Planning Your Visit - FAQs for Teachers
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Where is the Contemporary Science Center located?
The CSC is in its own full-time Lab Classroom at the Museum of Life + Science in Durham. Through the generosity of Research Triangle donors, the CSC Lab is a custom-built lab that recreates the look and feel of an RTP company, with all the cutting-edge tools we need for your students. This permanent home is available most days of the school year.
What dates are available for me to bring a class of students?
CSC is closed on Mondays for the fall, and some Tuesdays, as shown on the calendar under Schedule Your Visit Now. All other days are open and available. If there is nothing posted on a date on the calendar, then it is available for you to book.
How much does a visit to the CSC cost?
The sole cost for a visit is a $50 reservation fee, per class/date. Checks and emails must be received at least two weeks prior to your visit to reserve your date. We do deposit all checks.
Which students benefit from Field Studies?
We have worked with ages from 6th grade through community college very successfully. Students
at any level of ability can take advantage of the studies. Our mission
is to entice more students into the study of science, and we use
inquiry-based teaching methods to reach a broad spectrum of students.
We can adjust the depth of content to fit your students, especially if
you tell us when you book your trip online whether they are in your
standard, honors or AP course. We have found that students do need the
intellectual maturity to be able to focus on a day-long learning
experience to appreciate a CSC visit.
Can I get help with travel costs?
We have established a grant fund to assist teachers and their students with travel costs. If you are having difficulty collecting the money for your bus and driver, or you are coming a long enough distance that students could not cover the cost-per-mile, please email us to request our Travel Grant Form. This year, these grants are $2.00 per mile from your school to the CSC and back again, plus a driver/sub stipend of $150 if needed, and are specifically to help with travel. We trust your judgement as to whether your class needs the grant or not. We want no one to miss a trip to the CSC because of costs! Grants are courtesy of the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund.
How many students can I bring?
The optimum size is 24. We have found that if you reserve for up to 30+ students, you will arrive with 24 or fewer students. 8 is really the smallest group that works well.
How long are the programs?
All of our Field Studies cover five full hours, a full day, plus time for lunch and breaks. Plan to arrive at 9:00 am and depart by 3:00 pm. We can accommodate groups beginning as early as 8:00 am or as late as 9:30 am, with advanced notice. This schedule provides for a half-hour lunch break, and one morning break.
Where can my group have lunch?
Students should bring a bag lunch to eat in the covered shelter by the bus parking lot, or an empty classroom, along with drinks. All food and drink should be left in the bus until lunch time. Please ensure adequate chaperoning during lunch. Bring umbrellas if rain is expected, for the walk from the bus to the museum entrance.
Alternatively, you can arrange with the Museum's Grayson's Cafe to order lunches and have them ready for you. Grayson's is in the middle of the outdoor campus of the Museum, and students can eat there, or you can order box lunches to eat in the picnic shelter. They can be reached via:
Contact Grayson’s Café at the Museum:
919-220-5429 x358
Graysons@ncmls.org
How do I schedule a visit?
To arrange a class visit, please go to our on-line Schedule A Visit Now form on the menu bar above and fill out the Reservation form online. Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of the $50 reservation fee. You may also contact us via email at GroupVisits@contemporarysciencecenter.org .
If you need to change or cancel your plans, please contact us immediately. If there is another date open for your group, after we have reserved your visit, you can be moved to that open date in the current semester.
How many chaperones do I need?
As each field study has both our teacher and yourself, the class teacher, no other chaperones are needed. Your driver is welcome to spend the day with us in the Lab, or visit the Museum.
How do I pay?
Please mail reservation checks to:
The Contemporary Science Center
P.O. Box 13453
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Where is the Museum of Life + Science located?
The CSC is located at the Museum of Life + Science in Durham, NC. They are located at 433 Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704. Directions are at:
http://www.ncmls.org/visit#directions
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| Take a look at a visit from Caldwell Early College High School's recent visit to the CSC in their Shutterfly album:
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