Wildlife  •  Education  •  Planetarium
Contact Us | Directions | Hours of Operation

planetarium

outreach programs

If you cannot come to the Planetarium, then why not have the Planetarium come to you?! StarLab is a portable planetarium that can be transported to your school or other site. Our expert staff will present customizable, standards driven programming to fit your Astronomy education needs.

selecting a program for StarLab

When selecting a StarLab program, it is helpful to make our scheduling coordinator aware of any particular content standard(s) or goals that you would enjoy having emphasized. Our programs can be shortened or lengthened depending on your goals and classroom period lengths. View available StarLab programs.

StarLab fees

StarLab Use is based on the number of minutes reserved. Actual program lengths may vary from 15 to 60 minutes.

First 15-90 minutes: $150 /$60 deposit
Each additional 30 minutes: $50

For travel outside of Cuyahoga or Lorain County, there is an additional $0.40 per mile charge.

StarLab Capacity: 20 - 25 people (depending on the physical size of participants)

*Limited tuition assistance is available. Call for details.

Deposit Policy:

  • Deposit is due 2 weeks (14 days) before the program.
  • If deposit is not received at least 2 weeks prior to your program, your class will be cancelled.
  • Deposit is non-refundable if cancellation occurs within 2 weeks (14 days) of the scheduled class or event.
  • A $10 Administration Fee will be assessed on all cancellations.

StarLab program descriptions

registration checklist

When calling to make a reservation, please keep in mind that fall and spring dates fill well in advance, so have at least two possible dates in mind. Please have the following information ready:

  • Name of School & Contact name
  • School mailing address & phone number
  • Number of classes to attend and number of students per class
  • Special needs? No problem. Let us know when you call to schedule.

preparing for your StarLab visit

Pre-Visit Preparation

Schedule

Please be sure to schedule your classrooms well in advance of the program date, so that you don't lose any time in StarLab! It helps to have one class lined up and waiting for the class inside to exit. Since every school runs on a different schedule, it is best if someone at your school sets up the school schedule. Our staff will do everything possible to accommodate you once you are inside StarLab!

Room

StarLab is a portable classroom. A relatively quiet environment should be afforded for this opportunity. Scheduling StarLab in a cafeteria or gymnasium while they are in active use will not enable a meaningful experience for your students. Ideally, we need a 21x21 foot space with 10.5 foot ceilings. If required, we can work in lower ceilings, but the StarLab cannot make contact with lighting fixtures or heating ducts.

The Day of Your StarLab Visit

Schedule

Please have a copy of the day’s schedule ready for the StarLab instructor. The schedule should include period start and end times.

Unloading StarLab Equipment

Accessibility to ramps and elevators is greatly appreciated! Our equipment is rather heavy and we ask that we avoid steps if at all possible.

Time

Set up: Please allow at least 45 minutes in advance, prior to your first presentation, for us to set up our StarLab.
Removal: Please allow 30 minutes after our last presentation for us to remove StarLab from the room.

Student Management

A responsible teacher MUST accompany students into StarLab to maintain classroom order.

Outside Help

The assistance of an adult OUTSIDE of StarLab is advisable, in order to organize the students during entry & exit of our lab. Before entry into StarLab: Students will be required (in most cases) to remove their shoes & any sharp objects from their pockets, to reduce the risk of puncture of the equipment or injury to classmates.

Two (2) Day + Programs

In the event that we present at your school multiple days, it is most convenient for us to leave StarLab behind, but we must have a secure, locking closet or room in which to store it until the following day. We do NOT leave StarLab up.

Back to Top