Student involvement is central to active natural history museums. The CUMV collections both inspire students and offer hands-on training in museum studies in the field and laboratory.
Opportunities for students to participate in field expeditions can be transformative events. They provide students with first hand experience in field activities and opportunities to link concepts learned in the classroom with field observations. Perhaps more importantly, field expeditions expose students to the rustic, often unforgettable, conditions of field work that can stimulate and deepen an interest in the sciences and natural world. The CUMV takes students into the field at least twice a year: one trip introduces students to diverse field techniques, and the other trip is focused on specific museum-based projects. The demand for opportunities like this grows annually and we are eager to support this growing demand.