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.

Gallery Guides, designed to encourage students to engage and explore our long-term exhibits, are available at the Museum & on our website https://nj.gov/state/museum/virtual-gallery-guides.shtml here.

• We offer workshops for a wide range of grades, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• All workshops are 45 minutes long.
• All workshops can accommodate groups of 15 – 25.
• Groups with a larger size will be divided into multiple sessions. Groups over 200 students cannot be accommodated on the same day but may be divided into multiple days if needed.

Reservations are now being accepted. Reservations and Information: Call (609) 292-1382 or Email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov

Cost: $5.00 per student

Preschool/Early Elementary Workshops [Pre-K – 1st grade]
TWe offer three workshops focusing on art, dinosaurs, and space that incorporate elements of play and inquiry-based learning for preschool through first grade students.

Paint Me a Story
Art and storytelling go hand in hand as we discover how the art on display tells stories and engages our minds and bodies. Explore color theory and learn to make colors to express yourself.

Dino Motion
Discover how dinosaurs and prehistoric reptiles moved through their environments as we combine science and imaginative play. Learn about trackways and what they can tell us about ancient animals.

Planets on Parade
Meet our favorite star and the planets in our solar system. Learn the order of the planets and how they orbit around the Sun, then design your own special planet!

Elementary, Middle and High School Workshops [2nd – 12th grade]

Lenape Pottery in the Archaeological Record [2 – 8 grade]
Learn how archaeologists trace the development of pottery through the Woodland Period. Students will examine pottery sherds and work together to piece pottery like real archaeologists. This workshop is available for a wide range of grades, and is adjustable to fit your grade level!

Shifting Seasons [2 – 5 grade]
What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow? What about in six months? Explore how the Earth rotates around the Sun and the reason for the seasons, and learn how scientists predict the weather.

Junior Paleontologist [2 – 8 grade]
Do you have what it takes to be a paleontologist? Explore the history of life on Earth through games and describe real fossils – some hundreds of millions of years old – by developing and honing your observation and description skills, just like real paleontologists. This workshop is available for a wide range of grades, and is adjustable to fit your grade level!

Hearth & Home [5 – 8 grade]
Using Indigenous homes as inspiration, student teams construct home models designed to combat the climate challenges of North American ecosystems and practice being sustainable engineers.

Changing Coastlines [9 - 12 grade]
Using scientific data, explore how climate scientists understand patterns of change using global temperatures over the past century. Students will learn about the impacts of sea level rise here in New Jersey and consider possible solutions for the future.

Meet the Museum’s scientists - and bring your toughest questions!

Our Ask the Expert talks are best for larger groups, but groups of any size can reserve the program. They offer a more in-depth discussion of scientific topics explored in the Museum, led by our own Museum curators! These live talks are 45 minutes long and we have options for elementary through high school students. Virtual options are also available; ask how to Zoom our Expert into YOUR classroom!

Reservations and Information: Email reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov

Cost: $5 per student.

Fossil Exploration [K – 3 grades]
Learn about the fossils of New Jersey with Paleontologist Dr. Devra Hock-Reid and get a chance to interact with some real fossils.

Fossil Hunters of NJ [3 – 8 grades]
New Jersey abounds with fossils! Paleontologist Dr. Dana Ehret shares exciting fossil discoveries from throughout the state, what fossils tell us about ancient ecosystems, and the challenges paleontologists face in this adventurous field.

Our Place in Space [3 – 8 grades]
We’re all passengers on spaceship Earth! Learn about our place in the universe from astronomer Dr. Jacob Hamer, who will share how astronomers have discovered so much about planets, stars, galaxies, and more.

People of the Past [3 – 8 grades]
How do artifacts help archaeologists understand the lives of people in prehistoric and historic New Jersey? Archaeologist Dr. Gregory Lattanzi leads this exploration of the unique artifacts found here, and what they tell us about the lifestyle of people who lived in the state through time.

The New Jersey State Museum offers students 4 floors of exhibits exploring the Natural and Cultural history of the State, Archaeology and the Lenape people and a remarkable Fine Art collection. Each long-term exhibit gallery offers printed guides for both pre-K and older students to explore on their own.

Groups may also choose to reserve a guided tour of a specific gallery, led by our expert docent corp. Groups larger than 30 students may be split into multiple tours. Minimum group size is 15 students. Cost: FREE, advanced reservations required.

Reservations and Information: Email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov

Reservations are required for all programs and must be made at least 2 weeks (10 business days) in advance. To reserve group programs, email reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov.
Payments MUST be made in full 2 weeks prior to your program date. The Museum reserves the right to cancel non-paid reservations within this 2 week window.
Many programs have minimum group sizes for participation; see specific program details for group size requirements.

The Museum requests one chaperone per 10 students, to be included in your group count. Chaperones are require to have paid seats in the Planetarium.
All completed reservations will receive a confirmation and an invoice. If you did not receive these forms please follow up to make sure the reservation was completed. Confirmations contain important information for your visit including bus parking and Museum rules. Please distribute this information to all chaperones and bus drivers.

