Contact us to learn more about reserving and scheduling a visit from the MESO.
MESO is a mobile space, earth, and physical science laboratory outfitted with hands-on educational and research instrumentation that support activities focused on astronomy, forces and motion, science instrumentation, optics, weather, and geoscience. The goal for this ‘science center on wheels’ is to engage students and the public in scientific inquiry and allow them to experience authentic science first-hand. We don’t just talk about science; we invite participants to work directly with scientific equipment. We set up at schools and communities for a day or a week at time, and we engage people directly with scientific tools such as solar and celestial telescopes, spectroscopy, reason for the seasons interactives, exoplanet activities, infrared cameras, gravity demo interactive, augmented reality sand table, 3D topographic map, and much more. Science literally spills out of the mobile lab.
Our scientist educators have been teaching environmental, earth and space science since 2017 in the mobile environment and since 2000 in Natural History Museums and Science Centers across the state. They are comfortable engaging audiences of all ages and abilities.
We are happy to customize our program to suit your needs. Most schools choose a full day or multi day program and have us work with an entire grade or school. See our program catalog or contact us for more information about the types of programs we offer that would align with standards and/or the content offered in your classrooms. The School/Nonprofit or Corporate Pricing lists below explain the different options for program length and number of educators. Any group over 24 students/participants will require 2 or more educators.
MESO staff will work with you and your organization to aid in the deployment logistics and the selection of programming that is the best fit for your group. MESO will arrive fully packed with science interactives that we will set up in the location agreed upon with you.
We charge based on the number of program hours, number of educators needed, and a per mile fee. Per mile fees are shared, so the more organizations in your area that book our program, the lower your per mile fee. Schools and Nonprofit organizations have access to lower pricing. Please see the different price lists below.
Classroom Programming involves a dedicated MESO educator, plus 1 logistics staff member, who will conduct in-depth learning activities for classes up to 24 students.
Event Programming involves a MESO educator, plus 1 logistics staff member, who will guide students/participants as they interact independently with science displays, such as for a science festival.
Half-day $800: Conducted over a 4-hour period, which includes 3 hours of classroom programing or 4 hours of event programming.
Half-day Additional Educator $400: If an additional educator is necessary to cover 2 classes of no more than 24 students each for 3 hours of classroom programing or based on need for event programming.
Full-day $1,200: Conducted over a 6-hour period, which includes 5 hours of classroom programing or 6 hours of event programming.
Full-day Additional Educator $600: If an additional educator is necessary to cover 2 classes of no more than 24 students each for 5 hours of classroom programing or based on need for event programming.
STEM Night/Star Party $700: Consists of 3 hours of continuous programming. Price is $400 if added to a half or full day deployment on the same day.
Mileage fee: $2/mile roundtrip from MESO storage location (4905 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80919).
Per Diem: A $100/day per educator charge is assessed for deployments requiring MESO staff to stay overnight before and/or after the deployment to meet deployment obligations.
Discount for consecutive days: Half and full day rates are $700 and $1,100 respectively for consecutive days at the same location.
Discount for schools in need: Disadvantaged schools listed in the Teacher Cancellation Low Incoming (TCLI) Directory (https://studentaid.gov/tcli/) for the current school year or previous school year will receive a 25% discount off MESO’s rate structure. Discount does not include mileage or possible per diem charges.
Please contact us at info@nssti.org for a quote on variations from the baseline pricing described above.
Half-day or Star Party $1,200: 4 hours of event programming.
Half-day Additional Educator $400: If an additional educator is necessary based on group size
Full-day $1,600: 6 hours of event programming
Full-day Additional Educator $600: If an additional educator is necessary based on group size
Mileage fee: $3/mile roundtrip from MESO storage location (4905 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80919).
Per Diem: A $100/day per educator charge is assessed for deployments requiring MESO staff to stay overnight before and/or after the deployment to meet deployment obligations.
Please contact us at info@nssti.org for a quote on variations from the baseline pricing described above.