Planning Your Museum-Based Field Trip

Field Trips inspire and engage students through 30-45 minute programs that include hands-on activities, literacy, and art components. Field Trips are $9 per child and teachers are free. We require a safety ratio of 1 adult for every 5 children- adult chaperones are $9/person. There may be scholarship funds available for those groups that qualify.

Field Trips are $9.00 per child.

Field Trip visits in the museum consist of two components: exploration time in the museum exhibits and a 30 to 45-minute educational program with a Children’s Museum Educator.

There may be other field trip groups visiting at the same time (within space capacity limits) and other museum guests will also be exploring the museum during your visit. Please be respectful.

A minimum of 10 children is required for a Field Trip Reservation.

For example: If only seven children attend a Field Trip, CM to Go, or Group Visit, you will be responsible for paying the rate of 10 children.

Field Trips may be booked at either Children’s Museum location.

Field Trips may be booked at the Children’s Museum Downtown (max classroom capacity =45 people) or Chesterfield (max classroom capacity =24 people). If you have a large group, you may need to book multiple days due to capacity limitations.

Field Trips are booked in a two-step process: 1) Online request; 2) Confirmation Letter

All Field Trip booking requests must be completed using the online form below. Reservations are not able to be made over the phone or via email. You will receive an automatic email notification if your online request was submitted successfully. Once submitted, please allow two weeks for processing.

Your Field Trip is not booked until you have received a Confirmation Letter from the Children’s Museum via email. This will include a detailed schedule of your Field Trip and serves as an invoice. Take note: your Field Trip will be scheduled based on availability while trying to honor your three requested dates. If you have not received confirmation after two weeks, please contact education@cmorva.org

Class size adjustments are locked in one week prior to your scheduled visit.

You will be expected to pay for the number confirmed even if fewer children attend. Please reach out to education@cmorva.org by the one-week deadline with any changes and to make payment.

Payment

Payment in full is due when you finalize your count one week prior to your visit. Please note that only one form of payment is accepted per reservation. We accept checks (deliver to: CMoR Education Department, 2626 W. Broad St. Richmond 23223) and should be received prior to your visit, and major credit cards (call 474-7012 to pay). We are unable to accept Purchase Orders. Refunds for overpayment will only be issued if the amount exceeds $50. Amounts under $50 will be donated to our scholarship fund. A minimum of 10 students is required for a reservation. Reservations for under 10 students will be invoiced for the 10-student minimum. Please note that member privileges do not apply to Field Trip reservations.

Cancellations within two weeks of your scheduled Field Trip will result in a $50 Administrative Fee.

The $50 Administrative Fee will be charged regardless of scholarship status and includes no-shows. If your school or school district is closed because of inclement weather this fee will be waived and the Children’s Museum will reach out to try to reschedule your visit.

All teachers/aides are free! Field Trips also require a set ratio of chaperones as well.

The number of required chaperones (18 years or older) for your visit is based on the total number of children that attend on the day of your visit. We require one adult for every five children. Chaperones that are required to meet the safety ratio attend at no cost but cannot bring an additional sibling/child.

Additional chaperones (adults, parents, caregivers, etc.) above the required safety ratio are strongly discouraged. Those adults will pay the daily admission price of $9, unless they have a personal membership or qualify for a Museums for All discount by showing their EBT/WIC card.

Additional siblings or children are also strongly discouraged. If they do come, those children will be required to pay the daily admission price of $9 per child, regardless of the rate listed on the letter and will not be able to participate in classroom portion of field trip.

Field Trips must meet the Children’s Museum Safety Ratio of one adult for every five children.

This ratio can be comprised of all teachers/aides or a combination of teachers/aides and parents, caregivers, etc. It is the responsibility of the teachers supervising the visit to ensure the required Safety Ratio is met on the day of your visit. The Children’s Museum can make the determination to cancel any or all portions of the trip, if the Safety Ratio is not adequately met.

Additional children, such as siblings, are strongly discouraged for Field Trips.

If additional children do attend along with the classes participating in the Field Trip they are not considered part of the school group and are required to pay the normal daily admission rate for the Children’s Museum- regardless of the rate being charged per Field Trip participant. Note: additional children will not be able to participate in classroom portion of field trip.

Not interested in an Educator-led program? Book a Group Visit instead.

Group Visits require advance registration for groups of at least ten children. Visit date restrictions may be in place. Learn more here.

The costs indicated on your invoice may change upon the completion and subsequent approval of your Scholarship Application. Scholarship Applications should be submitted at least three weeks prior to your anticipated visit for consideration. Compliance reasons require that Scholarship Applications be received from qualifying schools each year, regardless of whether there has been a change in status from the former year. Click here to complete the scholarship application.

If your group qualifies for a scholarship visit, you are also eligible for books from the Children’s Book Bank! To request books, please complete the form.

Arrival

Please note that parking has changed due to the construction of the parking garage. Any vehicle unloading students at the Children’s Museum must enter via Davis Ave so that children can safely disembark at the curb. Bus and van parking has changed. See the map for details.

Checking In

Once at the Children’s Museum location, an Educator will greet your lead teacher, direct bus drivers to the proper parking areas, and escort students into the building. Your visit will begin with an Educator reviewing the Museum Manners with everyone in the group. The teacher will be responsible for counting children and collecting wristbands for included required adults. Any additional chaperones will need to check in individually at the front desk and gain admission (either by paying, using a personal membership or showing their EBT/WIC card for a Museums for All discount admission) and get a wristband from the Guest Services staff. All adults with the field trip must be wristbanded before entering the museum floor or classroom.

Absent Students

We realize that the number of students attending your Field Trip may change. However, your Field Trip will be charged for the number of students confirmed (changes can be made up to 7 days prior to visit).

Payment

Payment should have been completed one week prior to your visit. If paying by check: please make arrangements to have the check mailed early enough so payment is received by visit date. Call the Education Manager at 474-7012 if there are questions or to pay by credit card.

Lunch

There is available first-come, first-serve outdoor space downtown or classroom space may be reserved upon request if space is available. Water fountains are available and water/snacks are available for purchase.

Surveys

Teachers will be asked to complete a field trip survey. We rely on feedback to improve our programs and delivery! Please leave your survey with your Educator or at the Front Desk prior to leaving the Children’s Museum.

Photo Video Release

Please know that upon entering the Children’s Museum, you and your children may be photographed or filmed for marketing purposes. If this is an issue for anyone in your Field Trip please contact the Children’s Museum prior to your visit.

Have Fun!

We hope you have a memorable experience at the Children’s Museum! Please feel free to offer your feedback. We’re always seeking to improve our customers’ experiences. We (and our funders/sponsors) love notes from the kids too!