Virtual Field Trips

With over eight activities to choose from for elementary, middle, and high school students, our instructors meet with your students virtually for an interactive scientific investigation experience. Our field trips have flexible timing, but you can generally expect the experience to take 60 minutes.

Our laboratory activities align with the Maryland State Science standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. Each activity is based on real-world problems and issues, allowing students to engage in scientific and engineering practices while learning content in new and challenging ways

Program Details

Class Size

We typically conduct our Virtual Field Trips with a single class (up to 40 students) per session.  If you have more students that you would like to participate in a single session, please indicate it on your request form.

Field Trip Fee

The field trip fee is $50.00 per session. You can schedule up to four sessions/day.

Field trip fees will be waived for Maryland public and charter schools in underserved communities (at least 50% of students receive Free and Reduced Meals) and those that serve students traditionally underrepresented in STEM (at least 50% of students identify as African American and/or Hispanic). View the Fee Waiver Eligible (PDF) list to determine if your school is eligible for a fee waiver.     

Payment

Payments are processed through Towson University’s invoicing system. We do not accept payments at our location. An invoice will be mailed to you separately by Towson University. Your school's federal tax identification number (EIN) (PDF) is required. For acceptable forms of payment, please visit Towson University’s Student & University Billing Office website. Towson University does not accept purchase orders. 

Inclement Weather and Cancellation Policy

If your school is closed or has a delayed opening, you must contact us to reschedule your Virtual Field Trip. If our site is closed or has a delayed opening due to inclement weather, your Virtual Field Trip will be canceled. We follow University of Baltimore (UB) closures and delays. We will contact you the next open business day to reschedule your Virtual Field Trip.

We reserve the right to cancel your Virtual Field Trip at any time for emergency reasons. In the event of an emergency situation, we will make every effort to reach you via phone/email. If you have any doubts about whether or not your visit is canceled, please contact us at scitech AT_TOWSON.

Make a Reservation

In order to book a virtual field trip, you will need to submit the Virtual Field Trip Request Form. This form will be available in August for the 2024-2025 school year.

We will do our best to accommodate your first choice of dates.

We will be in contact with you within five business days of receiving your request form. If you do not hear from us, please email scitech AT_TOWSON or call 410-385-6323.

Activities Offered

Elementary Education Field Trips

We currently offer three lab activities for grades 3–6.  

LAB NAME	GRADE LEVEL	DESCRIPTION
Oyster Encounter	3–6	Why are oysters so important to the Chesapeake Bay? Students will look at an oyster up close through a microscope and learn how they filter water and provide habitat to other Chesapeake Bay organisms.
Rain Gardens	3–6	This lab gives students a chance to explore how rain gardens can help reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. We'll make a model rain garden in the lab and test it out with some polluted water! This lab uses everyday materials that many students  have at home, so they can try it again on their own after the lab.
What is a Watershed?	3–6	Most Maryland students don't live right on the Chesapeake Bay, but they do live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In this lab, students will explore their watershed and learn how pollution travels to the Chesapeake Bay.

Secondary Education Field Trips

We currently offer two lab activities for grades 6–9 and three labs for grades 9–12.

LAB NAME	GRADE LEVEL	DESCRIPTION
Case of the Crown Jewels	9–12	The Case of the Crown Jewels lab uses restriction enzyme analysis and DNA gel electrophoresis to solve a fictional crime. Students will learn how DNA can be analyzed once it is collected from a crime scene. They will also learn about lab techniques like making an agarose gel and using a micropipette.
It's a Gassy World	6–9	This lab explores the issues of global warming, climate change, and the role of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. We’ll conduct an investigation to test the question: will warming oceans be better or worse at absorbing carbon dioxide?
Looking into Lactase	9–12	In this lab, students will explore and investigate lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose. We’ll identify mystery milks with the help of a lactase solution and conduct an investigation to explore enzyme function in different environments.
Mystery of the Crooked Cell	6–12	Students will explore how sickle cell anemia is genetically passed down. We’ll run protein gel electrophoresis to test a fictional patient for the presence of sickle cell hemoglobin. Students will also learn about lab techniques like using a micropipette and making an agarose gel.
Wildlife Forensics	9–12	In this lab, students will explore the issue of shark finning. We’ll investigate how DNA gel electrophoresis can be used to test samples of powdered shark fin in order to build evidence for a legal case. Students will also learn about lab techniques like PCR, making an agarose gel, and using a micropipette.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email scitech AT_TOWSON.