School Field Trips

The Exploratorium is temporarily closed. Explore our online resources for learning at home.

Field Trip Request Form

Thank you for your interest in visiting the Exploratorium with your field trip group. Please complete the following form. You’ll be contacted by reservations staff to finalize the details of your visit. Learn more about Field Trip reservations.

Please let us know if you teach in a Title I school. Title I schools receive free admission for school field trips, subject to availability. Please ask about this program when you make your reservation. 

For all non-Title I schools, a deposit of 50% of the total amount is due on the 1st of the month prior to the date of your intended visit. This deposit will be applied to your total amount due, which must be paid in full on arrival or sooner and may be made by credit card or check. Deposits are nonrefundable if a reservation is canceled less than two weeks before the reserved arrival date. No refunds of under $50 will be issued.

Please note: We do not accept field trip reservations on Exploratorium free days.

General Information
Information About Your Visit
The 2019–2020 season for school field trips is September 17, 2019 through June 12, 2020. Please note that there will be no field trips during Thanksgiving break, November 28 and 29, or during winter break, December 23, 2019–January 3, 2020. Please select a date for your trip.
Please be aware that selecting three dates will make it much easier to accommodate your request. Field trip days are Tuesdays–Fridays, starting at 10:00 a.m.; there are no field trips on Mondays or during winter and summer breaks. If you’re planning to arrive outside of field-trip hours, please make a group reservation by calling (415) 528-4444 and choosing option 5 for reservations.
We require that you bring a minimum of one chaperone, admitted free, for every ten youths or children. Please keep in mind that, for the duration of your visit, the chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students they are accompanying. Although the museum is self-guided, it is a good idea for chaperones to stay with their students, as teacher and chaperone involvement can greatly improve the students’ experiences.
Tactile Dome
For Tactile Dome reservations, please call (415) 528-4407. We require a nonrefundable payment in full for Tactile Dome reservations at the time that the reservation is made; please have a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card ready. Also, please note that the Tactile Dome schedule is available on the 1st of each month for up to 2 months in advance. If you're booking for January, for example, the schedule will be available beginning November 1.
Transportation
This fall, take BART to your Exploratorium field trip and get free museum admission and free BART tickets for your whole group! ** The drop-off zone for buses is located on the Embarcadero in front of Pier 17, just north of the Exploratorium. Space is limited! In order to accommodate all our guests arriving by bus, we ask that you adhere to your scheduled arrival/departure times. Please call (415) 528-4420 and let us know if you will be arriving after your scheduled arrival time.