If you must cancel your field trip, please email reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov as soon as possible. No refunds will be made if payment has already been processed. However, we will work with you to reschedule your visit, apply payment to a virtual program or receive credit to be used the following school year.

Please Note: All in-person programs are subject to change per COVID-19 health and safety regulations. We reserve the option to reschedule or cancel programs if we are unable to safely serve you.

The Museum is accessible for visitors with special needs. To arrange accommodations for your visit, please contact Devra Hock-Reid at (609) 292-5420.

All lunches must be brought – there is no food available to purchase at the Museum.

Lunch bins are available at the main entrance or Planetarium lobby for your group to store lunches and backpacks during your visit. Food and drink, including water bottles, are not permitted in the gallery spaces.

Groups may reserve space in the lunch room at 225 West State Street. For lunch room reservations, please ask about current details when making your reservation.

Weather permitting, outdoor eating space is available. Picnic tables at the Museum entrance are available on a first come first serve basis. Lawn space is available in front of the Museum, near the Planetarium, or in Capitol Plaza Park located between the State House Annex and the State Library. If you plan to picnic outdoors, please bring blankets for seating and clean up all trash.

Group Payments are required two weeks (10 business days) in advance. Groups must pay in one transaction, we do not accept deposits or individual payments. Groups providing a PO within the two week deadline will be able to pay in full directly after the field trip date. We accept checks made out to Treasurer, State of New Jersey and mailed to PO Box 530, Trenton NJ 08625 or credit card payment over the phone. We cannot accept credit card payments in person the day of the trip.

Payments MUST be made in full two weeks prior to your program date. The Museum reserves the right to cancel non-paid reservations within this two week window.

Final head counts, including teachers and chaperones, must be confirmed with the Museum no later than two weeks prior to the visit. Refunds will not be issued for decreased attendance; persons added on the day of programs may not be accommodated.

Buses must drop off and pick up in front of the Museum on West State Street.

Your day will start 10-15 minutes before your first program with our Museum Welcome. We will go over Museum guidelines for your group and give you time to check in, drop off lunches and bags in the available bins at the main entrance, and use the restroom. Your confirmation will show the time of arrival and location of the Welcome.

Please have students organized into groups with chaperones prior to your visit. Your leader should have an accurate count of teachers, students and chaperones, and will be asked to check in at the Information Desk at the main entrance.

Planetarium shows begin promptly at the scheduled time; groups arriving late may miss their show. The Museum does its best to accommodate late groups; however, if a conflict with other programs or groups arises, the Museum reserves the right to adjust, change, shorten or cancel the scheduled program. No refunds will be issued for programs missed due to late arrival.

Groups coming from the New Jersey State House tour should allow extra travel time between the Museum and the State House entrance due to ongoing renovations.

Please give a copy of the Bus Map to your driver(s) so they know where to drop off, park and pick up your group. Buses must park in the lot at the corner of Perry Street and Route 1 (about one mile from the Museum).

Metered street parking for cars is available on weekdays, as is parking in paid lots throughout the downtown Trenton area. Limited visitor parking is also available in the State House Parking Garage next door to the Museum; entrance on West State Street.

If your group is coming in separate vehicles, please plan a meeting spot; we suggest the Information desk at the main entrance, or in the Planetarium lobby.

The New Jersey State Museum is dedicated to creating a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience for all our visitors while protecting our exhibits to ensure everyone can appreciate them. Museum staff are committed to do everything we can so visitors feel safe, welcome, and respected, and we ask that all visitors contribute to that goal by following the Museum guidelines.

• Respect Museum staff, volunteers and other visitors. Behavior or language that is inappropriate, abusive, harassing, or threatening will not be tolerated.
• There is no running, climbing, sitting or standing on any railings, barricades, or exhibits. Please refrain from shouting, screaming, raised voices or any kind of disruptive behavior.
• No flash photography allowed in the Museum. Pictures without flash may be taken for personal, noncommercial use. Please try and refrain from taking photographs of visitors who are not with your group. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
• While the Museum includes both hands-on and hands-off areas, all hands-on sections are clearly marked. Assume a hands-off/eyes-only policy when no sign is present.
• Food and drink are not allowed in Museum galleries. Picnic tables outside are available for use.
• Backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. Students should leave their backpacks on the bus, or deposit them in bins provided at the Planetarium or at the Main Entrance. Chaperones can carry backpacks on the front of their body or hold them low to their side.
• Chaperones are responsible for the appropriate behavior of all students in their group. We require 1 chaperone per 10 students, and for our youngest visitors (ages 6 and younger), we require 1 chaperone per 5 students. Chaperones are required to remain with students at all times.
• The Discovery Den on the second floor is reserved for families with young children (ages 0 - 8); please keep school groups out of that area.

By visiting the Museum, you agree to comply with Museum guidelines and be responsible for your group. Refusal to follow this Code of Conduct and any rules - whether on print materials or as directed by NJ State Museum staff – can result in removal from the Museum.