Winter Lights is now open from 4:30 - 8 p.m.
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There is a reason why Shelburne Museum welcomes thousands of school children each year—it is an incredibly rich resource for learning about American history, industry, culture, and art.
Shelburne Museum’s educational programs are all about close looking, critical thinking, and nurturing creativity and art appreciation. As you explore, you will discover how our collections become tools for learning, exploration, and self-expression. Educators who connect with Shelburne Museum will have the opportunity to expand their own understanding of the stories our collections have to tell and the ways that art and material culture can support standards-based classroom learning. We welcome public, private, and homeschool students in grades pre-K to 12 and beyond.
All groups must make advance reservations. After reading the information below, please contact our School and Youth Programs Educator, Sara Wolfson, at education@shelburnemuseum.org or (802) 985-0922 with questions or to schedule a visit.
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We are excited to offer Passport to Learning in 2025! Passport to Learning offers school groups a variety of guided and self-guided workshops located across the Museum grounds. Students will rotate through a selection of interactive, hands-on workshops throughout the day. This standards-based, cross-curricular experience will enhance students’ understanding of social studies, art, and science. The combination of guided and self-guided activities allows for choice and flexibility throughout the day to meet the needs and interests of your students.
More detailed information will be available in 2025. Check back for updates.
Pricing:
Admission fees are $5 per student. Teachers and school staff are admitted free.
Chaperones admitted free up to a ratio of 1 chaperone per 10 students ($5 per chaperone above 1:10 ratio)
Each student attending this program will receive a Passport Book to use during their visit.
Any student returning to the Museum during the 2025 season with their Passport Book will receive one FREE Family Day Pass (up to 2 adults and children up to age 17 from the same family).
We are committed to making Shelburne Museum learning experiences accessible to all. Please reach out if you need assistance covering admission fees. We also welcome inquiries about accessing limited funding available to help defray transportation costs.
Guarantee your spot by signing up early! To register and with questions, please contact School & Youth Programs Educator Sara Wolfson at education@shelburnemuseum.org or 802-985-0922
Available during our open season from May 12th – October 17th, 2025
Self-guided visits are a great way for groups of all kinds to experience Shelburne Museum, and are especially popular with school, homeschool, and college groups along with summer camps and service organizations. Self-guided visits allow you to explore the Museum at your own pace and visit the exhibits and buildings your group is most excited to see.
Pricing:
Admission fees are $5 per student. Teachers and school staff are admitted free.
Chaperones admitted free up to a ratio of 1 chaperone per 10 students ($5 per chaperone above 1:10 ratio)
We are committed to making Shelburne Museum learning experiences accessible to all. Please reach out if you need assistance covering admission fees. We also welcome inquiries about accessing limited funding available to help defray transportation costs.
To register and with questions, please contact School & Youth Programs Educator Sara Wolfson at education@shelburnemuseum.org or 802-985-0922.
In this visual arts and arts integration-focused workshop, students will practice close looking and deeper thinking by using Thinking Routines to engage with artwork at the Museum. During a tour led by Shelburne Museum staff, students will make connections between the exhibition they are viewing and the role that museum curators play in creating an exhibition. Using their new knowledge and understanding of their selected exhibition, students will be challenged to tap into their own creativity to create a mixed-media artwork they believe would fit well in the exhibition they viewed.
What do maps tell us? How do they share that information with us? Why would people use maps?
In this workshop, students will explore the answers to those questions by studying a variety of historical and current maps. Students will then practice map-making by creating a map of a space at the Museum. The location that students focus on will be dependent on factors such as grade level, group size, and weather. This hands-on activity will teach them about spatial relationships and symbols and encourage them to slow down and notice the details of their surroundings.
In this workshop, participants will delve into Shelburne Museum’s collection with the guidance of a museum educator. They will engage in a variety of Thinking Routines crafted by Project Zero, a research center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A Thinking Routine is a structured approach designed to help students develop deeper thinking and understanding. They typically involve a set of prompts or questions that guide learners in examining and analyzing information, making connections, and developing their ideas.