| Daytime Groups | Evening Groups | Scouting and Guiding | Foreign Students | Corporate and Team Challenges | Schools |
If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, then The Observatory Science Centre may just be the unique venue you are looking for.
We have a choice of spaces for private meetings, from copper clad domes (maximum 75 people) seated beneath an historic telescope, to a circus style geodesic dome (maximum 175).
The programme for your day will be tailored specifically to your group to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, has a rewarding experience and the visit can be as long or as short as you require. You can spend just half a day with us for a meeting, with a small amount of free time and / or a Telescope Tour, or you may choose to spend the whole day and incorporate fun, interactive team challenges or science based activity workshops into the programme. There is even an option of arriving mid afternoon and continuing into the early evening viewing through an historic telescope (weather permitting).
Before your departure, when all challenges are completed, a small prize is awarded to the members of the winning team. Team Challenges The number of challenges, and the time spent on them can be adjusted as befits the group. Working together, each team will face tasks that tease the brain and stretch the imagination, but the emphasis will always be on fun and no prior scientific knowledge is required. Many of our exciting 'hands-on'exhibits readily lend themselves to an assortment of both physical & mental challenges and these challenges are a perfect way to encourage your staff to work together - maybe by having inter-departmental teams, or by mixing your departments. The challenges are mostly physical and are set against the clock. Some are our own creation, whilst others will be a twist on a more familiar format and include the following:
These challenges can be mixed & matched in any number of ways. For example, Bridge Building, Tower Construction and The Launch Pad would be a suitable combination of physical challenges with an emphasis on construction, whilst Locks & Tower of Hanoi would be ‘table based’ and suitable for more logical brains.
We also offer a water rocket workshop which lasts 45 mins – 1 hour. Each team will be instructed in the design of a water rocket, which carries a cargo of a raw egg in the nose cone. When built, these water rockets will be fired outside to see whose egg survives!
No visit to this historic site would be complete without a 30 minute telescope tour. You will be led by a member of science centre staff to see 1 or 2 historic telescopes and to learn a small part of their history. We also have an exhibition ‘Domes of Discovery – the story of the Royal Observatory’ which brings to life the 300-year history of one of the most famous scientific institutions in the world.
£195 for groups up to 15, then £10 per additional person (+VAT)
This price includes Team Challenges or a Workshop, plus a Telescope Tour. Complimentary use of the facility, hands-on exhibits & Domes of Discovery Exhibition.
Catering costs are additional; sample menus are available on request.
All bookings are discussed on an individual basis
Please ring Jo Harris 01323 832731, or email j.harris@the-observatory.org
"The whole day was the right balance between relaxed activity, fun and teamwork and this can be attributed to the staff at the Observatory. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the activities were the main topic of conversation for days."
Tom Richardson, M.D. Sartorius Ltd.
"We had high expectations for our staff conferences and these were exceeded by The Observatory Science Centre. The staff and venue create an excellent, fun atmosphere, which doesn't compromise on a professional service. Very highly recommended"
Mark Perry, Chief Executive , Downland Housing Association