Field Trip Reservations
Reservation Information For Field Trips
Making Reservations
- Reservations for school groups greater than nine visitors are by phone only. Call Science Central at 617-723-2500 (open daily, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST).
- Reserve early! Programs fill to capacity, and there is a limit to daily school group admissions.
- Reserve at least 24 hours in advance: Exhibit Halls, Butterfly Garden, Omni and 3-D Digital Cinema films. (Subject to availability)
- Reserve at least two weeks in advance: Planetarium shows, special programs, special requests for Omni films, and special requests for live presentations in the Gordon Current Science & Technology Center.
- School field trips and programs are not offered during Massachusetts holidays and school vacation periods: November 27 - 30, December 24 - January 2; February 16 - 20, April 20 - 24.
Science Central
Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST
617-723-2500 (voice)
617-589-0417 (TTY)
617-589-0187 (fax)
fieldtrips@mos.org
Guidelines for Student Visits
Educators bringing students to the Museum of Science are expected to plan a schedule that focuses students' attention and creates opportunities to connect learning in the Museum with learning in the classroom or community center. Use our online field trip guide to explore what is available. Also, field trip planning workshops are available by appointment. Ensure that your field trip is valuable learning time by consulting with a Museum educator to plan a focused visit. Contact Science Central at 617-723-2500.
Qualifying for School Group Rates
School rates are available to accredited public and private K - 12 schools, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., excluding Massachusetts school holidays. School rates are also available for schools with extended days (all children enrolled in the school are involved in extended school hours) or schools that hold session through the summer months.
Chaperone Policy
One chaperone per 10 students is required for grade levels Pre-K - 10; one chaperone per 15 students is required for grade levels 11 - 12. Chaperones must stay with students at all times and are responsible for the safety of the students and the exhibits they visit. Chaperones must be at least 21 years old.
- Educators and chaperones must ensure that students:
- Stay with preassigned chaperones at all times, regardless of the students' ages.
- Adhere to the code of conduct established by school systems and community centers. Behavior that is not acceptable at schools and community centers is not acceptable at the Museum of Science.
- Respect Museum staff, Museum property, and other Museum visitors.
- Understand that dangerous, disruptive, or threatening behavior will not be tolerated.
Changing Your Group Size
- IMPORTANT: If your group size changes after you make your reservation, you must notify us by 5:00 p.m. on the day before your visit. Contact Science Central by phone, fax, or email: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0187, fieldtrips@mos.org.
- At check-in, you may adjust your group size by 5 persons per 100. Additional participants above 5 per 100 will be charged regular Exhibit Halls admission. No same-day refunds if you reduce your number of participants by more than 5 per 100. Any additions are subject to availability and are not guaranteed entrance to Omni or other shows/programs.
Cancellations
Notify Science Central immediately by phone (617-723-2500) or email at fieldtrips@mos.org.
Fees and Payment Rates
Special rates are available for September, October, and January for schools with free and reduced lunch participation at or above 35%. The Museum has limited funding available for students who qualify for field trip assistance. Please inquire about this if there is a need.
Exhibit Halls
Educators: Free
Students:
| First Visit | Second Visit | |
|---|---|---|
| September - August | $7.50 | $3.75 |
| September, October, January | $2.00* | N/A |
Chaperones:
| First Visit | Second Visit | |
|---|---|---|
| September - August | $4.00 | $2.00 |
| September, October, January | $2.00* | N/A |
*The $2.00 Exhibit Halls admission during the months of September, October, and January is available for those individual schools with free and reduced lunch participation at or above 35%.
Multiple visits: If you return with the same students, you receive 50% off Exhibit Halls admission. When making reservations, inform Science Central that you will be visiting more than once with your students.
For reserved field trip add-on programs, fees vary:
| Exhibit Halls Add-On | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Planetarium | $3.00 |
| Omni Film | $3.00 |
| 3-D Digital Cinema | $2.00 |
| Butterfly Garden | $1.00 |
Venue Only (Exhibit Halls admission not included)
| Venue | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Planetarium Only | $6.00 |
| Mugar Omni Theater | $6.00 |
Payment Methods
Regular Check In
- Making payments:
- Payment is required upon arrival.
- Payment must cover the full number of students, chaperones, and teachers in your reservation.
