Layne Sermersheim (Statewide Outreach Coordinator) and Katie Vitti (Wasatch Front Outreach Coordinator) sitting at their outreach table which features a variety of dinosaur fossils, like an allosaurus skull.

Layne Sermersheim (Statewide Outreach Coordinator) and Katie Vitti (Wasatch Front Outreach Coordinator) sitting at their outreach table which features a variety of dinosaur fossils, like an allosaurus skull.

Community Outreach from NHMU

Bringing the State's Museum to Your Neighborhood

As the state’s official museum of natural history, we strive to bring our collections and our educators to the entire state of Utah (and beyond!). Our Community Outreach Team is eager to travel the state, bringing the excitement of the natural world to your neighborhood. Our team provides free education and engagement programming to ignite curiosity in the world around you, and to help every Utahn develop a personal connection to science and nature.
 

Want to See Us in Your Community?

Our Community Outreach Team is prepared to share educational content on paleontology, anthropology/archaeology, Utah mammals, and insects. Our educators will bring a kit with touchable objects, and we will set up a table and let participants come to us for informal educational interactions. Kits can be enhanced with activities and crafts, depending on the topic selected. This content works well at community festivals, STEM/STEAM events, or other events where NHMU will be one component of many.

 

Invite NHMU's Community Outreach team to Your Event!

The Community Outreach Request Form helps the team determine whether we are the right partner for you and your event! You will be asked general details about your event, like start time and location, in addition to more detailed questions, like anticipated attendance and potential accommodations needed. Requests must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the desired event to be considered. We will consider the following when reviewing your request:

  • Alignment with NHMU’s mission and goals
  • NHMU staff capacity and schedule availability
  • In an effort to share Museum resources equitably, we will prioritize our outreach programming for:
    • Underserved and rural communities
    • Schools with Title 1 status
    • Events in locations that do not have easy access to NHMU’s home in the Rio Tinto Center
    • Events that are free and open to the public
    • Events that are accessible and welcoming to as many community members with different needs as possible

Please note that submitting a request does not guarantee our participation. Due to high demand, confirmation may take up to 10 business days. We appreciate your patience!

Community Outreach Request Form

 

Are you looking to establish a deeper partnership with NHMU and collaborate on programming that is tailored to meet the needs of your community?

We can also partner with you to create custom programs. This option is great if you have specific natural history topics you and your community want to learn about in more depth, or if you'd like your community to develop a deeper relationship with NHMU. Custom programs could include small-group after school programming, workshops or presentations, or recurring programs with a specific community. We are excited to build lasting and meaningful relationships with community partners, and would love the chance to co-create programming that meets your community’s needs.

Click here to learn about partnership opportunities.

(Looking for educators to come to your classroom during the school day? Check out our Museum on the Move program!)