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 Engagement 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 Engagement 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 Engagement Team is prepared to share educational content on paleontology, anthropology/archaeology, and Utah mammals. 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 or other events where NHMU will be one component of many.

 

Invite NHMU's Community Engagement team to Your Event!

The Community Event 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

If you have a community event you would like the Museum to attend or participate in, please submit a Community Event Request Form to tell us more about your event. 

(Looking for educators to come to your 4th grade classroom during the school day? Check out our Museum on the Move program!)