- Payments Accepted:
- Purchase orders: arrange at least five days in advance with Science Central. Any amount above the approved purchase order amount must be paid in person via cash, school check, or credit card.
- Cash: large bills are appreciated.
- Checks: made out to Museum of Science. No personal checks. Bring check with you the day of your visit — please do not mail.
- Credit Cards: MC, VISA, or AMEX.
Payments NOT Accepted for field trip participants
Family Memberships, overnight patches, or discount coupons.
Express Check In
- Making payments:
- Payment is required at least 72 hours prior to date of visit.
- Payment must cover the full number of students, chaperones, and teachers in your reservation.
- Payments Accepted:
- Checks: made out to the Museum of Science and mailed to Science Central, Lockbox 847427, Boston, MA 02114.
Savings and Scholarships
$2.00 Field Trips in September, October, and January
Take advantage of special pricing for field trips available in these months when Exhibit Halls admission for students and chaperones is $2.00 per person. This offer is available for schools with free and reduced lunch participation at or above 35%.
Pair your discounted Exhibit Halls admission with an Omni film or Planetarium show for just $3.00 more. Or take in a visit to the Butterfly Garden for $1.00 or a 3-D film for $2.00. To find out if your school qualifies for any scholarships: 617-723-2500.
Grand Canyon Adventure: River At Risk Scholarship Opportunity
Thanks to the support of the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation, up to 35 schools will be eligible to apply for a scholarship of up to $525.00 to be used toward Exhibit Halls admission fees, Omni Theater fees, or bus transportation fees. Awards will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum of $10.50 per person for up to 50 people.
Middle school and high school student groups may consider visiting our Mapping The World Around Us exhibit and/or making a special request for a Gordon Current Science & Technology Center presentation such as Climate Change or Alternative Energy (wind power and solar energy).
To find out if your school qualifies for a scholarship: 617-723-2500.
Other Scholarships
Reduced Exhibit Halls admission is available for qualifying schools. Funding requests should be processed while making a reservation with Science Central: 617-723-2500. Funding is limited and is distributed first come, first served.
Reduced Admission -- More Ways to Save
Butterfly Garden $1
The Butterfly Garden entrance fee is just $1, which directly covers care and feeding of the butterflies. Free-flying butterflies and moths inspire investigations of their survival strategies, relationships with plants, and physical development. Details.
Timed tickets required. Fee: Exhibit Halls admission + $1. Hours: Exhibit entry times every 15 minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m. Length: 30 min. Location: Blue Wing, Level 2. Capacity: 30 students.
3-D Digital Cinema $2
A high-definition digital projection system presents crisp 3-D images using state-of-the-art technology. Details.
Timed tickets required. Fee: Exhibit Halls admission + $2.
Lunch Options
- Arrange your lunch accomodations when you reserve your field trip.
- Field trip participants may either purchase lunches in the Riverview Café or bring bag lunches.
Food Vouchers
Available in any monetary amount. Purchase them through Science Central: 617-723-2500.
- Purchased Lunches
- We recommend that you preorder Riverview Café meals. These will be prepared in advance for your group.
- Menu options:
Pizza
Hamburger
Turkey and Cheese Sandwich on whole wheat bread
Ham and Cheese Sandwich on whole wheat bread
Chicken Caesar Salad.
All options include a bag of pretzels, Teddy Grahams, 12 oz water, and condiments. Hand fruit is available upon request. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions. - $5.50 per person
- View a PDF of the menu
- Bag Lunches
- If you plan to eat in the Riverview Café, you must reserve a lunch space and meal time with Science Central.
- Staff will store lunches in bins until your scheduled meal time.
Parking
There is no bus parking on Museum grounds except for drop-off and pickup. Buses may park at the Boston Autoport in Charlestown. Details (PDF).
Chaperones and teachers may park cars in the Museum garage for flat fee of $3 for the day. Flat fee applies during field trip participation only; it may not be applied when visiting the Museum for other purposes.
Home School Visitor Guidelines
Home school groups of at least nine visitors can make reservations over the phone and gain access to discounted school group pricing for teachers, chaperones and students. We encourage you to collaborate to form larger groups and set up a reservation. Call Science Central at 617-723-2500. Groups of less than nine should go to the box office where normal admission rates apply.
For more information on planning your visit and reducing its cost: Tips for Home School Visitors.
