School Groups
Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium staff and trained volunteers offer engaging, curriculum-aligned educational programs for school groups from kindergarten through high school, as well as special educational programming for groups of all ages, including homeschool groups, scouts, colleges, adult learners, and community organizations.
Standard school programs are offered Monday through Friday, September through May. Select from the areas below to learn more about available programs, grade-level connections, and how to schedule a visit.
Groups seeking customized experiences, after-hours programs, or age-specific learning opportunities are encouraged to inquire about special educational programming tailored to their needs.
Program Times
Programs run in 60-minute blocks, which include ~45 minutes of instruction and ~15 minutes for group movement and transition. Programs are offered at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Program schedules may vary based on group size, program selection, and facility capacity. Bays Mountain Park staff design schedules to ensure safe movement, quality education, and animal welfare. If you would like to request specific time options, please contact us directly after the Educator Contact Form has been filled out.
Park Entrance Fees
$7 per car (free with membership card)
$15 per bus (school bus or larger)
Scheduling
To schedule a school group, please use the Educator Contact Form on this page or call 423-229-9447. A staff member will follow up to help with scheduling. Please note that there is a 15-person minimum for standalone programs. Smaller groups may be combined with another same-age group, especially during busy months. April and May are peak months, so early requests are strongly encouraged.
Schedules are typically booked 3 months out. Starting in January, we book through May. If you are interested in a date later than 3 months out, let us know and we can put you on a contact list. Tentative reservations are held for one week. Reservations are not final until officially contracted.
Program Fees
(per participant per program)
- Kingsport, Rogersville, Bristol (TN) City Schools – $2
- Public, private, and home schools within Sullivan County, TN and Hawkins County, TN – $2
- Public, private, and home schools outside Sullivan County, TN and Hawkins County, TN – $4
- Non-school educational programs (includes senior groups, college groups, libraries, birthday parties, scouts and similar organizations):
Nature Programs – $3 | Planetarium Programs – $5 - One teacher will be permitted free entry for every 10 students.
Educational Programs
Nature Programs
Students from kindergarten through high school can learn about the natural world through interactive exhibits
More Info
Planetarium Programs
Planetarium programs for school groups from kindergarten through high school level.
More Info
Guidelines
- Groups should arrive and be parked at least 15 minutes before their first scheduled program. (If a group arrives late, programs may be shortened or cancelled.)
- One on-site teacher or administrator will check in at the Nature Center gift shop.
- Please notify the park in advance at 423-229-9447 if you need to cancel or reschedule for any reason.
- Admission for additional parents or siblings is not guaranteed and depends on available space.
- Groups may bring lunch; no food is sold on-site other than vending machine fare. Please notify staff if lunch space is needed.
- Students will spend time outdoors, so please dress for the weather.
- We strive to make all programs accessible. Please notify us in advance if anyone in your group needs accessibility accommodations.