Free Visit



We encourage you to visit the museum before your field trip. Tell the cashier that you are previewing the museum in preparation for an upcoming field trip, and the cashier will sign you in free of charge.

Pathways



If you wish to structure your students' visit, there are several "pathways" available online at www.exploratorium.edu/pathways. Pathways are written materials that lead your students through a set of exhibits focused on a theme. Pathways are available for many science content areas including investigation and experimentation. There are also suggestions for creating a pathway specific to your class.

Special Needs



Please let us know if any group member has special needs. We will do our best to accommodate you.

Payment With Purchase Order



Payment is due upon arrival. If you plan on paying with a purchase order, please SEND a copy at least one week before your visit. Be sure the purchase order is issued by the Unified School District and references the following information: school's name, date of your reservation, reservation number,and amount allocated for the visit. Each reservation requires a separate purchase order. Be sure that the Exploratorium is listed as the payee. Purchase orders are NOT accepted for Tactile Dome or Lunch Voucher/Box payment.

Chaperones



Please bring a minimum of one chaperone for every 10 youths or children. All additional adults will be admitted at a rate of $7.50 each. Please keep in mind that, for the duration of your visit, the chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students they are accompanying.

School Identification Labels (Very Important)



Please provide visible labels with the name of the school not individual names, for everyone in your group, including adults. In this way, both the Exploratorium and the school can identify the members of your group, without compromising the safety of individuals.

Directions



Feel free to contact our Directions Line at (415) 561-0399, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Charter buses MUST use the approved route to the Exploratorium. Please ensure that your transportation provider is given a copy of the "Transportation Routes Maps" in your confirmation.

General directions and public transportation information are available on our Map & Directions page. For bus routes to and from the museum, including alternate routes for buses 11'3" and taller, please refer to the Bus Routes page.

Parking



Free parking is available in the lot on the west side of the building. Please park buses toward the back of the parking lot, against the fence. For safety reasons, please unload in the parking lot, and not along Palace Drive or at the Main Entrance.

Checking In



When you arrive at the museum, please wait with your students outside the main entrance, or inside the front lobby. An Explainer will meet you there. The group leader will need to register and pay at the Admissions desk, while the chaperones wait with the group.

Payment



Payment for the entire group is due upon arrival. Please make your payment in one lump sum, even if you are paying for several classes. If you would like to pay separately for classes, please make separate reservations. Also, before checking in, please have ready an exact head count of your students and accompanying adults, so that we charge you the correct amount. For example, you will need to have ready the total number of youth (4-17), children (<4), and adults (18+) in your entire group. Please bring a minimum of 1 chaperone for every 10 youths or children. All additional adults will be admitted at a rate of $7.50 each. The fall season rate* for a school field trip is $3.00 per student ages 4-17; students under 4 are free. During the spring, the rate for students 4-17 will change to $5.00. We accept cash, checks, traveler's checks, MasterCard, VISA, and American Express. We also accept Unified School District purchase orders sent one week in advance (see above).

* Fall field trips: 10/7/03-1/30/04; spring field trips: 2/3/04-6/11/04

Orientation



You will be met at the entrance by a Field Trip Explainer, easily identified by a bright orange vest. The Explainer will welcome your group to the museum, highlight any special exhibits and demonstrations, and answer any questions you may have. The orientation will also cover logistical details and museum rules. The Explainer will lead your group into an exhibit area. The Explainer will not stay with you throughout your visit. However, Explainers are available around the museum to answer your questions and discuss exhibits.

Bilingual Information


If you would like your group to receive an orientation in a language other than English, please tell the Explainer when you check in. We will do our best to accommodate you.

Set Meeting Time and Place



At the end of the orientation, please make sure all the students and chaperones know when and where you are meeting for lunch and/or departure. The doorway is not a good meeting place, as it is our only entrance/exit. Keep in mind that the Exploratorium is a very big place and we have no paging system.

Lunch Storage



The Explainer will collect your students' lunches and store them in large bins with your school name. For your own convenience, you may want to make sure that each lunch is identified with the student's name. Our storage space is limited, so we are unable to store backpacks. Students are encouraged to leave their backpacks at home or on the bus. Coin-operated lockers are also available for your use.

Demonstrations



As you move through our 650 exhibits, you will see Explainers stationed at several demonstration areas. Cow eye dissections, flower dissections, and DNA extractions are conducted at certain times of the day. Ongoing explorations in perception and light are available through the day. Please encourage your students to participate in these demonstrations, as they are fun, interesting, and offer an added dimension to the museum visit.

Active Chaperoning



Please keep in mind that chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students they accompany. Although the museum is self-guided, it is a good idea for chaperones to be aware of where their students are and to be available to them. Teachers and chaperone involvement in the visit can greatly improve the students' experiences.

Restrooms / Re-entering the Museum



There are two sets of restrooms in the Exploratorium. One is located in the lobby and the other is inside the museum near the café. If and when students leave the museum to eat lunch or to use the restroom, we do not stamp hands. We will re-admit students wearing school name tags.

Lost And Found: Persons and Items



Our lost and found is located in the main office. Explainers, main office receptionists, or Admissions cashiers can assist you in finding a lost student. Keep in mind that there is no paging system.

First Aid



Our First Aid station is also located in the main office. If you need emergency assistance, find the nearest staff member or go to the main office.

Exploratorium Store



The Exploratorium Store sells a wide array of books, toys, and other interesting items. All proceeds from Store sales benefit the museum.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUTH GROUPS: We encourage you to bring children to the Store, but children must be accompanied by a chaperone. Please read the "Exploratorium Store, Field Trip Etiquette" insert included with your confirmation.

Buying Lunch



The Exploratorium Café offers a variety of foods, including sandwiches, soup, a salad bar, hot dogs, and nachos. There are tables available in the cafe if you buy your lunches there. Prepaid Lunch Vouchers and Lunch Boxes are available. Please call our Reservations office at (415) 461-0317 for details.

Bringing Lunch



If you have brought lunches, you can find many nice spots to eat on the grounds outside the museum. An Explainer or our Janitorial staff can provide you with a garbage bag or can to facilitate clean up. At the Exploratorium, we encourage recycling inside the museum and are happy to provide recycling containers. Stay with your group and take responsibility for the children's behavior. It is important for children to be considerate of each other, of their surroundings, and of our wildlife. Please keep in mind that the Palace grounds are for the enjoyment of all. Please be considerate of our neighbors.

If you are visiting the museum on a Free Day (first Wednesday of every month), please remember that it is still important to check in with an Admissions cashier upon arrival and receive an orientation. Because Free Days are especially crowded, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of safety and behavior with your students



Thank you for choosing to bring your school to the Exploratorium. We hope your visit will be educational, challenging, and fun. We welcome your comments and suggestions. When planning future visits, please remember that spring Field Trips fill up quickly, so schedule your next visit as soon as you can. To schedule your visit, please fill out our online Field Trip Reservation form. Alternatively, call our Field Trip Reservations line at (415)561-0317, Monday - Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. We also accept faxed requests for reservations at (415)674-2828.