Overview

Bakken Inspiration Stations are a great addition to your community event, featuring fun, hands-on STEM activities. Ask us about having STEM Inspiration Stations at your library!

With Inspiration Stations, participants will dig into the wonders of science by trying accessible, engaging activities that bring the inner child out of anyone. In addition, the volunteers recruited from your community will receive training on how to share the activities with event guests.

To supplement and enrich your event, consider adding a series of guided science demonstrations or even a full assembly-style performance.

Additional Information

Pricing Packages

• SMALL: 3 tables (perfect for up to 50 people). Cost: $175/hr. + $50 setup fee.
• MEDIUM: 6 tables (perfect for 50-100 people). Cost: $225/hr. + $75 setup fee.
• LARGE: 9 tables (perfect for 100-200 people). Cost: $250/hr. + $100 setup fee.
• À LA CARTE: Add an additional activity for $75/hr + $25 setup fee. Additional activities based on availability. Available topics include engineering, electricity, physics, space, light, human science, the natural world, and science fiction.
• Library Programs Pricing: $450 for a 2-hour program with 3 table activities.
• A La Carte (without volunteers): Inspiration Stations - cost $75/hr per table + $25 setup fee.

Add Ons

• Repeating Science Demonstrations: A Bakken Museum educator will conduct a quick and enjoyable presentation on a choice science topic for your attendees. ~ 15 minutes in duration, 3 per hour.
• Assembly Show: Two Bakken Museum educators will perform a cheeky science-themed show for your attendees. See our assembly shows webpage for topics.

Volunteer Information

• Volunteers can be anyone from your community who is a science fan and enjoys interacting with kids and families. They must be at least 14 years of age. They can be students from your nearby high school or college seeking volunteer hours, parents of students from your school, or even teachers from the school. In any case, these volunteers are members of your community who are capable and enthusiastic mentors for the next generation of scientists and innovators.
• We typically send 1-3 educators to an event to set up the activities, train volunteers, troubleshoot and assist during the event, and clean up at the end. The volunteers facilitate the activities during the event. Volunteers enhance the learning and fun factor of each activity. It also helps everyone stay safe. Don't worry; volunteers don't need to have a Ph.D. in Astrophysics. They need to be enthusiastic about working with kids and ready to learn! Our staff will cover all the necessary training and ensure your volunteers feel comfortable facilitating their activity.
• 30 minutes before a small or medium event and 45 minutes before the start of a large event, we will need all volunteers (one for each table) present to be trained on their activities. Volunteers must be 14 or older, and each table must have a volunteer present.
• If on the night of the event, you cannot provide as many volunteers as requested tables, we can only set up as many activities as you have volunteers, and you are still required to pay the total price. If you are worried about providing volunteers, let us know, and we can guide you toward an a la carte option or suggest adding an assembly, workshop, or demo.
• A La Carte selection might be right for you if you cannot recruit and provide volunteers to help staff the tables. This way, educators from The Bakken Museum will fill the activity facilitator role.

Space and Timing Needs

• Our staff will arrive one hour before the start of an event that has booked a small or medium package and an hour and a half before the start of an event for a large or extra-large package.
• Please provide one table for every activity plus one additional table. Some activities work best when participants can sit, so please have a handful of chairs on hand.
• We typically do these activities in one large room, like a gymnasium or cafeteria. If you need to split the activities into separate spaces, please let us know during the booking process, as we may require additional volunteers or setup time.
• Most groups choose to bring us in for 1.5-2 hours. If your event is much shorter or longer, let us know. We may be able to guide you toward an assembly or workshop that will work better for your group.
• The typical time it takes a family to move through each package: Small = about 30 min; Medium = about 45 min; Large and Extra Large = about 1 hr.
• If adding an assembly or demos, please provide a large open space for our educators to create a small "performance space" with students sitting on the floor to create an "audience." Typically, we perform assemblies in a gym or cafeteria, while demos can usually work in a classroom or library. Some demos and assemblies require access to power near the performance space and water in the building.

Outdoor Events

• Most of our activities are not designed to work outdoors. However, if you would like us to attend your outdoor event, let us know, and we'll work with you to find activities that will fit your needs. Most often, participation in an outdoor event would be limited to 1-2 A La Carte table activities.

Partnering with Other Groups

• We prefer it! We love joining in the fun and seeing friends from other STEM and Education organizations. If you have other partners at the event, please let us know who they are or what they are bringing, so we can avoid overlapping activities.

Library Programs Specifics

• This is a drop-in program that is facilitated by a Bakken educator. Guests can arrive and leave when they like. Our educator brings 3 table activities and moves between the 3 to guide and facilitate as necessary.
• Visitors can use 5 minutes to check out our electrifying gizmos, or spend an hour perfecting their engineering innovation. Take-home activities will give visitors something to remember and share with the rest of your community.
• Max # of Attendees: No hard limit. 5-10 people per activity.
• Program Length: 2 Hours.

Audience Age

• All our activities are designed with elementary-age students and their families in mind. Unfortunately, we don't offer activities well-suited for kids under 5 without significant supervision.