Currently logged out. Login
Currently logged out. Login

In-person Field Trips

Welcome to the 2023–2024 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. 5, 2023–May 24, 2024
Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The museum is closed to school groups on Mondays and during these school breaks:

Fall Break: Oct. 10–20, 2023
Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 22–24, 2023
Winter Break: Dec. 22, 2023–Jan. 5, 2024
Spring Break: March 19–April 5, 2024

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.

Step 3: Add a program or event

Add a school program or special event expertly guided by our trained educators to enhance your students’ field trip experience! School programs and events are included in the cost of field trip admission, but space is limited, and they must be reserved in advance when you call to schedule your field trip. Reserve you spot today!

Events

From Dino Day to Art Extravaganza!, our calendar is full of school-specific events that will keep your students engaged.

Schedule your field trip on one of the dates listed below and add the event to your registration when you call! Event days fill up quickly, so book now!

Related Events

CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story

Tues & Thurs | April-May 2024 | See an Apollo-era console & watch CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story in the Space Object Theater Details

View dates and times

Kindergarten Days (Grade K)

Apr. 19, Apr. 25, & May 1, 2024 - Opportunity for kindergarten groups to explore the museum and participate in special activities! Details

View dates and times

Space Day (Grades 3–5) 

May 8, 2024 - Blast off to The Children’s Museum for a one-day celebration of all things space! Details

View dates and times

Arts & Humanities

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

Preregistration is required. Select an engaging Arts & Humanities School Program for your grade level and schedule your field trip on the day of the week when it is offered. Capcity is limited to 30 students per program session, so call today to pre-register your class!

Related Events

Chihuly Art (Grades K–5)

Fridays | Sept.-May | Create a Chihuly-inspired piece of art! Details

View dates and times

POP Culture Characters: Superheroes! (Grades 3–5)

Thursdays | Sept.-May | In this experience, students use art and literacy skills as they create a visual image of their own comic book character and construct their backstory. Details

View dates and times

Secrets of the Artifact (Grades 3–5)

Wednesdays | Sept.-May | Students form teams of archaeologists and examine a mysterious artifact. Choose Egypt, China, or the Caribbean! Details

View dates and times

Making Your Mark: Protest Art (Grades 6–8)

Tuesdays | Sept.-Dec. | Learn about the tradition of protest art and how artists have used their art to share a message! Details

View dates and times

Found Voices (Grades 6–8) 

Tuesdays | Jan.-May | By engaging with stories and artifacts, students explore the circumstances that forced Anne Frank into hiding. They then connect with her writing by using passages from her diary to create found poems. Details

View dates and times

STEM

Step into our state-of-the-art STEMLab, located inside the ScienceWorks exhibit and explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with our STEM School Programs.

Preregistration is required. Select an engaging STEM School Program for you grade level and schedule your field trip on the day of the week when it is offered. Capacity is limited to 30 students per program session, so call today to pre-register you class!

Related Events

NEW Climate Science Programs (Grades 2-8)

A series of NASA-funded programs for grades 2-8 about weather and climate. Details

View dates and times

GUEST SCIENTIST From Microbes to Medicines (Grades 6-8)

Tues. Apr. 23 | Culture bacteria from your own backyard with a guest scientist. Details

View dates and times

Dr. Percy Julian (Grades 3–5)

Wednesdays | February | Work though two hands-on procedures that Dr. Julian used in his own lab: chromatography and the isolation of protein from soybeans. Details

View dates and times

CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story

Tues & Thurs | April-May 2024 | See an Apollo-era console & watch CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story in the Space Object Theater Details

View dates and times

Weather Tools (Grades K–2)

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

View dates and times

Water Works (Grades K–2)

Thursdays | Jan.-Mar. | Explore the unique physical properties of water through experimentation in this laboratory experience. Details

View dates and times

Plants Alive! Seed Germination (Grades K–2) 

Fridays | Feb.-May | 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

Geology Tour (Grades 3–5)

Tuesdays | Jan.-Feb. | Students will learn what types of observations they must make to classify a rock correctly and the physical properties that make up each rock category. Details

View dates and times

Test Track (Grades 3–5)

Thursdays | April - May | Complete a scientific test to learn how different surfaces affect speed and motion. Details

View dates and times

Coding with Robonaut (Grades 3-8)

Wednesdays | Sept.-Nov. | How do cutting-edge robots help astronauts complete tasks in space? Details

View dates and times

Pegboard Engineering (Grades 3–8)

Wednesdays | Dec.-Jan. | Mar.-May | Work on collaborative designs and create prototypes to test out ideas while designing a pegboard marble run. Details

View dates and times

Behind the Genes (Grades 6–9)

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

View dates and times

Preschool

Preschool groups wishing to visit Playscape® are required to make a reservation for a program which includes a 30-minute self-guided visit in the gallery. Programs are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Preregistration required.

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 or contact schoolprograms@childrensmuseum.org.

Related Events

Playscape®: Experiencing Art Together

Sept–Dec 2023 | Preschool/Pre-K only | Tuesdays & Wednesdays | Students will participate in a visual literacy lesson where they will make observations about a piece of real artwork. Next, students will use that work of art as inspiration to create their own masterpiece using a variety of artist’s tools and mediums. Details

View dates and times

Playscape®: Making Music Together

Jan–May 2024 | Preschool/Pre-K only | Tuesdays & Wednesdays | A facilitator will lead students in musical activities using instruments, their voices, and bodies that incorporate tune, beat, and movement. After the program, students can explore Playscape with their chaperones. Details

View dates and times

Riley Sports Legends Experience®

The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® encourages your students to be active. Choose to register for a self-guided visit or get students game-ready with a Double-Goal certified Coach and participate in a challenge inspired by the story of a Sports Legend in a 30-minute interactive program, followed by 60 minutes for chaperone-led exploration. Interactive programs include sports experiences in track and field, hockey, and tennis.

Programs last 30 minutes and are offered at 10, 10:45, and 11:30 a.m. Closed-toed shoes are required, and appropriate outerwear is recommended.

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 + additional chaperone admission.

Register for a visit with an entry time of 1:15 p.m. or later to receive a discount.

Related Events

The Wayne Gretzky Legendary Hockey Challenge

Tues.-Fri. | Sept.–Nov., Apr.–May | Experience the thrill of the game in this fast-paced hockey challenge. Details

View dates and times

The Barbara Wynne Legendary Tennis Challenge 

Tues.-Fri. | Sept.–Nov., Apr.–May | Feel the energy on the court in this beginner level tennis challenge. Details

View dates and times

The Wilma Rudolph Legendary Track and Field Challenge

Tues.-Fri. | Sept.–Nov., Apr.–May | Get ready to race like an Olympian in this high-speed track challenge. Details

View dates and times

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!

Sign up for our monthly educator e-newsletter to receive updates all year long about professional development opportunities, field trips, and museum events for teachers.