Hello, Washington!
BurkeMobile is a traveling program that brings the Burke Museum education experience to communities geographically unable to visit the museum.
BurkeMobile is currently available to visit Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties.
Formats
Early Learners Programs
Early Learners Programs are designed for children in preschool (ages 3 and up) to Grade 1. Taught by Burke educators, these classroom-based lessons include hands-on activities and interactions with real museum objects.
Formats
Mini Museum Programs
Mini Museum Programs are designed for all ages and offer an opportunity to get up-close with specimens, objects and pieces that represent different areas of the Burke’s collections.
Interpreted by Burke educators, these interactive exhibits offer hands-on learning on a variety of natural history and cultural topics. Book a program for an In-School Experience or a Community Event.
In-School Experience
3–6 hour program for groups/classes of students. Program time is divided into 45-minute rotations per group.
Community Event
2–3 hour drop-in style program at a library, STEM night, or family night.
![a boy plays with toy spiders](/https/www.burkemuseum.org/sites/default/files/images/education/story-theater4-CS-teaser-500x500.jpg)
Financial Assistance
Our generous donors make it possible for Burke Education to offer financial assistance to eligible schools, programs and families to ensure no child is turned away because of financial limitations.
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.
How does the waitlist form work?
Unfortunately, we are no longer accepting waitlist requests for the 2023–2024 school year. Please check back in late August when we open our waitlist for the 2024–2025 school year, or join our BurkeMobile Interest list and we'll notify you when the waitlist opens.
If you are interested in booking a program this summer for your library or summer youth camp/program, please email us at [email protected].
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.
How many students can participate in an Early Learners Program?
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.
How do Mini Museum Programs work?
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.
What type of space is required for a BurkeMobile visit?
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.
How much does BurkeMobile cost?
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.
Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?
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.
How early can BurkeMobile programs start?
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.
Can I make changes to my program?
Yes, if you need to change or cancel a reservation, please email [email protected] 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.