Plan Your Visit

Click Here to print out a map for your bus driver

Booking School Visits School

visits to the museum are by reservation only. Experiences are available for students in Pre-K through Grade 8 from September 29, 2008, through June 19, 2009. See individual lesson descriptions for available dates and times. The museum provides pre-visit materials including activities related to the lesson(s) you’ve booked and “trip tips” to help you prepare your students in advance to make the most of your museum visit.

Call 585-263-2700 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to schedule visits.

Adult Chaperons Required

Adult chaperons are required to accompany students on museum visits. Adult chaperons must be at least 18 years of age. For grades K through 8, one adult chaperon is required for every five students (1:5 adult-to-child ratio). Pre-K classes may bring one chaperon for every three students (1:3 adult-to-child ratio). Classroom teachers are admitted free with each class. Chaperons fulfilling the required 1:5 or 1:3 adult-to-child ratio are admitted to the museum free of charge and may enter the butterfly garden with the students if the class is scheduled for a butterfly lesson. Chaperons beyond the required 1:5 or 1:3 ratio pay the extra chaperon rate of $6 and have the option of entering the butterfly garden with the students for an additional fee of $3 (if the class is scheduled for a butterfly lesson). Chaperons play an important role in the school visit and must remain with their group to assist the teacher and museum staff with supervision of students. Chaperons may not bring children other than the students they are supervising on the school visit.

Extended Stay

Please Note: to visit museum exhibits before or after your lessons, you must book an Extended Stay. Reservations are limited. A museum teacher will meet your group before and after your Extended Stay. Chaperons must remain with students. Extended Stays are normally one hour long.

Lunch Reservations

Advance reservations for lunch seating are required for all school groups planning to eat at the museum. Lunches may be brought by students or ordered in advance from the many options available from our Food Court vendors on a menu designed specifically for school groups. Lunches ordered from the Food Court will be delivered to a space reserved for your students in our new school lunch room. Groups of 10 or more planning to order from the Food Court must preorder their lunches at least two weeks prior to their scheduled visit. Please note: groups not registered for a school program may not reserve lunch space. For a lunch order form, please call 585-263-2700 or click here to download the PDF file.

Payment

Cash, check, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card) may be used to pay for the entire group when you arrive for your lesson. If you prefer to be billed, please provide a purchase order. Payment for school lunches must be made separately from payment for school lesson fees. If not paying with cash, please consolidate payment for your group’s lunch order into a single check or charge transaction.

Need Funding Assistance?

There are two ways to apply for funding assistance:

• Transportation funding of $100 per bus is available to a limited number of classes in Monroe County through the Ruth D. Maurer Memorial Fund, established in memory of long-time museum volunteer Ruth Maurer. Demonstration of need is required. For more details, call 585-263-2700.
• If your school participates in the BOCES Arts in Education program, your lesson costs may be eligible for state aid. Please contact Young Audiences of Rochester at 585-530-2060 for more information.

Transportation

Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the visiting school. Strong National Museum of Play is close to many downtown bus routes.

Directions

All school groups must enter the museum through the new School Group Entrance located off Pitkin Street. After unloading, buses will be directed to the designated bus parking area. Parking is free.

All school groups arriving by car or on foot must enter the museum through the Main Public Entrance. Parking is free.

We will send you a map and directions along with information about your lesson(s) prior to your visit, or you may Click Here to print out a map.

* Multiple Visit Option also available.