Welcome to the Group Visits Program
Bring your school, scout troop, or other organized group to the Escondido Children's Museum for a field trip. Our vision is to offer groups a gathering place where children and their caregivers feel inspired to learn about new things, which is one of our most important "life skills".
At the Museum You Will Experience:
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Hands-on, multi-sensory exhibits and programs to create a unique learning experience that compliments what you can offer at home and in the classroom.
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Our programs address California State Curriculum Standards for grades K-5 in ways that only a children’s museum can.
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A beautiful, creative, setting that is wholesome, fun and accessible.
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Your group will discover empowering results when children can participate in directing their own learning.
Group Visit Options
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Self-Directed Visits
Self-Directed Visits means that your group uses the museum with
no planned activity beyond what is available to all museum
visitors at that time.
Your group may attend the museum for a Self-Directed Visit at any time we are open. If you simply arrive, each member in your group older than 12 months pays our regular $5 admission price.
It works better for everyone if we know your group is coming! If you pre-book 2 weeks ahead of time (paying a $30 deposit for a mutually-acceptable date) we will give all your group attendees a $1 discount off the regular museum admission price. To help maximize your visit, the museum will not book another group at the same time. Please note, however, that this arrangement does not preclude another group arriving spontaneously. We are working to get the word out to playgroups to pre-book, and the discount is our motivation to you. Please help us spread the word!
Facilitated Visit
Enhance the educational value of your visit by including a
hands-on workshop! Facilitated Visits are approximately two
hours long
with workshops running about 40 minutes in length. If there
are more
that 25 children in your group, the groups will rotate between
the workshop,
exhibit-exploration time, and possible third rotations.
Choose from one of the following Facilitated Visit Workshops for children in K-5th grade:
Clay- Ancient, Modern, Fun!
Participants will learn about the customs and culture of the
Kumeyaay tribe of Native American Indians, who have called
San Diego home
for thousands of years. They will also learn a new pottery
technique and practice making their own take-home "olla." Fee:
$7 per child. Adults within the 1:7 ratios are free. Siblings
and additional
adults attending with the class pay $5 per person.
Animal Planet
Students interact with live common and not-so-common animals
from around the world while they learn about behaviors and
habitats. A representative from the Escondido Humane Society
leads this
memorable
and unique workshop. Fee: $7 per child. Adults within
the 1:7 ratios are free. Siblings and additional adults attending
with
the class
pay $5 per person.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
After touring our children’s garden, the students will explore
Escondido’s historic Grape Day Park as they collect interesting
objects for us to discuss. Learn to look at nature with a new
perspective, and make a craft with your treasures. Fee: $7
per child. Adults within the 1:7 ratios are free. Siblings and additional
adults attending with the class pay $5 per
person.
To Dye For
Students explore the use of color and patterns while they
make their own tie-dye shirt to take home! Shirts are included
with
your group
visit fee. This option is only appropriate for second grade
and above. Fee: $8 per child. Adults within the 1:7 ratio
are Free.
Siblings
and additional adults attending with the class are $5 per
person.
New Group Visit Offering!
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Diggin' Into Rocks and Minerals
Rocks and minerals are all
around us, but when is a rock not a rock? When
it's a mineral of course! Rocks and minerals are very different things
to a
geologist (a scientist who studies them). This is a Group Visit appropriate
for all ages but is based on 4th and 5th grade curriculum standards.
In this "down-to-earth" class presented by geologist Patricia Geis,
you will learn
how to tell the difference between rocks and minerals, tell the difference
between the three basic rock types, and make a "sedimentary" rock
of your
own to take home. This class is a real gem, so come rock with us! Fee: $8
per child. Adults within the 1:7 ratio are Free. Siblings and additional
adults attending with the class are $5 per person.
* Museum Adventures at Grape Day Park
- WHAT: Museum Adventures at Grape Day Park lets schoolchildren visit three of Escondido's unique cultural resources on one fieldtrip.
- WHEN: Tours begin at 10 a.m. and end at 1:45 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays throughout the year. This time slot includes a visit to three museums, a 15-minute break in between museums and a one-hour lunch break.
- COST: $9 per student/child; 1-7 chaperone ratio admitted free; more than one adult per seven children, $5 each; one-year-old children and younger, free.
Museum Adventures at Grape Day Park is a unique program offering a day full of interactive learning and science, art and history lessons for schoolchildren in grades K-5.
This program is made possible through a collaboration between the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, the Escondido Children's Museum and the Escondido History Center.
Tours require a minimum of 15 participants and can be tailored to address state curriculum standards in visual arts, science and history. At the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, students will create art projects inspired by a tour of the museum. At the Escondido History Center they will explore an aspect of local history with a tour and accompanying activity, and at the Children's Museum participants explore a variety of sciences with exhibits in everything from recycling and astronomy to puppetry, woodworking and bubble-making.
To make a reservation or obtain more information, contact Kelly O'Neil, Museum Manager at Escondido's Children's Museum at (760) 739-9513, or koneil@escondidochildrensmuseum.org.
Facilitated Visits for Pre-School Children
Garden Senses
Museum educators will lead preschoolers on a discovery journey through the Children's Garden (the garden has been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club). The workshop includes a nature walk though the garden while we explore with our 5 senses. Fee: $7 per child. Adults within the 1:7 ratios are free. Siblings and additional adults attending with the class are $5 per person.
Special Group Visit Options
Customize a Workshop
Tell us what you need, and we will work with you to develop a workshop that fits perfectly. Fee: $50 flat rate plus a per child fee based on customized workshop. Adults within the 1:7 ratios are free. Siblings and additional adults attending with the class are $5 per person.
Group Visit Policies:
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A group means 10 or more children participating in the visit or workshop.
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Your group must provide at least a minimum of 1 adult to every seven children; we welcome additional chaperones and siblings, but they must pay regular museum admission.
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Your deposit is non-refundable but may be transferred to another booking date if you notify us at least 5 business-days in advance.
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Membership Coupons and Free Passes cannot be applied towards Group Visit fees.
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All funds are Due In Full on or before entering the Museum on visit day. Groups must supply full head count of adults and children at the door.
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If Groups would like to bring snacks or lunches to the Museum, they may be eaten on our patio or in the park.
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Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their Group. Children should be carefully supervised.
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Chaperones must be at least 18 years old.
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If your Group is late you forfeit that portion of your visit (example: If you are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and you arrive at 10:30 you still end your visit at 12 noon.
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For Special Needs Children each child is allowed one adult chaperone Free.
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Groups book their dates on a first come first serve basis, based on availability.
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In order to hold your Group Visit date a non-refundable $30.00 deposit (which will be applied towards your balance) is due at booking.
Children under 12 months old are FREE.
To Book Your Visit:
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! Call
the museum at 760.233.7755.
Make a Deposit ($30) for Your Group Visit:
