TSP: Reservations
Reservations for our Traveling Science Program will open on Monday, August 13, 2012. School Group reservations will open on Monday, August 20, 2012. Comprehensive programming guides for both are located in the menu on the right.
We at the Maryland Science Center would like to make reserving your TSP show as simple as possible. Below you will find a description of our reservation process and some suggestions to help you book your program.
If you have any questions, please contact our Reservations Department at 410-545-5968 or email us at outreach@marylandsciencecenter.org.
Select a Program
Know what program you want and how many presentations you will need. Assembly programs have a limit of 250 students per show, except Dinosaur! which has a limit of 125 students. Classroom and Starlab programs have a limit of 30 students per show. These limits are established for safety and insurance purposes.
Choose a Space
Assembly programs require large spaces that can accommodate the full audience, such as a cafeteria, gymnasium or auditorium. Some of our assemblies also require a room that can be darkened.
Starlab programs are best suited for the gymnasium, given the size needed to inflate the planetariums.
Classroom programs require one space –classroom, lab, media center, etc- to be available for the entire time of the programs. We are not able to move classroom programs from one room to another.
Select Dates
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. We suggest that you have a few dates in mind when you call, in case your first choice is not available. We are unable to hold dates, so please be sure of what is available at your school for the selected space before you call.
Select Times
TSP can perform a maximum of 2 assembly shows or 5 classroom programs or 8 Starlab programs in one day. Most programs are 45 - 60 minutes long. We need at least 1 hour between assembly programs, and at least 15 minutes between classroom or Starlab programs. Please be aware of your school's lunch schedules and dismissal times. Your school's distance from the Maryland Science Center may affect the presenters' earliest arrival time. If your school is more than 2 hours away, we may have to charge an additional overnight fee.
Ready to Reserve?
Call our Reservations Department at 410-545-5968 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Be prepared with programs, dates, times, and contact information. It is best to have an alternate contact person, in case of emergency. If you are with the PTA/PTO, we recommend your alternate contact be a member of the school staff.
Mark Your Calendar
When your show is scheduled and approved by the TSP supervisor, a contract will be sent to you along with a requirement sheet. Once a copy of the signed contract and requirement sheet is received by our Reservations Department, you are all set.
Enjoy the Show
Presenters will arrive approximately one hour before the first program for setup, and stay until one hour after the last program for cleanup.
Final Details
We will provide you with post-visit activities and evaluation forms on the day of our visit. Payment is due on the day of presentation.