FIELD TRIPS
WHERE LEARNING GETS ITS HANDS DIRTY
(IN THE BEST WAY)
Pack your curiosity — and maybe an extra pair of socks — because a field trip to the Great River Children’s Museum is where classroom lessons leap off the page and turn into real, hands-on, giggle-out-loud discovery. Whether your crew is climbing to the clouds, dreaming up a masterpiece, or discovering something new and magical, we promise it’ll be the kind of field trip students beg to repeat. Here’s everything you need to plan the perfect visit!
COST
Big adventures, small price tag.
Field trips are offered at a special group rate of $10 per student. Payment is due on the date of your visit. To get the discounted rate, reservations must be made in advance and paid in one transaction.
Additional discounts may be available through grant funding.
VISIT LENGTH
Long enough to explore every corner of the fun.
5–3 hours*
*This is a recommended length and can vary based on group size and lunch plans.
GROUP SIZE
The more the merrier — within reason!
- 15–85 students
- Groups with fewer than 15 students will be charged the minimum fee for 15 paid admissions.
If your group will exceed 85 students, please contact the Operations & Guest Experience Manager at nancy.riens@greatrivercm.org to discuss accommodations.
AGES / GRADE LEVELS
Built for little explorers.
Our exhibits are thoughtfully designed with developmental needs in mind, offering enriching play-based experiences — especially for groups of children in Preschool through Second Grade (ages 4 to 9).
AVAILABILITY
Mark your calendars.
Field trips are currently available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, beginning as early as 9:30 a.m. during regular museum hours. All visits must be scheduled in advance.
SUPERVISION
Extra eyes make for extra fun.
To support a carefree day of play, adults assigned to each small group of children will receive a rotation schedule upon arrival to guide travel throughout the exhibits.
- Kindergarten through second grade groups require one chaperone for every 5 students.
- Preschool groups require 1 chaperone for every 4 students.
- All required chaperones are admitted free of charge.
FEES & PAYMENT
Pay on the day.
Payment is due the day of your visit unless other arrangements have been made. We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. Please make checks payable to Great River Children’s Museum.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Plans change — just give us a heads-up.
Please notify the museum at least two weeks (14 days) before your scheduled visit if you need to cancel. Cancellations made with less than two weeks’ notice will incur a $50 cancellation fee. Groups with unpaid cancellation fees will be unable to schedule future visits until the fee has been paid.
LUNCH & EATING ACCOMMODATIONS
Refuel for round two.
Looking to rest and refuel during your visit? We have space for you to eat lunch onsite. With lunch included in the schedule, we recommend the field trip visit last at least 2.5 to 3 hours. If your group plans to eat lunch during your visit, please let staff know when booking. Lunch space is limited and reservations are required. For larger groups, lunch rotations may be scheduled.
BOOK YOUR VISIT
To request a field trip, contact Nancy Riens, Operations & Guest Experience Manager at (320) 200-4110 ext. 108 or nancy.riens@greatrivercm.org.
Please schedule your visit at least two weeks in advance. Early reservations provide the best selection of available dates and times.
FIELD TRIP FAQs
Got questions? We've got answers
(and maybe a few fun surprises).
Yes. We’ll help you get your bearings by beginning your visit with a 15-minute welcome and orientation led by museum staff. During this time we will:
- Review museum expectations and safety guidelines.
- Distribute color-coded schedules and wristbands.
- Answer any questions before play begins.
To help the orientation run smoothly, please assign student groups and chaperones before arriving.
Yes. Field trips are self-guided. That means your crew gets to choose your own adventure among our 6–8 interactive exhibits, designed to spark creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative play. Most school groups participate in a rotation schedule created by museum staff.
- Rotation schedules are distributed upon arrival.
- Groups rotate through exhibits at designated times to help manage museum capacity.
- Because of rotations, classes may not visit every exhibit or eat lunch together.
Some groups, such as ECFE and homeschool organizations, may qualify for a Wander & Explore visit. With this option:
- Groups explore the museum at their own pace.
- It is generally reserved for groups with a higher adult-to-child ratio.
Great River Children’s Museum is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive experience for all learners. Required chaperone ratios remain:
- K–2nd Grade: 1 adult for every 5 students
- Preschool: 1 adult for every 4 students
Teachers and chaperones are responsible for supervising student behavior and providing any necessary support. We recommend not assigning the classroom teacher to a student group, allowing them to assist throughout the museum, support chaperones, help during lunch, and capture photos.
For guests who may benefit from additional sensory support, we offer a variety of sensory tools available to check out free of charge at the Admissions Desk, including noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, weighted blankets/stuffed animals, and fidget tools.
We also have Wellness Rooms available for children and caregivers who need a quiet, calming space to take a break from the excitement of the museum. These spaces are designed to provide a peaceful environment for self-regulation before returning to play.
If your group has accessibility needs or requires accommodation, please let us know when scheduling your visit so we can work with you to provide the best possible experience.
Payment is accepted upon arrival. We accept:
- Cash
- Check
- Major credit cards
Checks should be made payable to Great River Children’s Museum.
Please notify us at least 14 days before your scheduled visit if you need to cancel. Groups that do not provide adequate notice or fail to attend their scheduled visit may incur a cancellation fee and may be unable to schedule future visits until the fee has been resolved.
Yes! Our Base Camp lunch area is available for groups bringing bagged lunches.
- Lunch is not provided by the museum.
- Seating comfortably accommodates approximately 50 guests.
- Larger groups will be assigned a lunch rotation.
Great River Children’s Museum is a peanut-free facility.
School Bus Drop-Off
Please have buses drop students off in front of the museum (west side of the building) near the crosswalk by the main entrance — look for the giant green cattails! After drop-off, buses may park free of charge in the Lake George/Eastman Park Lot, 1101 7th St. S. The parking lot is approximately 0.8 miles from the museum.
Chaperone Parking
Metered parking is available in the Canoe Lot and Swan Lot. We recommend downloading the ParkMobile app in advance or bringing coins for the parking meters.
Teachers are encouraged to visit the museum before their field trip at no charge to become familiar with the exhibits and layout. You can also explore our website to:
- View the museum map
- Learn about current exhibits
- Discover temporary installations
Because the museum is continually evolving, some exhibits or installations may occasionally be closed for maintenance or construction. If this occurs during your visit, museum staff will provide alternative play opportunities. Refunds are not provided for temporary exhibit closures.
To help everyone have a comfortable and enjoyable visit, we recommend students bring:
- A water bottle
- A bagged lunch (if your group is eating at the museum)
- Socks (required for the Climber to the Cloud exhibit)
- A jacket or coat, depending on the weather, as students will be outside briefly during arrival and departure.
For your convenience, the museum can provide large storage totes for each group to keep lunches, water bottles, jackets, and other belongings organized and easily accessible throughout your visit. We encourage groups to label personal items whenever possible.
To request a visit, please complete our Field Trip Request Form. Submitting the form does not automatically reserve your visit. Once we receive your information, a member of our team will contact you to confirm availability and finalize your reservation.