Resources for educators

Field Trips

Learning beyond the classroom. Bring your students to SURF where they can experience STEM principles in action.

We offer a variety of tours, presentations, and hands-on activities for students. Let our experienced team of educators work with you to provide creative solutions for your learning needs.

Due to an amazing number of requests our Spring 2023 calendar is full!

We plan to offer a limited number of on-site visits in September and October 2023.

Contact us at the email below to discuss details.

Virtual Options

Thanks to 360° video technology, and our Communications Department, we can take ANY classroom on a virtual tour of the Sanford Underground Research Facility!

  • Davis Campus (Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School)
  • Hoistroom Tour  (Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School)
  • Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour (Middle School, High School)

Many of the activities below can also take place virtually.

If you have questions, or would like to discuss field trip options, send us an email education@sanfordlab.org and one of our team members will be in touch.

Available field trips:

Early Elementary

An Introduction to Sanford Underground Research Facility

This short, engaging, and active introduction to the Sanford Underground Research Facility introduces students to the daily operations of a science lab nearly one mile under the earth’s surface.
Middle School, High School

Cavern Excavation Challenge

Discover the geotechnical challenges of underground cavern excavation nearly a mile beneath the surface of the earth at the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Middle School, High School

Exploring the Universe Through Light

The detection of light is a very powerful tool for exploring the universe, but what happens if something does not interact with light? Learn how scientists are attempting to study dark matter.
Upper Elementary

From Au to Xe

Learn about some of the important events that lead up to (and will extend beyond) the creation of the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
Upper Elementary, Middle School

Geology of the Open Cut

Discover why the Homestake Gold Mine was one of the premier producing mines in North America through activities that explore the geology of the Northern Black Hills (at the Open Cut).
Upper Elementary

Hoist Engineering Challenge

The challenge…work with a team and use your engineering skills to design, test, and build a system that is capable of lifting a load (weight) up a pvc tube (shaft) using only the materials provided.
Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School

Hoistroom Tour

Grab your hardhats and safety glasses! This walking tour will introduce your students to the heart of the system that makes it possible to transport people, and equipment, nearly one mile underground.
Middle School, High School

Needle in a Haystack

Do you have what it takes to detect an ultra-rare event in the race to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos? Find out with this engineering design challenge based on the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR experiment.
Middle School, High School

Radiation – It’s Everywhere!

Working as scientists and engineers, students will use what they learn about a materials ability to shield against ionizing radiation to design a safeguard for a model of the LZ dark matter detector.
Upper Elementary

Seismic Signatures

Explore the properties of waves, listen to seismic resonances, and then use real data from Sanford Lab tiltmeters to evaluate an earthquake that occurred on the other side of the world.
High School

Waste Water Treatment Plant Tour

Learn more about how this unique facility operates, including: the active role of microorganisms, modifications to reduce the use of chemicals, and improvements in energy efficiency.