SPI closes each Wednesday to accommodate field trips. A field trip is an affordable, fun, and student-led learning experience for a group of any age. These are currently conceived as open play (meaning, there is no staff-facilitated agenda). However, SPI is developing its resources to enable the option of facilitated activities in the future.
Schools, pre-schools, and organizations in groups of 25 children or smaller can book a one and a half to two hour trip here at SPI. In the past, larger groups have booked a story time with Paragraphs Bookstore in order to split the group into two and take turns. We are located just a one-block walk away from Paragraphs, so it's an easy walk for all ages. A covered picnic pavilion at the CA&C train depot is a good place to eat packed lunches. We charge $75 for up to two hours, and you get the whole space to yourselves! You will need to bring enough adults to supervise. We typically request at least one adult for every five children. Older students (7th grade and up) are welcome here and get value from a visit to SPI. However, classroom teachers for these older grades may want to visit SPI in advance or have a phone conversation with our director in order to ascertain which of our exhibits would be good vehicles for demonstrating applicable STEM concepts that connect with their learning goals.
