Booking Information and Policies

• A minimum group size of 10 is required for Group Visit/Field Trip rates.
• Reservations must be made 2 weeks in advance.
• Field Trips & Group Visits can be reserved on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.
• Programming and Tours are subject to availability.
• A 50% deposit is due at the time of booking to finalize your trip with us.
  This is non-refundable unless the visit is cancelled least 48 hours in advance.
• Field Trip scholarships are available to schools with a free and reduced lunch rate of at least 50%. See the Group Visit & Educator Guide above for details on this program.
• We grant free admission to the teachers/group leaders, the bus driver, and chaperones within the below ratios. Additional chaperones pay the same rate as the students.
  • Preschool-Kindergarten: 1 chaperone per 5 children
  • Grades 1-3: 1 chaperone per 8 children
  • Grades 4-8: 1 chaperone per 10 children
  • Grades 8 & Up: 1 chaperone per 15 children
• There are indoor lunch spaces available upon request. Request must be made at the time of booking to ensure availability. There are first-come, first-serve pavilions located in the park across from Ella Sharp Museum, should the weather be nice for an outdoor lunch. Groups can also picnic anywhere on the park grounds and utilize any playground equipment in the park during their day with us.

Already Booked with Us?
Here’s what to expect

• Parking
  Parking is free and located directly in front of the Museum entrance. Please enter off  of Oakwood St in Ella Sharp Park and pull directly up to the front doors to unload.
• Food & Beverages
  Food & Beverages (including water) are not allowed inside the Museum Galleries, Hurst Planetarium, or Historic Buildings. Drinking fountains are available in the main museum and Hurst Planetarium.
• Behavior Guidelines
  Teachers, group leaders, and chaperones are responsible for monitoring student behavior at all times when visiting. If students are disruptive or disrespectful towards staff or other groups, your group may be asked to leave. If students behavior causes any damage to museum exhibits or our facility, your group may be asked to leave and invoiced for any damage.
• Rules to Know and Share With Chaperones
  • Please DO:
    – Take photos and post them to social media. Don’t forget to tag us!
    – Encourage students to touch and interact with items clearly marked as interactive.
    – Leave large bags/backpacks on the bus
  • Please DO NOT:
    – Run in the museum, for your safety and the safety of others.
    – Climb on or touch anything in the galleries that is not marked as interactive
    – Bring food or beverages in the Museum Galleries, Historic Buildings, Planetarium, or anywhere other than the designated lunch space