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:

• Chaperones must stay with their group at all times. This includes all students through 12th grade.
• On the day of your visit, if you arrive without the required number of chaperones, your group may be turned away.
• To book a Live Science Program, reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance
• Final group numbers are due two weeks prior to arrival. We cannot make changes to final numbers after groups check in.
• If you have to cancel your field trip, please notify us as soon as possible. Visits canceled within 48 hours will received a refund, less a $95 administrative fee.
• Please visit smv.org/groups to read the Science Museum's full list of group visit policies.

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. Science Museum memberships and other discounts are also not valid on group admission fees.

On the day of your visit, if additional guests join your group (including staff or chaperones), those guests will receive the general admission price. Additional guests must purchase a ticket to view Dome features with their group (if space is available). Live Science Programs are not available to day-of, walk-in guests who are joining a group.

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.

Payment Information

Advanced payments can be made by credit card, check or purchase order. Payment in advance is always preferred.

Payment cannot be accepted at the front desk on the day of your arrival. If you are unable to pay in advance, we can invoice you. Please let us know at the time of booking if you need an invoice.

The invoice will be based on the final numbers given to us by the onsite group leader on the day of your trip.

For groups booking visits within two weeks of a scheduled arrival date, full payment is due at the time of booking.

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.
• Whether you include chaperones in your pre-visit count or have them pay on the day of your trip, you must have the minimum number of chaperones or 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. Guest Operations will let you know the time of your assigned 30-minute lunch block when you arrive. In order to allow multiple groups to make use of our limited space, we cannot schedule specific lunch times in advance. 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 by Bean Sprouts eating area. You may wish to order lunch for your group from our café. Bean Sprouts has an allergy-friendly field trip menu, with student entrées ranging from PBJs to personal pizzas. A student lunch includes a side such as fruit or chips plus a bottle of water for $9.00 (including tax). Meals can be made gluten-free for an additional charge. Simply indicate your interest in the lunches section of the online reservation form and we’ll send you the Bean Sprouts information, including the link to order. Please note that group lunch orders must be placed at least two weeks in advance.

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 and are not guaranteed a space in the classroom.

Limited bus parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bus parking and loading locations may change during periods of construction. Science Museum staff will share current bus-related information with the group leader before the visit. Parking buses on Terminal Place is strictly prohibited.

Bus drivers should extend their stop sign and turn on flashing lights only when actively loading/unloading guests. When guests are not exiting/entering the bus, drivers need to retract the stop sign so traffic can flow.

Buses may not double park (ie: side by side) in the Front Circle or otherwise block the driveway to through traffic.

Buses do not fit in the parking deck, and attempting to park in the deck will damage the bus.

Chaperones and additional guests meeting the group should park in the Science Museum parking deck.