) within five business days of receipt. Please do not inquire about the status of your request prior to that time. If you have any questions, please contact us via email (OBS.reservations@lacity.org) or call 213-473-0849 and leave a message. You will receive a response promptly.

Program Requirements. Please be aware of the following requirements in planning:

• Certification. The teacher submitting a reservation request is required to sign a certification that their school will abide by the Observatory’s Pilot School Visit Program policies and procedures. In particular, students MUST be in the fifth grade and the school must provide at least one leader for every ten students. We regret that failure to abide by these and the other listed regulations will result in the bus being turned away upon arrival. If you are making a reservation for multiple teachers/classes at your school, you must file a separate form for each teacher/class AND the teacher of that class must sign the form.

• One Adult Required for Each Ten Children. To ensure a safe visit, the Observatory requires that each visiting class have at least one responsible adult Teacher/Leader for every ten students. The Observatory will not be able to schedule visits for schools without the required number of adults. Teacher/Leaders are expected to participate actively in the program and in the supervision of the students.

• Special Education and Special Needs Students Welcome. The Observatory is able to accommodate both special education and special needs students. However, we need to have advance notice to understand how best to meet the needs of the students. Please indicate the number of such students on the request form and provide more information in the Additional Notes section at the bottom of the form.

• Transportation Required. Students and leaders must arrive via a school bus. Schools must arrange and fund their own bus. Please fax the Observatory confirmation that you have secured a bus. Your bus must arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. to enable the program to begin promptly at 9:30 a.m.

• No Children May Attend Who Are Not Students. We have occasionally received requests to enable siblings of students or children of leaders to attend the programs. We regret that we cannot permit this.

• No Food or Drink Permitted During the Program. To maintain the historic grounds and new exhibits, food, drinks, candy, and gum are not permitted at any time during the program. We expect the Teacher/Leaders to assist in enforcing this policy.

Things to Consider. Please consider the following when requesting a reservation:

• Public Operations. Please be aware that the Observatory opens to the public on weekdays beginning at 12:00 noon.

• Restrooms and Snacks. Please encourage your students to use the exterior restrooms and/or eat their snacks before the program begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no designated break scheduled during the school program.

• Activities After the Program. When the program is completed at 12:00 noon, you may be interested in the following options as an additional aspect of your visit. Please download and submit the necessary forms if you would like one or more of these options:
Visit the Stellar Emporium, the Observatory’s gift shop and bookstore, where students may shop or pre-purchase gift bags. If you are interested, please download, fill out, and fax back the form directly to the number specified on the form.

• Stellar Emporium Grab Bag Order Form PDF

Eat at the Café at the End of the Universe, the Observatory’s café operated by Wolfgang Puck, where students may purchase food in line or pre-purchase bag lunches. If you are interested, please download, fill out, and fax back the form directly to the number specified on the form.

• Wolfgang Puck Cafe Lunch Order Forms PDF

Bring Own Lunch. Students may bring their own bag lunches on the bus to the Observatory. All food must stay on the bus during the visit.

We regret that we cannot take group reservations for “Centered in the Universe,” the public program in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium at this time.