Strickler Planetarium is open to school groups, camps, scouting troops, youth groups, church groups, retreats, and many more. If you’re interested in visiting the planetarium for a field trip or other event, please follow the links below for more information. Strickler Planetarium can also be rented for birthday parties or corporate events. Please note that the capacity for the planetarium is 50 seats. We will be happy to accommodate larger groups by multiple showings.
Admission
- $5 per person, regardless of age
- Pre-school groups receive one (1) adult free for every five (5) children admitted
- K-12 groups receive one (1) adult free for every ten (10) children
- Groups of people with special needs students, regardless of age, also receive one (1) adult free for every five (5) students unless it is a group of people with special needs severe enough to warrant one-on-one care. In that case, all caregivers get in free.
- There is a $50 minimum fee per group.
Reservations can be made using our Reservation Request Form or by contacting the planetarium reservations manager through the Contact Us form.
Guidelines for Field Trips
Here are some guideline to help make your trip to Strickler Planetarium more enjoyable for you and your students.
- Know the number of people in your group when you arrive. Have the proper amount of money ready to give to the planetarium operator upon your arrival.
- Your show needs to start promptly at the time you reserved. Try to arrive a few minutes early to be able to handle seating of the children in the planetarium.
- Encourage children to use the restroom before leaving school, or try to arrive a few minutes early to give time to those who need to use the restroom.
- When you arrive at the planetarium, the planetarium operator will greet you at the door. The door will open 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the program.
- Please have everyone who is a part of your group enter the planetarium together. It is not recommended that you leave the planetarium during the show. The doors to the planetarium as well as the inner doors are locked, and you will not be able to gain access to the building or the inner dome upon your return.
- Photography is not permitted during the show.
- See Campus Map for parking and other areas of interest for your students at Olivet Nazarene University.
Lunch
Two lunch options are available for field trip groups visiting the planetarium. If your class brings their own lunches, the Warming House on campus can be reserved at no cost. This facility gives groups a place to eat lunch in case of inclement weather that might prohibit a picnic out-of-doors. Though there is no cost for using the Warming House, groups are asked to clean up after themselves and leave the building clean and in good order.
Reserving the Warming House for Lunch:
Group leaders MUST contact Tammy Potoski at least 2 weeks prior to visit at tpotoski@olivet.edu. NOTE: A proof of insurance for your school MUST be emailed to Tammy before using this facility.
Purchasing Meals on Campus:
For groups that would like to purchase meals on campus, the student cafeteria, located in Ludwig Center, offers lunch at reasonable rates. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Sodexo Food Service at: 815.928.5534. Groups are requested to arrive between 11:00-11:15 AM or 12:30-1:00 PM. Prices are listed below.
- Students – $4.25
- Adults – $8.50
Field Trip Feedback
A short questionnaire has been created for educators who have visited the planetarium in the last school year. To provide feedback regarding your visit to the planetarium, please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SL6HCSX