The Wisconsin Science Festival is for everyone, especially teachers, librarians, and community leaders, who inspire curiosity in the youth and families they work with every day. Explore the many ways to connect all members of your community of all ages with the incredible science happening across Wisconsin. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed about future opportunities.

Discover dozens of interactive hands-on stations that cover a wide range of topics from engineering to biology and much more. Exploration stations are open-ended and mostly drop-in experiences. Explore at your own pace and let students spend as much time as they want at each station. There are activities for all grade levels. You will have the option to indicate interest in joining hands-on workshops and shows during the expo or visiting other Wisconsin Science Festival sites on UW-Madison’s campus.

Not able to attend our in-person field trip expo? Check out our virtual field trip options below for more ways to engage your classrooms with the Wisconsin Science Festival!

During the Wisconsin Science Festival, groups are able to register to join a selection of virtual field trip opportunities. See all 2026 options below or browse our guide here.

2026 Virtual Field Trip Sessions:
1. Monday, Oct 19, 2026 (9:30-10:00am) – Explore Maritime Careers with the Calista Initiative (6th-12th grade) [REGISTER HERE]

2. Monday, Oct 19, 2026 (10:15-10:45am) – Nature Explorers: Join the WiSciFest BioBlitz with Aldo Leopold Nature Center! (K-5th grade) [REGISTER HERE]

3. Monday, Oct 19, 2026 (11:00-11:30am) – Tour of the Core Repository with WGNHS (3rd-8th grade) [REGISTER HERE]

Recordings of past virtual sessions can be enjoyed on our YouTube channel.

This year-round program is seeking school groups, community organizations and 4-H programs of all sizes to discover a unique “behind-the-scenes” perspective of Wisconsin-made products via facility tours, demonstrations or open house opportunities as part of the Wisconsin Science Festival.

The Wisconsin Science Festival is working with partners throughout the state to organize BioBlitzes. These easy-to-customize events focus on identifying as many species as possible within a certain niche, from forests to your school playground.

It’s easy to do, and we can help!

Meet the Lab is a collection of educational resources for middle school science classrooms that introduces learners to relevant real-world issues, cutting edge research and the human element—the people working together to research, innovate and solve problems using science. Click the link below or reach out to us if you’d like to connect with any of these labs.

Click below to check out pre-recorded activities, activity guides, coloring sheets, lesson plans, and more from the Wisconsin Science Festival and partner organizations! These are ready-to-go resources that can be used for hands-on activities at your venue or shared with the families you work with.

The Science in a Bag program provides free, hands-on STEAM kits for libraries to distribute to their patrons. In 2025, 3,000 kits were distributed throughout the state thanks to the South Central Library Distribution Service. This program is a unique opportunity for libraries. To learn more and apply to receive Science in a Bag kits, click below! The application opens in mid-April and closes on August 1st.

From our friends at PBS Wisconsin Education, Field Notes on Climate is a series for learners in grades 6–12 that explores how climate change is shaping ecosystems and communities across Wisconsin. The series models scientific inquiry by asking questions, meeting with researchers and community members, investigating environmental systems in the field, and connecting local stories to broader climate science. Along the way, students see how observation, data, and community knowledge can help us understand environmental change and consider how people are responding to it.

The Calista Initiative partners with schools, libraries, youth organizations, and community groups to deliver engaging STEM experiences that spark curiosity through freshwater and marine science. Every program is designed to build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on exploration. Request a pilot program at your organization below!

Gallery and banner images by Ueda Photography