Before Your Field Trip
A Field Guide for Field Trips
Ready for your field trip to the Natural History Museum? Use the checklist below to ensure you’ve got everything you need for a successful field trip!
BEFORE YOUR FIELD TRIP
- Check that the information in your confirmation email is correct. Haven’t filled out a field trip request form yet? Book your visit.
- Looking for a museum map, park guide, or tips for your visit? Our Field Trip Guide (also available in Spanish) has everything you need to stay organized. Print copies for all of your adults and fill out any reservation times for Special Exhibits.
- Visit our Learning Resources library to download free, grade-appropriate lesson plans and activities for your visit.
- Review the Field Trip Policies (listed below) with your students and chaperones prior to your visit, including implementing and monitoring compliance with current safety measures intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with local, state, and federal public health guidelines.
- Fill out the Vaccine Certification Form and bring it with you on the day of our visit, which certifies that each adult (which includes teachers, school staff, and any chaperones) attending the School Visit to NHMLA is either (i) fully vaccinated or (ii) has self-attested that such person qualifies for a medical or religious exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and will bring a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of our visit. At this time, K-12 students may enter the museum without displaying proof of vaccination when on a field trip.
- Visiting the Nature Lab? Put yourself in their paws! Meet Rosie the Rat, who'll be your guide to the dos and don'ts of approaching the critters in our live animal collections.
- Provide directions to the Natural History Museum to your drivers.
- OptionaI: Pre-order school group lunches. Contact the NHM Grill at nhmgrill@nhm.org or 213.763.3250
ON YOUR WAY
- Bus drop-off and pick-up occurs on Exposition Park Drive in front of the South Lawn of the museum.
- Bus parking is available for $15 per bus in the Green Lot (additional charges may apply for charter buses).
- Personal vehicle and van parking is available for $15 per car in the NHM Car Park on Bill Robertson Lane.
- Leave lunches on the bus, in vehicles, or securely zipped in backpacks. Because of the sensitive nature of our collections, we cannot store lunches in the museum. Thanks for protecting our collections!
YOUR FIELD TRIP BEGINS!
- When you arrive, gather your group on the South Lawn or steps (keeping entry doors clear) and count the number of students, chaperones, and teachers/school staff.
- Send one teacher inside with your final headcount to check in with Guest Relations.
- Remind your chaperones to help their students adhere to the Field Trip Policies available on their Field Trip Guide (also listed below), including compliance with current COVID-19 safety measures in place at the museum.
- Review any reservation times and locations with chaperones and school staff.
- Once admission stickers have been provided to all adults, use the doors on the left or right (not the center doors) to enter the museum.
FIELD TRIP POLICIES
Take a look at the important information below to help you and your students be prepared for their field trip experience. Questions? Contact us at info@nhm.org!
- Admission to the museum and reservations for performances, programs, or special exhibits are free for all students and school staff (including teachers, one-to-one aides, teaching assistants, and administrators).
- We require a minimum of one chaperone for every ten students, and cover up to one additional chaperone for every five students. Chaperones beyond the 1:5 ratio are still welcome; however, they will need to purchase a discounted $12 chaperone ticket upon arrival. Exceptions apply to Title I schools. Additional adults not be included in add-on reservations and may need to purchase tickets for special exhibits.
- Students must be within eyesight of their teacher or chaperone at all times, regardless of age. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students in their group, including compliance with current COVID-19 safety guidelines. Please monitor students closely while in the Museum Store or NHM Grill.
- Please arrive to all timed reservations at least 10 minutes prior to your reservation time; we may not be able to accommodate late arrivals. Please pre-divide your students into groups for your reservations before your visit. Group numbers are listed in your confirmation email.
- All school groups must eat outside on the South Lawn (not at the NHM Grill, Café Patio, or in our Nature Gardens), even if food is purchased from NHM. Please see the Field Trip Guide for school group designated lunch areas. Visiting on a very rainy day? We’ve got you covered (literally)! Reserve your spot for indoor lunch during check in on the day of your field trip.
- Be sure to respect our live animals and please do not tap or bang on the glass of their enclosures. Hear more on this from one of our animal ambassadors, Rosie the Rat!
QUESTIONS?
Check out our FAQs for more information!
