Return to Education

A group of students at the museum, shot from behind.

The Museum offers group visits and field trips for school, youth, and adult groups from all types of organizations. We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum!

School & Group Visits Overview

School and group visits are self-guided, and each group is welcomed by a Museum Educator upon arrival.

What to expect:

  • Reservations are required.
  • Reservation requests are made via Explorable Places.
  • Discounted rate: $10.95; applies to all group members
  • Scholarship opportunities are available.
  • Specific chaperone/leader requirements apply to all groups.

Our calendar fills quickly! Please schedule several weeks in advance. Availability is limited and updated in real-time on the Explorable Places website.

All confirmed reservations will receive an official confirmation email from Explorable Places with arrival details and resources to plan your visit.

Once confirmed, group organizers are offered a one-day complimentary admission to visit the Museum and plan their visit. The visit date must be coordinated and confirmed by the Education Team. Details are included in the reservation confirmation email.

Guidelines

School and group visits have specific guidelines to promote a safe environment and enjoyable experience for all who enter the Museum, including visiting groups.

  • The discounted group rate and scholarships are only available for groups with confirmed reservations.
  • All groups must have one designated leader.
  • Maximum group size: 120 people
  • Groups of 70 or more are encouraged to split into small groups and make a reservation for each when possible.

Groups larger than 120 people will be required to schedule as two separate reservations. Each reservation must have a specific arrival time. Non-compliance may result in immediate adjustments to your reservation, entry or time limitations, cancellation, and/or other accommodations at the discretion of the Museum of Us staff.

Chaperone Requirements

All student and youth groups have specific chaperone requirements:

  • K-5th grade: 1 adult required per 4 students
  • 6-8th grade: 1 adult required per 6 students
  • 9-12th grade: 1 adult required for every 8 students

Students are expected to be actively supervised, and chaperones and students must remain together at all times. Groups without adequate supervision may be asked to leave and/or other action, with or without warning, at the discretion of the Museum of Us staff.

Pricing & Scholarship Opportunities

All confirmed reservations are eligible for a discounted group rate of $10.95 per person. Admissions scholarship and bus scholarship opportunities are available.

  • Discounted group rate: $10.95 per person.
  • Discounted rate applied to all group members.
  • Scholarships available for all groups.

The discounted group rate and scholarships are available for confirmed group reservations only.

Admissions Scholarships

All groups are eligible for admissions scholarships. There are no Title 1 limitations or requirements for K-12 schools. Admissions scholarships cover all admissions costs for all group members approved in your reservation.

Apply for an admissions scholarship in your reservation request via Explorable Places. There is no separate application required to apply for the admissions scholarship.

  1. Complete the booking request form on Explorable Places.
  2. Choose the “Scholarship” pricing option to request an admissions scholarship.
  3. A specific confirmation email will be sent to the email address on your reservation request.

Admissions scholarships include the option to register group members for complimentary one-year membership. Specific documentation is required for memberships, and details will be sent via email upon approval.

Bus Scholarships

Bus scholarships are available for K-12 school groups only.

Bus scholarship funds are limited, and availability is subject to change throughout the year. A group reservation request is required to process bus scholarships. All bus scholarships will be processed in the order that they are received.

About Bus Scholarships

  • Specific application process.
  • Scholarship is in the form of a reimbursement.
  • Maximum scholarship of $700.
  • Scholarship amount determined by equity-based information and availability of funds at the time of processing.
  • Scholarships are guaranteed for one month after the visit date.
  • Specific documentation is required to process the scholarship reimbursement.

Due to high demand, bus scholarships are guaranteed for one month after the scheduled visit date. All documents must be submitted within one month of visiting to be eligible for the full scholarship amount. Submitting documents late may result in an adjusted scholarship amount, extended processing time, and/or forfeit of scholarship.

Required documents for scholarship reimbursement:

  • Purchase order for bus
  • Copy of bus payment receipt
  • Invoice to the Museum of Us for the full bus payment amount
  • Name and address to write and mail the check

Make a Reservation

Advance registration through Explorable Places is required for all School Visits, Group Visits, Workshops, and Exhibit Tours.

  • All reservation requests are made through the Explorable Places website.
  • Requests are processed in the order that they are received.
  • Processing and approval time can take up to 1-2 weeks.
  • All approved reservation requests will receive official confirmation, calendar invitation, and resources to plan your visit.

Please schedule several weeks in advance. Availability is limited. Available dates and times are updated in real-time on Explorable Places.

How to Make a Reservation Request

  1. Visit our Explorable Places page.
  2. Browse programs, review requirements, and view availability.
  3. Choose the program that best fits your needs.
  4. Book program of choice directly through Explorable Places website.
  5. Check your Explorable Places account or email for reservation updates. Adjust email settings as needed.

View detailed instructions to submit a reservation request here.

Confirmation and Communication

Official reservation confirmation and important information related to your visit will be sent via email from Explorable Places. The Museum of Us Education Team will send a calendar invitation to the email on file and may directly contact group organizers as needed.

Organizers are responsible for ensuring that contact information is correct and email settings are adjusted appropriately to receive confirmation details from both Explorable Places and the Museum of Us.

Cancellations and No-Show's

All cancellations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance.

Contact education@museumofus.org to report a cancellation or make changes to your reservation as soon as possible. Late cancellations and no-shows are subject to a payment of 75% of the total cost of the group visit, including groups that receive an admissions scholarship.

Late Arrivals

Groups arriving over 20 minutes late are subject to cancellation, adjusted entry, and/or standard admission prices per the Museum of Us staff's discretion.

make a reservation

The Museum of Us recognizes that it sits on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Kumeyaay Nation. The Museum extends its respect and gratitude to the Kumeyaay peoples who have lived here for millennia.

The Museum is open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Affiliations & Memberships:San Diego Museum Council logoCharity Navigator Four Star Charity logoBalboa Park Cultural Partnership Collaborative for Arts, Science and Culture logoAmerican Alliance of Museums logoSmithsonian Affiliate logoInternational Coalition of Sites of Conscience logo
Financial support provided by:San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture logo
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