In-Classroom Programs

A ranger uses a microphone to speak to a group of students under a projected starry night sky

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Can't bring your class out to Sleeping Bear Dunes? Why not have rangers visit you instead!

Educators located within 50 miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can sign up for rangers to visit their school. Programs will include a variety of hands-on activity stations for students. Small groups of students will rotate through these stations, staffed by rangers, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate.

Planetarium Logistical Information

In-classroom visits using the mobile planetarium require the use of a large room (such as a school gymnasium), which is big enough to fit a 17-foot-wide and 12-foot-tall dome, along with some additional space to set up the other stations. The room must also contain an accessible electrical outlet to plug in the electronics used with the planetarium. The number of stations can be modified based on the school’s available floor space.

The planetarium can fit about 20 students at a time, and each session takes about 30 minutes. Please keep this in mind when considering timing for the visit.

The planetarium is accessible for students with physical or mobility needs. Modifications can also be made for students who are blind or low vision.

Scheduling a Visit

You must schedule your in-classroom visit at least two weeks in advance. Our calendar fills up fast, so please plan ahead.

To sign up for an in-classroom program, please fill out the In-Classroom Program Request Form at the bottom of this page.

If you have questions about logistics or scheduling, please contact our education team.

 

In-Classroom Program Offerings

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    In-Classroom Program Request Form

    NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
    National Park Service

    OMB Control No. 1024-0228
    Expiration Date 11/30/2025

    Disclaimer:

    A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


    NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
    National Park Service

    OMB Control No. 1024-0228
    Expiration Date 11/31/2025

    Notices

    Privacy Act Statement

    Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

    Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

    Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

    Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

    Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

    Estimated Burden Statement

    Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

    Last updated: November 12, 2024

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    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    9922 Front Street
    Empire, MI 49630

    Phone:

    231 326-4700

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