Field Trips at the Atomic Museum: A Guide for Educators

The Atomic Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Las Vegas, offers two field trip options for K-12 classes: Atomic Explorers, a self-guided visit paired with a scavenger-hunt worksheet, and Exploring the Invisible, a limited-availability radiation science program led by museum education staff. Advance registration is required for both, and a $120 nonrefundable deposit applies.

Key Takeaways

• Atomic Explorers is self-guided, open to all ages, and runs Monday through Friday, including a scavenger-hunt worksheet to keep students engaged in the galleries.
• Exploring the Invisible, run by the Desert Research Institute, is a guided experience for grades 6-12, but it runs on a limited release schedule, so open spots aren’t always available.
• A museum education staff member must lead any guided field trip experience; docents may join, but can’t run the program alone.
• Education rates are $6 per Nevada K-12 student and $10 for out-of-state or university students, with a $120 minimum per group.
• Book through the official field trip request form. The museum confirms details and cost estimates by email.

Bringing a class to the Atomic Museum means putting Cold War history and hands-on science in front of students rather than leaving them on a textbook page. Before you book, it helps to know which of the two field trip programs fits your group, since they work very differently.

Two Field Trip Programs, Two Very Different Experiences

The Atomic Museum currently runs two distinct field trip programs, and picking the right one shapes how you plan your day.

Atomic Explorers: Self-Led and Always Available

Atomic Explorers is the museum’s standard, self-guided field trip option, and it’s the one most groups will use. Educators lead their own students through the galleries at their own pace, with no staff-led program built in. To help keep students engaged and focused, the museum provides a scavenger hunt worksheet that sends kids hunting for specific artifacts throughout the exhibits, turning a walk-through into an active search.

A few planning basics:

• Open to all ages and can be requested Monday through Friday
• Program start time is 9:30 a.m., with at least 90 minutes recommended in the museum
• Up to 70 students per day, with advance registration required
• Can be paired with classroom curriculum or the museum’s own STEAM-focused resources

Exploring the Invisible: Educator-Led, Limited Availability

Exploring the Invisible: A Hands-On Journey into Radiation Science is the museum’s guided field trip experience, developed in partnership with the Desert Research Institute for students in grades 6-12. It pairs a guided walk through the museum with a hands-on radiation science experiment, and it’s offered at no cost, with transportation support included.

Here’s the part educators most need to know: this program runs on a limited release schedule. Because it’s a joint program with the Desert Research Institute, it isn’t available on the same rolling basis as Atomic Explorers most of the time; spots only open when the registration link has availability. If you have flexibility in your timing, it’s worth checking back periodically rather than assuming a date will be open.

A museum education staff member must always lead this guided experience. Docents are welcome to join and assist, but a staff educator must be present for the program to run. That structure keeps the science content accurate and the pacing appropriate for the group.

What to Expect Inside the Museum

Whichever program your class joins, the galleries themselves are the same immersive space every visitor sees. Some highlights that tend to resonate with student groups:

• Atomic Odyssey, the museum’s hands-on STEM lab, where students build elements, trigger simulated fission and fusion reactions, and explore how radiation moves through the world
• The Ground Zero Theater, an immersive simulation of an above-ground nuclear test that uses light and sound effects. Worth a heads-up for any student who’s sensitive to that kind of sensory experience
• A real Phoebus-2A nuclear reactor, developed for a NASA-era rocket propulsion project
• Cold War-era weapons systems, including the Davy Crockett XM-388 projectile and the AIR-2 Genie air-to-air rocket

Planning and Booking Your Visit

Both programs require advance registration, and the process runs through the museum’s education team rather than general ticketing.

1. Submit a request through the Atomic Museum’s field trip request form, noting your preferred program, date, and group size.
2. The museum’s education team follows up by email (education@atomicmuseum.vegas) to confirm availability and provide a total cost estimate.
3. A $120 nonrefundable deposit applies to all field trips and counts toward your total cost. It can be paid in advance or at the box office on arrival.
4. Education rates are $6 per K-12 student in Nevada and $10 for out-of-state or university students; chaperones and educators purchase tickets at the same associated rate.
5. Groups larger than 70 students, or those needing an alternate start time, should flag that directly on the request form.

Because education rates only apply to pre-arranged field trips, walk-up groups won’t be able to access them at the door. Booking ahead is the only way in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What field trip programs does the Atomic Museum offer?

The museum offers two options: Atomic Explorers, a self-guided visit open to all ages with a companion scavenger hunt worksheet, and Exploring the Invisible, a limited-availability radiation science program for grades 6-12 developed with the Desert Research Institute.

Is the Atomic Museum field trip self-guided or led by staff?

Atomic Explorers is entirely self-guided, with educators leading their own students. Exploring the Invisible is different: it must be led by a museum education staff member, though docents may join to help.

How much does a field trip to the Atomic Museum cost?

Education rates are $6 per K-12 student in Nevada and $10 for out-of-state or university students, with a $120 nonrefundable deposit applied toward the total. Educators and chaperones pay the same associated rate.

How do I book a field trip at the Atomic Museum?

Requests go through the museum’s online field trip request form. The education team then follows up by email to confirm your date and provide a cost estimate based on your group size.

Can any class join Exploring the Invisible?

Not always. The program is offered on a limited release schedule with the Desert Research Institute, so spots are only open periodically. Most groups should check the registration link for current availability rather than assuming a date is open.

What activity is there to keep students engaged during the visit?

Yes. Groups joining Atomic Explorers receive a scavenger hunt worksheet that directs students to find specific artifacts throughout the galleries, adding a hands-on layer to the self-guided visit.

Plan Your Field Trip to Atomic Museum

Field trips to the Atomic Museum give students a direct look at Cold War history and radiation science they won’t get from a textbook. Start your request through the official field trip form, and the education team will help you find the right program and date for your group.