The STARLAB Portable Planetarium can be used with students from preschool through college and with all ability levels, including mentally challenged and gifted.  The STARLAB is interdisciplinary and can be used in every academic subject.  Only in the STARLAB, can you go to view constellation figures from ancient China or Africa one moment, the inside of a biological cell the next moment, and then watch a movie without even moving from your seat.  In any educational program, the usefulness of the STARLAB is limited only by the user's creativity and imagination.

New 2012-2013 rates for the STARLAB are as follows:
$160 for one week
$210 for two weeks
$260 for three weeks
$310 for four to eight weeks

Click here to fill out reservation form

Reservations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis when your reservation form and purchase order are received.  Every effort will be made to schedule the STARLAB during the dates requested by individual districts.  Once scheduled, you will receive a confirmation of the actual dates reserved for your district.

CESA 9 no longer contracts with WALTCO delivery service for pick up  and delivery of the STARLAB.  Districts will be responsible for their own pick up and return.  Or, delivery charges will be assessed to participating districts based on actual time and mileage incurred by the CESA custodian if it is requested that CESA 9 deliver the STARLAB.  School districts do have the option to pick up and return STARLAB  by their district staff.

Teachers - In order to use the STARLAB with your students, you must take the training provided by CESA #9.  Custodial staff utilized to pack up the STARLAB must also take this training.  In this training, you will learn how to set up the STARLAB dome, operate the projector, use the cylinders, learn about moon phases, how to teach the celestial coordinates, how to teach astronomy using the STARLAB and how to take down the dome properly.  The training is open to all CESA #9 districts; as well as, Lincoln Hills and the Conserve School.  If a training is required, please contact Jean Hill for pricing for the training.

User Policy
The STARLAB User Policy identifies the district and staff responsibilities while STARLAB is in the district. It is essential that this policy be adhered to in order to maintain the condition of the two labs.

1. Adult supervision of STARLAB must be provided at all times.  Districts are responsible for any damage or theft occurring to STARLAB while in their district, and will be billed for damaged or missing items that need to be repaired or replaced (other than routine maintenance).
2. Only staff members having attended a CESA #9 STARLAB training workshop will be permitted to use, unpack/setup, or teardown/pack up the STARLAB.
3. The STARLAB must be packed properly and returned to CESA #9 on the last day of the contract. 
4. Call the CESA #9 office immediately if the STARLAB or its equipment is damaged or is not functioning properly.
5. Shoes must be removed before entering the STARLAB.  Shake the dome out before packing it to remove dirt and sand.
6. A district representative must inventory all items on an inventory sheet provided with the lab after the district has used the lab.  The inventory form must be signed and returned to CESA #9.
7. Please note:  If any portion of the STARLAB is damaged during the time that it is in your district's possession, the district will be invoiced for replacement of the damaged pieces. 

CESA #9 Contact Person:  Jean Hill