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Teachers know there’s only so much learning that can happen at a desk. Sometimes, the secret is getting students out of their seats and into a place where they can actually see, touch and experience what they’re learning.

For local teacher Mallory Allen, that place is McWane Science Center in Birmingham. She filled us in on the difference hands-on learning can make, plus how her role on McWane’s Education Advisory Committee is helping shape field trip experiences for students and teachers across the Magic City and beyond.

Read on to see why the best kind of learning might not feel like learning at all, and how to sign your school up this fall to experience it for yourself.

Why Alabama students learn differently at McWane Science Center

A student reaches toward a billowing cloud of vapor during a hands-on science demonstration at McWane Science Center — Students across Alabama explore science concepts by seeing, touching and testing them for themselves. (McWane Science Center)

At McWane Science Center, field trips turn classroom concepts into hands-on learning students can see, touch and experience. Students can explore interactive exhibits, participate in educational programs and watch IMAX® documentaries while connecting what they’re experiencing to what they’re learning in the classroom.

And yes, they’re going to have fun, because learning should feel exciting, too! Depending on grade level and availability, schools can add classes and labs to their field trips for hands-on learning in:

Robotics
Life science
Physical science
Math
Engineering
Physics
Technology
+ other STEM subjects

Why McWane Science Center field trips work for Alabama classrooms

A young student wearing safety goggles and gloves participates in a dissection activity alongside a smiling adult at McWane Science Center — McWane’s educational programs help students explore science through hands-on learning. (McWane Science Center)

McWane’s hands-on experiences reinforce Alabama Course of Study standards, helping students build a stronger foundation for STEM learning, classroom success and ACAP assessments.

Here are a few reasons schools across Alabama are adding McWane to their field trip lists:

Hands-on STEM: Students can see, touch + try science for themselves.
Standards-aligned: Programs connect to what students are learning in Alabama classrooms.
Affordable: Field trip packages start at $14 per student.
Financial help: The McWane Access Program helps reduce financial barriers for schools and students.
Statewide reach: McWane serves students + educators from communities across Alabama.
More ways to learn: Can’t make it to McWane Science Center? McWane on the Move brings hands-on science experiences directly to classrooms across Alabama.

Every student deserves the chance to experience hands-on learning, and making sure cost isn’t a barrier is an important part of McWane’s mission. Thanks to the support of visitors, generous donors and community partners who believe in that mission, McWane is able to provide financial assistance to schools through the McWane Access Program.

In 2025 alone, more than 16,500 of the nearly 38,000 students who visited McWane on field trips participated through the program. And from January through May 2026, nearly one in every two field trip students participated through the McWane Access Program.

“We want every student in Alabama to believe that science is for them. McWane field trips help teachers spark curiosity while building the confidence, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills students will need in the classroom and in tomorrow’s workforce. A single moment of discovery can become the beginning of a lifelong interest in STEM.”
Abby Gwinn, Director of STEM Education, McWane Science Center

For Mallory Allen, a fourth grade teacher in Oneonta, that kind of access is part of what makes McWane Science Center special.

“Science is for everybody. When students get to experience it hands-on, it makes science feel more accessible and exciting.”
Mallory Allen

Alabama teachers are helping shape the McWane Science Center experience

Students react with excitement while experimenting with an orange loop-the-loop track during a McWane Science Center educational program — Educational programs let students experiment, investigate and make their own discoveries. (McWane Science Center)

Behind the scenes, educators like Mallory help McWane Science Center make sure its educational experiences continue to meet the needs of today’s classrooms.

Mallory recently completed her first year on McWane’s Education Advisory Committee, a group of 15-20 educators from across the Greater Birmingham Area and beyond. The committee gives teachers a chance to share what they’re seeing in their classrooms and provide feedback that can help McWane’s educational team shape programming.

How to plan a McWane Science Center field trip

Creating a field trip experience for your students is easier than you might think. Teachers and schools can contact McWane Science Center to connect with a field trip expert who can help find the right program and build an experience around your students, curriculum and classroom goals.

From hands-on STEM experiences at McWane Science Center to bringing science into the classroom through McWane on the Move, there are plenty of ways for Alabama educators and schools to create an experience that’s accessible, engaging and memorable for their students.

Ready to plan a McWane Science Center field trip? Learn more about field trips + start planning your fall visit.

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