Group Visit Policies

Click here to learn more about Digital Demos. And click here for booking policies.

A minimum of 10 paying guests are required to qualify for the group rate and to book a Live Science Program. Group admission is $11 per person, bringing the minimum group admission to $110 (10 guests at $11 per guest). Live Science Programs can be added for $4 per guest, bringing the minimum group admission including a Live Science Program to $150 (10 guests at $15 per guest). Click here to learn more about group booking for your homeschool group.

We strive to give all guests the best experience possible, so we staff appropriately to support group visits. To allow us to provide an unforgettable experience for your group, we ask that you observe the below group policies:

• To book a Live Science Program, reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance
• Payment and a final group count is due two weeks prior to arrival and can be made by check or credit card. If you require an invoice for payment, please let a Group Adventures Associate know when you book your visit.
• Payment will be due at booking for visits booked within two weeks of arrival.
• Final Numbers can only be changed up to seven (7) days prior to your visit. After this time your numbers cannot be adjusted.
• On the day of your visit, if additional guests join your group, those guests will receive the general admission price.
• If you have to cancel your field trip, please notify us as soon as possible. Visits canceled within 48 hours will receive a refund, less a $95 administrative fee.

Booking multiple groups? Give us a call and we'll help streamline that process!

Group programming is subject to change without notice.

Discounted group admission is available for groups of 10 or more paying guests. Guests who qualify for free admission (guests 2 and younger or teachers, for example) do not count toward the total group number.

Exhibitions Only

• $11 per person

Exhibitions + Dome

• $15 per person

Exhibitions + Live Science

• $15 per person

Exhibitions + Dome + Live Science

• $19 per person

Additional Live Science Programs can be added to your group visit for an additional $4 per person.

The group leader should come to the front desk and check in with our Guest Services staff. They will confirm your schedule for the day, provide the admission stickers for everyone in the group, and let you know your scheduled lunch time and location (if available). Please ask all students and chaperones to unload on the Front Portico and a Guest Services associate will greet the group and direct the bus on where to park. Please do not park in the parking deck. Buses do not fit in the deck and attempting to park in the deck can cause damage to the bus and the parking deck.

To reduce the number of lost and found items, we ask that all students leave coats and backpacks on the bus, if possible. We do not have storage areas for coats or backpacks.

• We require one adult chaperone per 10 students for all students through 12th grade.
• Chaperones must stay with their group at all times. This includes all students through 12th grade.
• One adult for every 10 students will receive complimentary admission.
• On the day of your visit, if you arrive without the required number of chaperones, your group may be turned away.

If your group plans to eat lunch at the Science Museum, please indicate that on the group reservation form when booking. Lunch locations and timing are subject to change. Guest Services will confirm your lunch details upon check-in on the day of your visit.

Designated lunch locations are not strictly climate controlled and may be outside. The Science Museum does not guarantee availability for a lunch location or time. Please be prepared to eat on your bus if there are no spaces available. Groups may not eat in the café.

Our Guest Services staff will bring out a lunch bin for your students to put their lunches in. Your group's lunches will be delivered to your location at the scheduled time and then brought back to the main exit for your departure.

Groups can add a Dome feature to their visit for $4 per person.

• Each month, the Science Museum rotates the films it shows for guests. Groups can purchase tickets to features on the general public schedule. Please check our hours and schedule page to see what's showing.
• If no general public tickets have been sold, groups of 50 or more can request a special Dome showing from any film in our group library. The film can change, but the showtime will adhere to the Science Museum’s regular Dome schedule.
• Groups of 75 or more can book any Dome feature from our group library and can reserve a special time spot outside of the Science Museum’s regular Dome schedule. Each of the above options is based on availability. Special showings and additional showtimes must be booked at least two weeks in advance.

Live Science Programs must be scheduled two weeks in advance because space is very limited.

All Live Science Programs are 30-45 minutes long. We will ask that your group meet at the Foucault Pendulum 15 minutes before your program start time so one of our educators can bring your group to the program location.

In Live Science Programs, we prioritize space for students. We will maintain the required chaperone-to-student ratio, but additional adults may be asked to wait outside the program space.