Field Trip Reservations

Field Trip Reservation Fees

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.

  Accepted payment types

  • 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: Must be 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, Discover, or AMEX

  Payments not accepted for field trip participants

  • family memberships
  • overnight patches
  • free passes
  • discount coupons

Savings and Scholarships

• +  -   $5.00 Field Trips in September, October, and January

  Eligible schools can take advantage of special pricing for field trips available during these months. Exhibit Halls admission for students and chaperones is $5 per person. This discount is available for schools that offer free and reduced lunch participation at or above 35%.

  Pair your discounted Exhibit Halls admission with an IMAX film for just $4 more. To find out if your school qualifies for any scholarships: 617-723-2500.

• +  -   Multiple Visit Rates
  If you plan to return to the Museum with the same students, they may receive 50% off Exhibit Halls admission for the second visit. When making reservations, please inform Science Central that you will be visiting more than once with your group.
• +  -   Scholarships and More Ways to Save

  Reduced Exhibit Halls admission is available for qualifying schools.

  Thanks to the generosity of the Vertex Foundation, we are pleased to offer full scholarships for Exhibit Halls admission and buses to Boston Public Middle Schools.

  For more information about funding requests and the Vertex Foundation Scholarship, please contact Science Central at 617-723-2500.

  Please note that funding is limited and is distributed first come, first served.

Changes and Cancellations

• +  -   Changing Group Size

  Important: If your group size changes after you make your reservation, you must notify us by 4:00 pm on the day before your visit. Contact Science Central by phone, fax, or email: 617-723-2500, 617-589-0187, fieldtrips@mos.org.

  There are no refunds for dropped numbers on the day of your visit. Additional participants above 5 per 100 will be charged regular Exhibit Halls admission. There are 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 IMAX films or other shows/programs.

• +  -   Cancellations
  Please notify Science Central immediately: 617-723-2500, fieldtrips@mos.org. Missed reservations without notice prior to the visit date are subject to a non-cancellation fee.

Lunch and Parking

• +  -   Lunch Options

  School Group Meals by Wolfgang Puck Catering

  Pre-order meals are available for $6.25 per person.

  Offered in the Riverview Café. Reserved seating, no hassles, and speedy service. Spend time enjoying your lunch instead of waiting in line.

  Choice of individual cheese pizza, hamburger, turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, ham and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, chicken caesar salad, and more at a discounted price of $6.25 per student. All lunches come with a bag of pretzels, Teddy Grahams, 12 oz water, and condiments. Please notify us of any dietary restrictions. Call 617-723-2500 to reserve your school group lunch package today!

  • Due to space limitations in the café, you must reserve a 30-minute time slot for lunch when making your field trip reservation.
  • Arrange your lunch accommodations 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.

  Bag Lunches

  If you plan to eat in the Riverview Café, you must reserve a lunch space and mealtime when you make your field trip reservation. Bins will be provided for the storage of your group’s coats, bags, backpacks, and lunches upon arrival. Please advise students not to bring or store valuable items; the Museum cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged items.

• +  -   Parking

  There is no bus parking on Museum grounds except for drop-off and pickup. Buses may park at the Boston Autoport in Charlestown.

  Chaperones and teachers may park cars in the Museum garage and will receive a $5 flat rate. In order to receive this discount, you must turn in your chaperone badge at the Information Desk at the end of your visit. Please note that credit or debit cards are the only form of payment accepted for garage transaction.

  Learn more about bus parking (PDF)

Home School Information

• +  -   Tips for Home School Visitors
  • Start your visit early by planning your day in advance.
  • With the exception of school vacation periods, Monday is the least-busy day at the Museum.
  • Check the daily schedule to find the times of live presentations you are interested in, and add them to your agenda.
  • You might also consider spending time at our Discovery Center (for young learners). On weekdays, the Discovery Center is staffed by Museum educators who can answer questions and help with interpretation.
• +  -   Home School Group Reservations

  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 fewer than nine should go to the Box Office where normal admission rates apply.

• +  -   Home School Museum Membership

  Frequent home school visitors will find Museum membership to be a better value than standard box office pricing.

  We offer several levels of membership, all of which include a variety of benefits such as IMAX and Planetarium passes, discounted parking, and admission to other science museums.

  Learn about membership levels and benefits

• +  -   Library Pass Programs

  Many public libraries throughout Massachusetts provide Museum of Science passes that allow up to four people per day to visit the Museum's Exhibit Halls at a significantly reduced rate.

  These passes can be used for your home school visit. Contact your local library to find out if they participate and how to reserve your pass.

Guidelines for Student Visits and Chaperone Policy

• +  -   Qualifying for School Group Rates
  • School rates are available to accredited public and private pre-K – 12 schools that deliver compulsory education (primary purpose is required by law), except during Massachusetts school holidays and vacation periods.
  • School rates are also available for schools with extended days (all children enrolled in the school are involved in extended school hours) or schools in session through the summer months. After-school groups or out-of-school programs are not eligible for the school group rates.
• +  -   Educators and chaperones must ensure that students:
  • Stay with pre-assigned chaperone-sized group 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. Please note: the Museum is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
  • Sit together with students in venues such as the Mugar Omni Theater, Planetarium, 4-D Theater, Butterfly Garden, and the Theater of Electricity and other live presentations.
• +  -   Chaperone Policy
  • One chaperone per 10 students is required for grade levels pre-K – 8.
  • One chaperone per 15 students is required for grade levels 9 – 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 should act as facilitators, encouraging inquiry, and assisting students in navigating Museum Exhibit Halls and programs safely and appropriately.