The Washington Pavilion is the perfect destination for your next field trip! 

Teachers and classes are invited to create their own experience from our many educational opportunities offered at the Washington Pavilion.

Imagine your students interacting with 3 floors of over 80 hands-on Science Exhibits, everything from a touchable tornado to a rock climbing wall, all while meeting your Science Standards! View an educational and entertaining film on our 60 foot CineDome screen or tour the 6 galleries of our Visual Arts Center. Engage students with a professional production in our Great Hall, or encourage their inner paleontologist or engineer with one of our Discovery Labs. All of this and much more can be accomplished with a visit to the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science! 


Group visits to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Wells Fargo CineDome feature:
• Low group rates
• Free admission for required chaperones and bus drivers
• Live science demonstrations in the Kirby Science Discovery Center (must be booked in advance)
• Convenient bus drop off and pick up
• Free bus parking
• Lunch space provided for your group
• On-board welcomes
• Discovery Store gift shop
• Special needs accessibility
• Parking maps available upon request 

Group visits to the Husby Performing Arts Center feature:
• Purchase at least 15 tickets for an event in the Husby Series (our performance series) and receive 10% off your total price
• Special needs accessibility
• Parking and facility maps
• Special meal packages in our Leonardo’s Café, other catering services available 

Click here for Group Tickets information

We offer reduced rates and special services for:
• Preschools
• School groups
• After school and youth groups
• Adult groups of 12 or more
• Home school groups of 12 or more
• Senior groups of 12 or more


Kirby Science Discovery Center
The Science Center offers over 90 exciting hands-on exhibits spread over 3 floors and 8 galleries.

2nd Floor Galleries:
Air and Space
Big Sioux River Banks

3rd Floor Galleries:
Light, Sound, Action!
Nature Works
Dynamic Earth

4th Floor Galleries:
Imagination Studio
Starting Line: Fit for Life
Roll it, Rev it!: The Physics of Motion

Demonstrations
Groups can request a demonstration free of charge with their admission to the Science Center and a two week notice. Demonstrations last 10-15 minutes and can accommodate up to 80 people. All Demonstrations are appropriate for all age levels. 
Dates and times are subject to availability.

CO₂, I Foam for You--Vinegar and Baking Soda based chemistry.

A Hair-raising Good Time--Dare to touch the Van de Graff generator. Explore the science behind electricity.

Bed of Nails--Learn how weigh distribution can keep you out of harm's way.

Science of Nothing--We've brought back the egg in a bottle demonstration!

Crime Science--CSI in the Science Center!

Reptile Rapture--Meet our resident reptiles. Learn about their habitats and sample their tasty bug food.

It's Not Magic, It's Science--Cross curriculum science to wow!

Bubblemania*--Playing with bubbles is an old pasttime. Come see our modern take on the science of bubbles.

Inside the Vortex*--Thunder, lighting, and tornadoes, Oh My! Meteorology can be exciting.

Snot and Vomit*--See some cool and gross bodily science.

Germs, Beware!*--Good germs, bad germs, germs are everywhere. Learn the science of germ control.

May the Force Be with You!^--Newton's three laws of motion can be entertaining as well as educational.

The Final Frontier^--Explore the solar system in this interactive demostration.

Dyno-mite^--Meet Stan, our resident T-Rex and learn about dinosaurs who roamed this area long ago. 

*Starting March 2010
^Starting April 2010

Discovery Labs
Labs will last about 60 minutes and are appropriate for 2nd grade and older. Dates and times are subject to availability. Maximum class size is 25 students and minimum is 7 students.