Museum Events
Schedule a Tour
The Geology Museum provides free* tours for K-12, university, and non-profit groups** of all ages. Guided tours include presentations on dinosaurs, geology, the Ice Age, and mummies, with special attention given to our New Jersey based exhibits. Each tour includes a 30 to 40 minute guided presentation, several hands-on educational activities, and a scavenger hunt of the exhibits. Additional activities can be added to the tours for a minimal fee. Tours can be scheduled during our normal business hours and on the select Saturdays. Tours are only available on Fridays during the month of July and are not available in August. All dates are subject to availability.
Prior registration is required a minimum of 2 weeks before the proposed tour date for groups of 10 (minimum number of people required to book) to 50 people. Please contact the museum about special arrangements for groups of more than 50 people.
* Premium tours (fossil and mineral patch tours) can be booked for an additional fee.
** Effective March 1, 2017, any tours booked by a for-profit agency are subject to a $10 per person for every adult and $5 per person for every child fee. The free tours must be booked directly by a representative of the K-12, university, or non-profit group and not associated with a 3rd party receiving monetary or other benefits from the arrangement of the tour.
Schedule your tour here!
Guided Museum Tours
Join us as our tour guides walk you through some of our most popular exhibits in the museum. Tours will cover the following topics:
- Dinosaurs and Paleontology
- The Ice Age and the Mastodon
- Egypt and Mummies
For younger children (recommended for ages 6 and below), we offer a Dinosaur Story Time tour. In this tour, our guide will read a dinosaur-themed story book to the group as well as provide each participant with a scavenger hunt.
See below for a list of educational arts and crafts activities that can be added on any guided tour for the cost of $1 per participant.
Fossils and Dinosaurs
- Making a stegosaurus hat
- Creating your own fossil necklace
- Constructing a dinosaur diorama
- Fashioning your very own movable dinosaur
- Use stamps to create your very own fossil footprint trackway
Ancient Egypt and Mummies
- Making your own cartouche
- Creating your own 3D pyramid
- Decorating your own headband or cuffs with hieroglyphics
- Constructing a 3D mummy
- Coloring in your own sarcophagus
Gems and Minerals
- Painting your own pet rock
- Mineral Bingo
- Create your own mineral playing cards
Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Girl Scout Tours
The Geology Museum offers programs for Scout groups to help them complete the requirements for several different badges and electives. While these programs were developed for Scouts, they are perfect for school groups as well!
Patch Tours
The Rutgers Geology Museum offers two STEM-themed patch programs: Amazing Minerals and Fossil Fun! These programs were developed for Girl and Cub Scout groups, but can be booked by any group of 10 or more. Each program will guide the group through a different geology-related topic and each participant will go home with their own lesson kit!
Patch programs cost $10 per participant and were developed for K-6 age groups. Visit our Programs for Scouts page for more information and to schedule your program!
Geology Merit Badge Program
In this program, scouts will learn about Earth's natural resources, talk to real geoscientists, and create a subsurface structure map that will be used in an interactive oil drilling activity. This program will allow scouts to fulfill all the requirements of the Geology Merit Badge.
The Geology Merit Badge program costs $20 per participant and was developed for children in grades 6-12. Visit our Programs for Scouts page for more information and to schedule your program!
Tours for Scouts
Patch Tours
The Geology Museum offers two STEM-themed patch programs! These tours are aimed toward Scout groups, but can be booked by any group of 10 or more. Each 1 hour program tour will guide the group through a different geology-related topic and each participant will get their own lesson kit!
Tours are appropriate for all K-6 age groups; activities will be tailored to the age of each group.
Patch tours require a minimum of 10 participants. If you have less than 10 participants, we may be able to combine your group with another already-scheduled group, pending availability. Please inquire if interested.
Amazing Minerals Program
During the Amazing Minerals Program, participants will learn about the three rock types, how they are formed, and how geologists define minerals and their properties. Each participant will receive their own mineral identification kit. This 1 hour program fulfills many requirements for the Cub Scouts' Earth Rocks! Elective Adventure.
Cost: $10 per participant
Patches (optional): $2 per participant
This program is perfect for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and K-5 Groups!
Mineral Programs
The minimum group size for a Mineral Program is 10 participants.
Mineral Programs can be requested on weekdays and certain Saturdays when the Museum is open to the public.
Click here to schedule your Mineral Program!
Fossil Fun! Program
During the Fossil Fun! Program, participants will learn about the different types of fossils and how they are formed. Each participant will also receive a fossil-themed activity kit! This 1 hour program fulfills the requirements of the Cub Scouts Wolf Elective Adventure, Digging into the Past.
Cost: $10 per participant
Patches (optional): $2 per participant
This program is perfect for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and K-5 Groups!
Fossil Programs
The minimum group size for a Fossil Program is 10 participants.
Fossil Programs can be requested on weekdays and certain Saturdays when the Museum is open to the public.
Click here to schedule your Fossil Program!
Merit Badge Programs
Geology Merit Badge Program
Interested in earning the Geology Merit Badge? Check out our Geology Merit Badge Program, now offered both in-person and virtually!
During this program, scouts will learn about Earth's natural resources, talk to real geoscientists, and create a subsurface structure map that will be used in an interactive oil drilling activity. This program will allow scouts to fulfill all the requirements of the Geology Merit Badge. Museum staff members are registered as Geology Merit Badge Counsellors and will sign off on Scouts' Blue Cards upon completion of the requirements.
Register here for your Virtual or In-Person Geology Merit Badge Program.
**Please note that a scout attending these events is not guaranteed to complete the Merit Badge unless all requirements are completed. Scouts must be prepared to participate in the discussions and activities.**
Two-Part Geology Merit Badge Program
In-Person Programs:
Minimum Group Size: 10 Scouts for a private event, or any number for selected program dates (below).
Cost: $20 per Scout
Dates: Saturday, November 11, 2023: 11:30AM to 1:30PM: Registration Closed
Virtual Programs:
Minimum Group Size: 10 Scouts required to request an event.
Cost: $20 per Scout
In-Person Events
In-person events will be available during the Museum's open hours (which includes certain Saturdays), pending staff availability. This event will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and some activities will need to be completed before arriving at the Museum. Activity packets will be emailed upon program payment.
Register Here for an In-Person Merit Badge Program!
Virtual Events
The virtual program is a two part program that can be booked with both parts on the same day, or on separate days. Virtual events are available on weekends when the Museum is closed as well as during weekdays and weekday evenings. During the first part of this event (Geology 101 Program), participants will learn how to read a geologic map, discuss Earth's natural resources, and speak to a real geologist about their research. Part 1 can fulfill Geology Merit Badge requirements 1, 2, 3, and 4a.
During the second part of this event (Energy Resources Program), participants will create a subsurface structure map, do an interactive oil drilling activity, and learn what it is like to work on a drilling rig. Part 2 can fulfill the Energy Resources Option of the Geology Merit Badge, requirements 5b1 through 5b5.
Scouts must participate in both parts to fulfill all the requirements of the Geology Merit Badge.
*Some activities must be completed by each Scout prior to the event.*
Register Here for a Virtual Merit Badge Program!