Whitaker on Wheels (WOW)
Bring STEAM Programming directly to you with the Whitaker on Wheels van!
Can’t make it to Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts? Allow us to bring the science experiences to you! Whitaker on Wheels offers both Mobile Field Trips and Drop-In Events. We travel throughout the Central Pennsylvania region, offering a variety of scientific, artistic, and educational activities. Whitaker on Wheels has something to “WOW” everyone.
Drop-In Events
Our drop-in events are for STEAM-fun outside the classroom. Are you hosting a PTA Night, Festival, or Fair? Our interactive drop-in activities can be tailored to fit your event. WOW drop-in events can feature STEAM Stations that visitors can explore in 5 minutes or less. We also offer Make-and-Take science crafts or Games and Giveaways as a drop-in option.
Drop-In Event Options
Age Group: All Ages
Session Length: 3 hours
Max Particpants: No cap on participants
Price: $400 ($100 for an additional hour)
STEAM Station Options:
Choose one of the five stations of STEAM activities in the options below!
All the -Ologies
An exploration of all things -Ology, from archaeology to zoology and everything in between.
Physics Extravaganza
Explore forces, motion, magnetism and light.
Engineering Challenges
A builder’s dream! Fulfill fun build challenges with different materials.
Age Groups: Ages 7 and younger, OR ages 8 years and older
Session Length: 3 hours
Max Particpants: up to 150 participants
Price: $400
Make-and-Take Activity Options:
Choose one activity that visitors can take with them!
All the -Ologies
Butterfly Life Cycle Art OR GeoScience Sand Art!
Physics Extravaganza
Newton’s Color Wheel OR Paperclip Helicopter!
Engineering Challenges
Aluminum Foil Boat OR Popsicle Catapult!
Session Length: 3 hours
Max Participants: up to 150 participants
Price: $750
STEAM Stations with Make-and-Take Description:
Experience four stations of your chosen STEAM Station activity and one Make-and-Take in your chosen theme!
(See STEAM Station options & Make-and-Take options)
Age Group: All Ages
Session Length: 3 hours
Max Participants: up to 150 participants
Price: $400
Games and Giveaway Description:
Enjoy two exciting STEAM-themed games with prizes!
(1-2 games for kids to play along with stickers, magnets, or other small prizes.)
Mobile Field Trips
Field trip fun with none of the travel! These programs are designed for classrooms with lessons led by a Whitaker Center educator. WOW Mobile Field Trips bring hands-on science and discovery to you. Our interactive programs are designed for kids ages 2 years through 6th grade. We offer a wide range of science topics that are aligned with PA STEELS and PA’s Early Learning Standards.
Mobile Field Trips By Age Group
Age Group: 2-3 years old
Lesson Length: 20-30 min
Max Participants: Up to 15 participants per lesson
Price: $150 ($50 if booked in conjunction with a Little Scientist or Junior Scientist Session)
Lesson Options:
Sensory Explorers
Little scientists will use their senses as we make observations with our eyes, ears, noses, and hands (no tasting please!) Experiment in sensory bins, explore novel materials, and strengthen observation skills that are the foundation of all STEM disciplines.
Jr Gravity Manipulators
The foundation of any scientific discovery is noticing cause and effect. During this session our littlest scientists will have the opportunity to sharpen their observations with explorations around gravitational force on objects. Scientists will use music, movement, and novel materials to find out if everything that goes up always comes down.
Age Group: Preschool & Kindergarten
Lesson Length: 50-60 min
Max Participants: Up to 30 participants per lesson
Price: $350
Lesson Options:
Dino Dig
Calling all paleontologists! Let’s explore all things dinosaur. We’ll learn how paleontologists find, collect, and study dinosaur fossils through hands-on activities and creative projects. It’s a roaring good time!
Push and Pull Games
Push and pull are the forces that make things go. We’ll explore these forces through flying, rolling, and moving toys. Our little scientists will make observations, experiment with movement, and draw conclusions based on what they have seen. Let’s get moving together!
Wacky Weather
What will the weather be like today? Let’s explore the water cycle, seasons, wind, and rain in this active introduction to weather. Our young meteorologists will get to create a unique piece of collaborative art as well as a mini windsock to take home!
Fizz, Bubble, Wow
What happens when you mix things together? Let’s find out through Chemistry! We’ll explore the science of color, bubbles, and see what else fizzes up. These playful experiments will allow our little chemists to draw connections between art and science while sparking curiosity and creativity.
Age Group: Grades 1-6
Lesson Length: 50-60 min
Max Participants: Up to 30 participants per lesson
Price: $350
Lesson Options:
Mighty Engineers
Are you a better engineer than the Three Little Pigs? Can you design a home to hold up to the Big Bad Wolf and the forces of nature? Find out by thinking like an architect engineer to make a mighty building that holds up to earthquakes, rain storms, and high winds. We’ll use the engineering design process and teamwork to keep our buildings standing in these tricky natural challenges.
Marvelous Matter
Have you ever wondered why some objects are magnetic while others aren’t? Or why some things float while others sink? Let’s explore some physical properties of matter and learn how truly marvelous the world around us is!
Gravity Manipulators
Nothing can withstand the law of gravity — or can it? Through the use of centripetal force, scientists can observe objects that seem to defy the laws of gravity! These experiments and challenges will encourage young physicists to activate their critical thinking skills and foster a natural curiosity for the world around them.
Human Body Connections
The human body is an amazing thing, there are so many parts that have to work together. Let’s explore how our body systems are connected! Young scientists will test models to gain a better understanding of how our body systems interconnect to make us the amazing human machines we are.
Do you have a question, or don’t see what you’re looking for?
Email education@whitakercenter.org with any questions or for a more personalized educator-led WOW experience.