Programs for Scout Groups - Vanderbilt Museum

The Vanderbilt Museum & Planetarium are proud to offer a range of programs for scouts of all ages!

History and STEAM Programs for Scouts Brochure PDF

Registration

Advance registration is required for all programs. Please call (631) 854-5539 or email dawn@vanderbiltmuseum.org to begin the registration process for your troop, pack, or scout group.

Planetarium Shows

A “fulldome” show is an award-winning pre-recorded planetarium program with stunning, immersive visuals projected overhead on our 60-foot dome. Each show features a live presentation of the night sky on the day of your visit.

Planetarium Show/General Admission (does not include specific badge programs)

Daytime tickets (includes grounds & collections):
$10/child 12 and under, $12/child 13 and up, $13/adult

Evening tickets (no grounds & collections):
$7/child 12 and under, $8/child 13 and up, $9/adult

We recommend only a handful of planetarium shows for each age group, but we offer many more. To view our current show schedule, click here.

Girl Scout Programs

Daisies

Recommended planetarium Shows: One World One Sky, The Little Star that Could

Patterns in Nature

90 minutes
Explore the collections and compare symmetry and patterns in butterfly wings, sea stars, urchins, and fish scales, and create art from nature.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfils part of the Math in Nature 1: Shapes in Nature badge

Brownies

Recommended planetarium Shows: The Little Star that Could, Stars, Night Sky Live!, Long Island Skies

Insect Pollinators

90 minutes
William Vanderbilt’s global collection of butterflies and moths provides an up-close encounter with some of the planet’s most magnificent creatures. Costumes will illustrate insect characteristics and a search for specimens will highlight differences from arachnids. The program concludes with the construction of a repurposed plastic bottle bug house.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfils part of the Bugs badge

Scouting the Solar System

1 hour 45 minutes
Learn about each planet, the dwarf planets, asteroids, and more as you create a scale model of the Solar System that fits in your pocket! Then, explore our planetary neighborhood during a live show in our planetarium theater.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfills parts 1 and 2 of the Space Science Adventurer badge

Space Science Adventurer Badge

3 hours
Meet each of the planets in our Solar System, discover why the Moon has phases, learn how to spot constellations visible from your backyard, and enjoy a live show in our planetarium theater. Includes a pocket solar system craft, a constellation viewer craft, a moon phases activity, and a live planetarium show.
$24/child 12 and under, $25/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfills parts 1-4 of the Space Science Adventurer badge

Juniors

Recommended planetarium Shows: Stars, Earth Moon & Sun, We Are Guardians, Night Sky Live!, Long Island Skies

Patterns in Nature

Wild Habitats

90 minutes
Tour the Memorial and Stoll Wings, come face-to-face with animals in naturalistic settings and discover the diversity of life in the rainforests and Sudan grasslands. This program includes a hands-on examination of preserved specimens and concludes with the creation of individual mini habitats.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfils part of the Animal Habitats badge

Space Science Investigator Badge

3 hours
Embark on a guided tour of our Solar System Hiking Trail with an astronomy educator to learn about the scale and distance between each of the planets. Then, explore Earth’s journey around the Sun each year, create a star wheel (called a planisphere), and learn how to use it to locate constellations from your backyard.
$24/child 12 and under, $25/child 13 and up, $8/adult
*Fulfills parts 1-4 of the Space Science Investigator badge

Cadettes

Recommended Planetarium Shows: Stars, We Are Guardians, Explore!, FORWARD! to The Moon, Night Sky Live!, Long Island Skies

Space Science Researcher Badge

3 hours
Discover the secrets of the electromagnetic spectrum and explore types of light that are invisible to our eyes. Along the way, we will discuss the women who pioneered new ways to study the stars, explore the night sky on the evening of your visit in a live planetarium show, and observe the stars through the telescope in our observatory (weather permitting). Finally, we'll learn how to report the light pollution in our own backyard to help research scientists at NASA.
$25/child 13 and up, $24/child 12 and under, $8/adult
*Fulfills parts 1-4 of the Space Science Researcher badge, and provides materials to complete part 5 at home

Seniors, and Ambassadors

Recommended planetarium Shows: Stars, We Are Guardians, Incoming!, EXPLORE, FORWARD! to The Moon, Night Sky Live!, Long Island Skies

Silver and Gold Awards

Reach out to Erin Bennett at erin.bennett@vanderbiltmuseum.org with project proposals.

Cub Scout Programs

Planetarium Shows: The Little Star that Could, Stars, We Are Guardians, Night Sky Live!, Earth Moon & Sun, Long Island Skies

Classification

90 minutes
Visit the Hall of Fishes, examine preserved marine specimens, explore taxonomy, and create individual watercolor illustrations.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult

Insect Pollinators

Insect Pollinators
90 minutes
William Vanderbilt’s global collection of butterflies and moths provides an up-close encounter with some of the planet’s most magnificent creatures. Costumes will illustrate insect characteristics and a search for specimens will highlight differences from arachnids. The program concludes with the construction of a repurposed plastic bottle bug house.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult

Ocean Habitats

90 minutes
In the Hall of Fishes, we’ll explore the vertical distribution of ocean life, examine preserved invertebrate, fish, and mammal specimens, and create watercolor illustrations.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult

Scouting the Solar System

Boy Scout Programs

Planetarium Shows: Stars, We Are Guardians, Explore!, Night Sky Live!, Long Island Skies

Classification

90 minutes
Visit the Hall of Fishes, examine preserved marine specimens, explore taxonomy, and create individual watercolor illustrations.
$15/child 12 and under, $16/child 13 and up, $8/adult
Fulfils part of the Mammal Study Merit Badge

Astronomy Merit Badge Workshop

90 minutes
Join an astronomy educator in our planetarium theater for an advanced presentation on all things astronomy. Scouts will learn how to identify stars, planets, and constellations visible from here on Long Island. They will discover different types of telescopes, proper care and storage of astronomical tools and accessories, and what to expect on a stargazing trip. Scouts will also learn about professional astronomers, space telescopes, the Milky Way galaxy, and more!
$15/person (including adults)
Fulfills all requirements to earn the Astronomy Merit Badge

Eagle Scout Projects

Reach out to Peter Newman at peter@vanderbiltmuseum.org with project proposals.