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In-person Field Trips

Health and Safety Policy
Face masks that cover the nose and mouth are required indoors for all visitors ages 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are not required in the outdoor areas of the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience®. We are unable to offer medical exceptions at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation, consult with our team of experts, and re-evaluate as necessary. View all health and safety procedures.

Welcome to the 2021–2022 school year!

The Children’s Museum is a favorite field trip destination for both students and teachers. The museum provides exhibits, enriched learning experiences, and inquiry-based programs. Professional educators design museum experiences around Indiana’s Academic Standards in science, math, social studies, language arts, the arts, and health and wellness to expand the museum visit into a cross-curricular experience.

A field trip to remember

Give your students a field trip to remember at the world’s biggest and best children’s museum complex! Whether you’re exploring our five floors of interactive fun on your own or adding a program or special event, we have you covered with the details. You can even add an experience in our 7.5 acre Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® on select fall and spring dates.

Hours

The museum is open for school groups during these times:

Sept. 14, 2021–March 18, 2022
Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

April 11–May 27, 2022
Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m

Admission

Indiana school group admission
Indiana school groups are eligible to receive a reduced admission rate valid for groups of 20 or more students during the school year.

Students: $6.75

Required chaperones: One adult for every 10 students is required. One adult for every five students is free. Additional adults will be charged $8.75 each. If a student requires one-on-one care, the caregiver will be required to show a school identification name badge at check-in for free admission

Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® Option
Must be purchased in combination with a museum field trip at an additional cost of $2 per student. Additional chaperones are also required. See detailed information in the programs section below.

Lunch

Students can be a hungry bunch! Choose from these three options for your field trip lunches:

  • Bring your own lunches and schedule a 25-minute break in our indoor sack lunch area
  • Dine in our Food Court on your own. Be aware that long lines may be an issue.
  • Order catered Food Court lunches* for groups of 50 or more. Choose meals from our school lunch menu or customize your own. Catered lunches are available.

Questions? Contact our Customer Service Center at 317-334-4000 or 800-820-6214 or email customerservice@childrensmuseum.org.

We have five floors of exciting interactive exhibits ready to engage your students in learning. In our permanent exhibits you can explore a space station, uncover the mysteries of an Egyptian tomb, discover how science impacts our daily lives, and so much more. The museum also hosts nationally recognized temporary exhibits throughout the year. You can find the full exhibit line-up here.

Visit tip–The Carousel

Carousel tickets can be purchased in advance. Please make arrangements while completing your reservation. Rides are $1 per rider. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Carousel fees will be added to your admission. The Carousel will be closed for maintenance Sept. 7–19, 2021.

Step 3: Add a program

Add a school program expertly guided by one of our trained educators to enhance your students’ field trip experience! All programs must be purchased in combination with a museum field trip.

Events

From Kindergarten Days to A Winter Festival, our calendar is full of school-specific events that will keep your students engaged.

Preregistration is required. Events must be specifically requested when making a reservation.

Related Events

Dino Day

Students will explore dinosaurs and paleontology with tabletop activities Details

View dates and times

Insect Mania 

Students will learn about insects and entomology by participating in tabletop activities across the museum. Details

View dates and times

Arts & Humanities

Discover art, history, archaeology, and storytelling in an Arts & Humanities School Program.

Preregistration is required. Arts & Humanities School Programs must be specifically requested when making a reservation.

Related Events

Chihuly Art

Create a Chihuly-inspired piece of art. Details

View dates and times

Collections Chat

Students will examine images of an object from the collection using See, Think, Wonder, a guided thinking strategy. Details

View dates and times

Secrets of the Artifact

Students learn new thinking strategies as they use context clues and inquiry skills to identify a mystery artifact and discover more about the past. Choose Egypt, China, or the Caribbean! Details

View dates and times

Making Your Mark: Protest Art

Learn about the tradition of protest art and how artists have used their art to share a message, particularly regarding the Black Lives Matter mural in Indianapolis in 2020. Details

View dates and times

STEM

Explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in our STEM-specific School Programs.

Preregistration is required. STEM School Programs must be specifically requested when making a reservation.

Related Events

From Field to Lab

Students will explore the protection, transportation, and cleaning of fossils and even get to clean real dinosaur fossils from The Children's Museum's dig site at the Jurassic Mile™! Details

View dates and times

Pegboard Engineering

In this program, students will review and practice basic engineering concepts while creating a pegboard marble run. Details

View dates and times
Ticket required

Plants Alive! Seed Germination

Examine a seed to learn what makes it so special, and then test your green thumb by getting seeds ready to germinate. Details

View dates and times

Weather Tools

In this program, students experience a basic introduction to some of the tools meteorologists use to measure the weather. Details

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Dr. Percy Julian

Students will conduct two basic scientific procedures after learning about the work and life of Dr. Julian. Details

View dates and times

Test Track 

Complete a scientific test to learn how different surfaces affect speed and motion. Learn how friction affects the way model cars move on a track. Details

View dates and times

Coding with Robonaut 

Students learn how robots help astronauts complete tasks in space and how they're paving the way for human exploration of places like Mars. Details

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Behind the Genes

Students will explore the genotype and phenotype of conventional and genetically modified soybeans through visual observation, protein testing, and DNA extraction.   Details

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Preschool

Preschool groups wishing to visit Playscape® are required to make a reservation for a 30-minute self-guided visit in the gallery. Please note that focused Science, Art, and Music programs are currently unavailable due to limited capacity. For questions regarding Playscape® reservations or group policies, please inquire when scheduling your group visit.

Small groups will not be permitted entrance to Playscape® outside of a preschool’s registered time slot. No reservations are available for Thursdays or Fridays. For questions regarding Playscape® reservations or group policies, please inquire when scheduling your group visit. Preregistration required.

Related Events

Registered Playscape® Visits

Playscape® is a place for young students (ages 3–5) and their teachers and chaperones to learn and play together! Details

View dates and times

Riley Sports Legends Experience®

The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® encourages your students to be active. Students get game-ready with a Double-Goal certified Coach and participate in a challenge inspired by the story of an Indiana Sports Legend in a 30-minute interactive program, followed by 60 minutes for chaperone-led exploration of the outdoor experience. Interactive programs may include sports experiences in track and field, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, tennis, or baseball. Closed-toed shoes are required and appropriate outerwear is recommended.

Programs last 30 minutes and are offered at 10, 10:45, and 11:30 a.m., and at 12:15 p.m.

When calling to make a reservation, your museum expert will share available sports for your chosen field trip day. Register for a visit with an entry time of 1:15 p.m. or later to receive a discount.

Students: $2 + standard student admission
Adult Chaperones: One adult is required for every five students. These required chaperones are free. Additional chaperones will cost $2.

Related Events
No upcoming events.

Ready to Book?

Call our Customer Service Center daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800-820-6214 or 317-334-4000 at least two weeks in advance of your visit. Here is what you need to have ready:

  • Three dates or a day of the week that works for you.
  • A list of programs you wish to attend. Note capacities and grade levels—only preschool classes may make reservations for, or be permitted access to, the Playscape® gallery.
  • Your selected lunch option
  • A complete count of teachers, chaperones, and students. Reservations should be made for the maximum number of youths and adults expected.
  • Your school’s phone number, address, and district.

Watch for your confirmation packet to arrive within two weeks of registration. Call the Customer Service Center if you do not receive yours.

Stay Connected!

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