Dig In!

Photo: Rachel Ormiston/Burke Museum
Photo: Rachel Ormiston/Burke Museum

Please note: BurkeMobile is currently available to visit Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties.


Take a tour through 540 million years of time and life without leaving the comfort of your classroom! 

Learn how the three types of rocks that make up our planet are formed from minerals. Uncover the dynamic, shifting nature of our planet with activities focusing on continental drift and plate tectonics. 

Find out how paleontologists “read” the fossil record for clues about what the world used to look like. Then become a paleontologist yourself by excavating fossils from dig pits, and exploring exhibits with fossils and cast replicas of plants and animals from the Paleozoic (sea creatures!), Mesozoic (dinos!) and Cenozoic (mammals!) Eras. 

Waitlist

Questions & Answers

We've compiled some of the most common questions about BurkeMobile visits. Have another question that you need help with? Contact us. Please also refer to the BurkeMobile Terms & Conditions (PDF) for more information.

The online waitlist form will ask you for your contact info, information about your organization and participants, and which type of BurkeMobile program you are interested in.This information provides us an overview to assess our capacity and availability. If we are able to accommodate a program request from the waitlist, we will reach back out to you for the additional information needed to finalize your reservation. BurkeMobile programs can be booked a minimum of three weeks in advance.

Please be aware that filling out this form does not guarantee we will be able to accommodate your request. We will process waitlist requests on a rolling basis throughout the school year, and we are prioritizing schools and organizations who qualify for financial assistance and/or are geographically further from the Burke.

Early Learners Programs can accommodate a maximum of 24 students per 45-minute lesson. A maximum of six (6) back-to-back lessons can be booked in a single day.

Each Mini Museum Program can be booked for an In-School Experience or a Community Event such as a STEM night, library program, or a family night. Only one program can be booked per visit.

The In-School Experience provides school classes a structured exploration of the mini museum, facilitated by Burke educators. The length of time the mini museum will run depends on the number of students you wish to participate. Program time will be broken into 45-minute exploration blocks in which groups of students will visit the Mini Museum. Each 45-minute exploration block can accommodate a maximum of 60 students (about 2 classes). A maximum of six (6) exploration blocks can be scheduled in a day, for a total of 360 students per day. Mini Museum can be booked for multiple days to accommodate student numbers greater than 360.

The Community Event provides participants a drop-in style exploration of the mini museum for 2-3 hours. Burke educators are present to help participants engage with the exhibits. BurkeMobile has no limit on the number of people that can participate in the program during the 2-3 hour time period, however, please keep in mind the restrictions on total occupancy for your particular space.

Early Learners programs require a designated room with tables, chairs and a carpet or storytelling area.

Mini Museum programs require: 

  • a dedicated space for the full duration of the program.
  • 6-8 six-foot tables.
  • at least 600 square feet of open space.
  • access to an electrical outlet.

Pricing for BurkeMobile programs is based on location, number of participants, and includes travel. Below are pricing ranges by region and program type:

In King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties

  • Early Learners: $350-$600
  • Mini Museum: $500-$1,200

In all other counties (includes overnight travel)

  • Early Learners: $850-$1,250
  • Mini Museum: $900-$3,100

For an exact quote, please Contact Us.

Yes! Our generous donors make it possible for us to offer financial assistance to schools and programs across the state. To apply, please fill out our BurkeMobile Financial Assistance Request form.

The earliest that programs can be scheduled is 8:30 a.m. BurkeMobile educators will need to arrive earlier in order to have enough time to set-up before teaching the program. Set-up time required depends on the type of program. 

 

Yes, if you need to change or cancel a reservation, please email burked@uw.edu as soon as possible. 

Cancellations must be made a minimum of two weeks before the BurkeMobile visit for a refund. Cancellations made with less than two weeks’ notice will be charged the full fee.

 

Thank You

BurkeMobile Program Sponsors

Have a Question? 

Burke Education is here to help.

Contact Us