Unique and free field trip experiences for DC public school students. 

The Holt Scholars Program provides a district-approved, standard-aligned cornerstone field trip experience to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and classroom activities for all 6th grade DC Public School district (DPCPS) students. 

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Experience Options

Three teenaged students pay attention as a Museum explainer, a woman in a red polo, explains an activity.

Rocketry

How do we explore space?  
Engage in the iterative engineering and design process to develop a rocket to suit mission needs. Visit the museum and participate in this challenge, experience a planetarium show, and use a self-guide to learn more about the objects on display in the new exhibits. 

Standard: MS-PS2-1, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4

A stout cylindrical satellite with panels on the outside.

Observing Earth

Coming January 2025

How do we track human activity and impact from Space?  
Journey with us to discover information given to us from satellites about our planet. Visit the Museum and participate in an Engineering and Design Challenge, a planetarium show, and use a self-led guide to learn more about the objects on display in the new exhibits.

Standard: MS-ESS3-3

Know Before You Go

Food and Drink

Outside food and drink is not permitted in the galleries. Bottled water is allowed. 

The Mars Café is located at the lower level and open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The café has limited seating for patrons and food options.

For Holt Scholars Program participants only, groups are encouraged to bring their own brown bag lunches, which can be discarded after lunch. To expedite entry into the Museum, please consolidate lunches into boxes or soft-sided coolers provided by your school.

Duration

Field trips will take approximately 4 hours to complete.

Chaperones

Students must be supervised at all times. The required student-chaperone ratios are:

  • Pre-K through 3rd Grade: 1 adult for every 5 students
  • 4th through 6th Grade: 1 adult for every 10 students
  • 7th through 12th Grade: 1 adult for every 15 students

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate?

Our primary focus is to provide DCPS 6th grade Earth Science courses with a cornerstone experience opportunity. 

Field trips can also be arranged for:

  • DCPS 7th Grade Life Science (Human Body Systems) & 8th Grade Physical Science Classes (Forces of Flight)
  • DCPS Title 1 Eligible Schools
  • DC Public Charter Schools (preference for Title 1 Eligible, Middle Schools)

Find Out About Other Field Trip Opportunities

 Does the Museum provide bus transportation?

Schools located less than 0.5 miles from the Metro are encouraged to utilize public transportation. 

For Holt Scholars Program participants only, the Museum will supply bus transportation at no cost to the school for schools located more than 0.5 miles from the Metro, or that which would require more than 45 minutes on public transit to arrive at the Museum.

 Will pre- and post-visit activities be provided?

Yes! Pre- and post-visit resources will be available depending on the components of your field trip experience.

 When do I need to submit my request?

The field trip request must be submitted four weeks prior to your desired field trip date. 

Once submitted the timeline for field trip planning will be as follows:

  • 4+ Weeks Away: Submit request
  • 3 Weeks Away: Finalize date of field trip
  • 2 Weeks Away: Confirm activities, receive pre- and post- visit materials
  • 1 Week Away: Confirm logistical details
 Where can I find visit planning information?

You can find visit planning information including directions to the Museum, what you can and can't bring inside, and more in the Visit section of our website. 

The Holt Scholars Program was established in 2014 by a generous donation from the Hillside Foundation to focus on educational outreach to DC Public School students, their families, and local teachers.