Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet nullam consequat
sed veroeros. tempus adipiscing nulla.
Become part of Yerkes' story.
Through our education & outreach programming, we at Yerkes strive to provide access to our remarkable historic observatory while engaging our visitors with all things astronomy - from introductory concepts to cutting-edge research.
If you are interested in connecting with the Science & Education team or scheduling a tour, please submit a request below.
Observatory Visits
During each visit, student groups will tour Yerkes and experience the history and wonder of our observatory first-hand. Following the tour, groups will spend time safely observing the Sun (weather permitting) or engaged in a hands-on, NGSS-inspired activity. Each visit will take approximately 1.5 hours during school hours, though the duration can be tailored to your needs.
About 2 weeks prior to your visit, you will have a 30-minute call with Yerkes staff to determine any specific content you would like to see covered during your group's tour and hands-on activity. While not every concept may be able to be covered, we are excited to work with you to provide meaningful experiences for your students based on your curriculum!
Virtual School Visits & Activities
Although we want everyone who is able to come experience Yerkes in-person, we understand that this may not always be possible. We are able to accommodate some requests for at-school observing and activities for schools in southern Wisconsin that are unable to come to Yerkes, and virtual visits for others around Wisconsin and the United States. We are also able to accommodate some requests for school science fairs, STEM nights, and other festivals or events.
Even if you can't make it to Williams Bay, we can't wait to share our history and science with you! Please reach out for more details about costs and scheduling an in-person visit.
Teacher Professional Development
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were adapted into the Wisconsin Standards for Science in 2017, and Yerkes is here to help with incorporating NGSS-inspired astronomy lessons into your curriculum! Stay tuned to this space for more details on teacher professional development opportunities at Yerkes.
Interested in visiting Yerkes or have other questions? Get in touch!
Yerkes education and outreach staff will respond within 3 business days.