Located in Pittsburgh, the Kamin Science Center offers a great field trip experience where students can learn more about real-world science. The Kamin Science Center features 5 floors of interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, high-tech theaters, and STEM experiences.
If you’re planning a group visit, the minimum group size is 15, including children ages 3 and up, chaperones, and teachers. Groups can preorder boxed lunches from the onsite RiverView Café, ready upon arrival. General Admission tickets are offered at a student rate of $10, with a free ticket for every required chaperone. Grades Pre-K through 1 require 1 adult per 5 students, and Grades 2 through 12 require 1 adult per 10 students. Please make a group reservation at least 2 weeks before your scheduled visit. The Kamin Science Center is not available for group tours on any public holiday, including the holiday weekend after Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Science Center is also closed on days with an afternoon home Steelers game or other large events at Acrisure Stadium, so plan your visit accordingly.
With over a hundred exhibits, the Kamin Science Center has something for every age group. For Pre-K students, the Little Learner Clubhouse is a nature-inspired exhibit for free play and hands-on learning activities. Some features include a playground, a water table, a baby garden, and a button wall. If you’re planning a trip for middle or high school students, the Mars: The Next Giant Leap exhibit covers engineering, environmental science, outer space, and physics. Other exhibits are intended for all grade levels. The Buhl Planetarium and Observatory, the Miniature Railroad and Village, the USS Requin Submarine, and the Robot Hall of Fame are just a few popular exhibits at the Kamin Science Center, and any age group can enjoy them.
In addition to the general admission exhibits, the Kamin Science Center offers add-on experiences to elevate your field trip. At the Rangos Giant Cinema, you can choose from a variety of educational films based on the appropriate grade level. At the Buhl Planetarium, students can watch an educational show appropriate to their grade level. Examples include Story Time Under the Stars (Grades Pre-K through 1), Blueprints to Blastoff (Grades 3 through 5), and Space Volcanoes (Grades 4 through 8). The Kamin Science Center also offers live science shows that combine theater, science, and real-life demonstrations to spark curiosity and bring STEM concepts to life. Students can also experience a laser show at the Buhl Planetarium, with all shows intended for grades 5 through 12. Additional fees apply for add-on experiences.
Before the end of your visit, you can shop at the Kamin Science Center’s XPLOR Store and grab a souvenir. Intended for all ages, the store features educational tools, science-themed toys, and a wide selection of scientific books covering topics like the solar system, dinosaurs, and flying machines. The XPLOR Store offers a Teacher Discount on classroom items and also has an online store.
