School Outreach

New York City schools and educational groups can request a presentation, observing session, or a combination from the Amateur Astronomers Association. AAA volunteers have visited classrooms ranging from first grade to high school through the School Outreach and Scopes for Schools programs.

We offer this service free of charge to schools and educational groups in the five boroughs of New York City.

AAA volunteers can visit the school to deliver a presentation that is relevant to the class lesson plan or show how one can be an amateur astronomer in New York City. The number of volunteers varies based on the size of the class and activities.

If the event schedule and weather permit, AAA can set up telescopes for an observing session. Students gain experience looking through a telescope and observing solar system objects or potentially stars. Events planned during the day could include the Sun, Moon, and Venus; evening events could include stellar and deep sky objects.

To request a visit, please email Corresponding-Secretary@aaa.org , providing the information listed below. An AAA School Outreach Coordinator will follow up to review the details, discuss further details, and begin organizing for an event. Please note that the Outreach Coordinator will require some time to match the class event with available AAA volunteers.

  • Name of School or Educational Organization
  • Contact name
  • Contact phone
  • Contact email, if additional or different from email submission
  • Grade(s) and/or student age(s)
  • Number of students
  • Desired date & time