Hands-On STEM Field Trips
The Lancaster Science Factory offers hands-on STEM experiences where curiosity, creativity, and confidence can grow through exploration. With more than 80 interactive exhibits, every field trip provides opportunities for students to engage with STEM concepts through hands-on play, discovery, and meaningful learning in an inclusive environment.
Designed primarily for students in Pre-K through 8th grade, our self-guided field trips welcome a wide variety of educational groups and offer an engaging experience that complements learning both inside and outside the classroom.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit, including field trip information, pricing, workshops, policies, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Field Trip at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recommended Ages | Designed primarily for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. |
| Visit Length | Standard self-guided field trips last 2 hours. |
| Availability | We offer field trips on weekdays throughout the year, based on availability. |
| Minimum Group Size | Group rates are available for reservations with 10 or more participants. |
| Chaperones | One complimentary adult is included for every five students. Additional adults are welcome at the group admission rate. |
| Support Staff | Required one-to-one paraprofessionals, nurses, and personal care assistants receive complimentary admission and do not count toward the required chaperone ratio. |
Field Trip Pricing
| Admission | Cost |
|---|---|
| Student Admission | $12 per student |
| Complimentary Chaperones | One complimentary adult for every five students |
| Additional Adults | $12 per person |
| Required One-to-One Support Staff | Complimentary — does not count toward the chaperone ratio |
STEM workshops are available for an additional fee and can be added to eligible school-year field trips.
Learn more in our Enhance Your Field Trip section below.
Why Groups Love Visiting
Fun – More than 80 hands-on STEM exhibits give groups plenty to explore, try, and enjoy.
Wonder – Follow your curiosity and discover the “wow” moments hiding in the world around us.
Innovation – Try something new and find creative ways to solve problems.
Inclusion – Everyone is welcome, with a commitment to making our facility and programs accessible to all.
Passion – We love STEM, and we hope that excitement inspires the people who visit us.
How Booking Works
Submit a Field Trip Request
Complete our online field trip request form below with your preferred date, group information, and visit details.
Please Note: Submitting a field trip request does not guarantee a reservation. Your visit is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from the Lancaster Science Factory.
We Review Your Request
Our team will review your request and check availability for your preferred date and visit details.
Confirm Your Reservation
Once visit details are confirmed, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your reservation information and next steps.
Prepare for Your Visit
Review your confirmation and Field Trip Planning Guide, share the important details with your group, and make sure you’re ready for your visit.
Come Explore!
Bring your group to the Lancaster Science Factory for a hands-on STEM experience.
Enhance Your Field Trip
Take your field trip a step further with additional ways to explore, learn, and make the most of your time at the Science Factory. STEM workshops and lunch options are available September through May, while activity guides are available year-round.
Hands-On STEM Workshops
Give your group more time to dive into a specific STEM topic with a hands-on workshop led by our educators. Our educators lead hands-on, standard-aligned workshops in our Makerspace Classroom, available in 25, 45, and 60-minute formats. Workshops are priced per workshop, not per student, and can accommodate up to 25 students. Longer workshops provide additional time for activities and discussion.
25 Minutes – $75.00 per workshop
45 Minutes – $135.00 per workshop
60 Minutes – $175.00 per workshop
Lunch
Lunch space may be available in our Castagna Classroom from September through May. The Castagna Classroom can accommodate up to 25 students at a time, and larger groups will be divided into multiple lunch periods.
Lunch periods are scheduled for 20 minutes. If your group needs additional time due to accessibility needs, please let us know when scheduling your visit so we can work with you to determine the best way to support your group.
Food and beverages are not permitted on the exhibit floor. Sealed water bottles are welcome in the exhibit area.
Lunch space is not available during summer field trips. We also have a list of local park recommendations available upon request.
Activity Guides
Help your group focus their visit with one of our activity guides. Guides are available for different ages and topics and can be used throughout the exhibit hall.
Important Planning Information
Reservations
Reservations are required. Your visit is confirmed once you receive a confirmation email. Final visit details will be confirmed before your scheduled visit.
Chaperones
One adult chaperone is required for every five students. One complimentary adult is included for every five students. Required one-to-one support staff do not count toward the chaperone ratio.
Payment
An invoice is issued when your visit is confirmed. Your invoice is finalized using your Final Attendance count, which is due two weeks before your visit. Any remaining balance is due before your scheduled visit.
Changes & Cancellations
Final Attendance counts are due two weeks before your visit. Attendance increases after the deadline are welcome, but reserved workshops or educational programs cannot be guaranteed. Cancellation and rescheduling policies apply.
Need More Details?
The information above highlights some of the most important policies for planning your field trip. For complete details about attendance changes, cancellations, payment, chaperones, accessibility, arrival, and more, please review our Field Trip Policies.
View Full Field Trip Policies →
Ready to Book?
Bring your group to the Lancaster Science Factory for a hands-on STEM experience designed to spark curiosity, discovery, and creativity. Submit a field trip request to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore more than 80 hands-on, interactive exhibits across a variety of STEM topics. Students can follow their curiosity, try things out, and discover how the world around them works.
We are located at 454 New Holland Avenue in Lancaster, PA, just a few blocks from downtown Lancaster.
Buses can drop students off in our safe loading zone near the entrance.
Bus parking is available at the Urban Place Overflow Lot behind 550 Lofts. (Shown here circled in GREEN) We provide a bus parking map with your Field Trip Planning information to help drivers find the designated lot.
Field trip admission is $12 per person for groups of 10 or more. One complimentary adult is included for every five students.
All visits to the Lancaster Science Factory are self-guided.
Students should be divided into small groups with their assigned chaperones, who are responsible for supervising and guiding their group throughout the visit. Activity guides are available to assist chaperones in guiding students.
All children must remain supervised while on the exhibit floor.
We require one (1) adult chaperone for every five (5) students.
One (1) complimentary adult is included for every five (5) students.
Required one-to-one paraprofessionals, nurses, or personal care assistants assigned to support an individual student receive complimentary admission and do not count toward the required chaperone ratio.
Additional adult chaperones are welcome to join and will be admitted at the current group rate of $12 per person.
Field trips are scheduled for two hours. Field trip arrival times are scheduled in advance and vary based on availability, group size, and the day’s schedule.
During the school year, groups may have the option to add a facilitated workshop to their visit, which may affect the length of their reservation.
Summer Field Trips scheduled from June through August are always two hours and cannot be extended with facilitated workshops or lunch due to Summer Camp Programming.
Your confirmed arrival time and visit schedule will be provided by Science Factory staff when your field trip is finalized.
Yes! Hands-on STEM workshops are available September through May and can be added to eligible school-year field trips. Workshops are available in 25, 45, and 60-minute formats and can accommodate up to 25 students per workshop.
Workshops are not available as an add-on for summer field trips. Availability is based on the date, group size, and schedule.
Lunch space may be available September through May and must be reserved in advance. Our classroom can accommodate up to 25 students for lunch.
Food and beverages are not permitted on the exhibit floor. Water is the only beverage allowed in the exhibit area. Lunch space is not available during summer field trips.
Weather permitting, Science Factory staff can provide information about nearby parks that may be available for outdoor lunches.
- Nonprofit organizations serving youth with a physical or developmental disability, or demonstrating financial need, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
- School District of Lancaster classes in grades 1–8 visiting on a field trip.
We’re here to help! If you have questions about planning your visit, booking your field trip, or more, our LSF team is happy to assist. For any field trip questions, please email us at [email protected].
