How early do I need to submit my request?

We recommend submitting four to six weeks prior to the dates you wish to request. If you are interested in coming in April, May, or early June, you will need to submit much earlier—April and May dates are generally booked solid by January. Expect processing your request to take up to two weeks, and leave yourself time to schedule buses as needed. If you are taking a workshop, please also take into account the time it will take to your school to process check requests, or time to collect money from students. If payment is not received two weeks prior to the date of your trip, your workshops are subject to cancellation.

Why does your form ask for multiple dates? What if there is only one date that works for my group?

To ensure the quality of all of our field trips, we limit the number of schools and students that can visit us on any given day. Although we’ll make every effort to book your first choice date, it may be necessary to find another viable date. If you provide us with three options, it increases the likelihood of finding a match quickly, without the delay of extra emails or phone calls. If only one date works for your group, please type your choice into any required spaces.

Why do my extra adult chaperones have to pay for admission?

We require additional chaperones to pay admission because our space is limited, and we want to give as many schools as possible the opportunity to visit our exhibits. If your group requires additional accommodations, please contact the registration office to discuss possible exceptions.

Why isn’t my group allowed in the Hands-on-Habitat play area?

Our Hands-on-Habitat provides a special experience to Museum visitors who are very young, and that experience can be quickly compromised by large numbers of children, or by older children entering the Hands-on-Habitat. If you have toddlers, we encourage you to come back and see us with your family to experience this exhibit.

Where can we get lunch in the area?

The Nature Museum does not have its own restaurant, so we encourage groups to bring their lunches to the museum, either in small, reusable lunch bags, or in recyclable brown bags. If your group does need to buy lunch in the area, there are restaurant options nearby on Clark Street.