Science, Innovation and Indigenous Stories

Connecticut offers student groups an impressive mix of curriculum-focused experiences that make learning active and memorable.

Explore hands-on STEM exhibits, learn the principles of flight, and take on engineering challenges at renowned institutes. Discover incredible works of art, explore Indigenous history and contemporary Native cultures, and inspire curiosity through inquiry-based interactive experiences. Reconstructed settings offer groups opportunities to interact with history and culture through hands-on activities and authentic artifacts, helping students connect classroom learning to firsthand experiences.

“Uncover Indigenous perspectives on colonization, resilience and identity through inquiry and art interpretation.”

Find inspiration for your next student adventure in the annual Student Travel Planning Guide.

Connecticut Science Center (Hartford)

At the Connecticut Science Center, students can observe, touch, test, and manipulate science through more than 165 hands-on exhibits. Spanning engineering, space, physics, health, and the natural world, groups can experiment, investigate and challenge themselves in meaningful ways. Learn about forces and motion, take on building challenges for problem-solving opportunities and investigate real-world phenomena. Deepen the field trip experience with NGSS-aligned Discover Center Labs, where participants conduct facilitated scientific investigations or enter a lush tropical greenhouse for up-close encounters with butterflies. Add another immersive layer with spectacular 3D movies and live science shows that showcase the wonders of science and captivate audiences.

New England Air Museum (Windsor Locks)

Aerospace, innovation and engineering are on full display at the New England Air Museum, featuring historic aircraft and authentic artifacts. Students in pre-K through grade 12 can engage in programs designed to bring aviation history and inquiry-driven STEM lessons together. Younger students can experiment with flight and gravity by building and launching machines and deploying parachutes. Students in grades 3-8 get hands-on experience investigating lift, thrust, weight, and drag by designing and test-flying straw gliders. Guided tours enhance field trips for grades 3-12 and trace centuries of New England innovation and aviation history, from early aircraft to space exploration. Age-appropriate scavenger hunts are complimentary for each group, adding a layer of fun exploration.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center (Mashantucket)

Explore 20,000 years of Native history in a remarkable immersive environment at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. Students connect with the past through Indigenous storytelling, live demonstrations, and authentic sights, sounds and scents in a recreated 16th-century Pequot village. Immerse students in history as they explore traditional wetu homes and historical scenes like cooking, weaving,
storytelling, and daily life and work. Educator-led experiences provide deeper insights and encourage inquiry and cultural understanding. Hands-on archaeology activities let students examine three different periods of Pequot history and interpret the artifacts they uncover. Add a student workshop exploring wampum and its cultural significance and have students craft replica bracelets as souvenirs.

Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center (Washington)

School groups can discover 12,000 years of Indigenous history at the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center. Grade-specific programming lets students uncover vibrant cultures and Native communities through engaging experiences. Younger groups can explore traditional homes and daily life, while students in grades 3-5 can examine tools, resources and environmental adaptations. Middle and high school groups can uncover Indigenous perspectives on colonization, resilience and identity through inquiry and art interpretation. More hands-on opportunities include interactive traditional storytelling, beading, pottery, Native games, corn-husk dolls and other add-ons.

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