FIELD TRIPS
Where learning meets play - outside of the classroom!
Field trips at TCMU-Greenville are for 3K to 5th grade students.
Self-Guided Field Trips at TCMU
Self-guided field trips at TCMU offer a unique way for students to discover and learn, through hands-on museum exploration and STEAM-based, experiential learning for groups 10+.
FIELD TRIPS INCLUDE
Reduced admission (Starting at $8)
Digital museum packet & itinerary
Digital map
15% discount in The TCMU Store
Opportunity to bring your own lunch
Enrichment Activities
Choose between a self-guided field trip experience, or, for an additional fee, add an enrichment activity.
steamWORKS
$4/child
Up to 25 students per session, with up to six sessions per group.
Enjoy private access to our popular steamWORKS classroom. This organic play experience is developed by experts in the field of STEAM.
Available W& F, reservations are available on a first come, first served basis.
Lesson Plans
$8/child
Up to 25 students per session, with up to six sessions per group.
Choose from STEAM-based lesson plans taught through creative hands-on applications. Developed by certified educators, our enrichment aligns with state standards.
Reservations are available on a first come, first served basis.
Available lesson plans include:
Learn more about our list of enrichment activities.
Before you Book
Book at least 2 weeks before for field trip perks!
- Need to secure tickets last minute? Get group tickets here!
Required ratio of students to adults is 5:1.
Payment is not due at booking!
PRICING
Child
$11/child
Adult
$11/adult
Homeschool Rate
$8/person
$4-$8/student
NEED TO PAY AN INVOICE?
Schedule a time to pay for your field trip with a card here.
TCMU Visits Your Classroom
Field trip programming can take place in your classroom!
PRICING
Student
$15/student
Minimum Total Price
$200
CURRICULUM OPTIONS
Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Math
Testimonials
- Melissa Dodder, First Grade Teacher at Mitchell Road Christian Academy
- Mckaylia Waddell, Special Education Teacher at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind
- Lynette McMaster, Special Education Teacher at Lakeview Middle
Programming
Want museum programming at your event?
Want museum programming at your school?
Field Trip FAQs
- What is the payment and cancellation policy?
- Payments must be made no later than two weeks prior to your visit. Your field trip is subject to cancellation if payment is not received by this deadline.
- No refunds are given for students unable to attend.
- If school is canceled on the day of your visit, you may reschedule your visit within the same school year.
- Arriving late to your visit may result in your add-on program being shortened or canceled. Refunds will not be given to groups arriving late.
- How do I pay for my field trip?
- Checks can be sent The Children’s Museum at 300 College St, Greenville, SC 29601
- Card payments must be paid over the phone. This can be scheduled here.
- Do TCMU memberships apply to field trips?
- Memberships do not apply for student or adult admission on field trips. Students of families with TCMU memberships will still need to pay the field trip rate of $11. Exceptions can be made for homeschool groups. Please speak with the Community Engagement Specialist if you are a homeschool group seeking to apply membership status to your visit.
- Memberships may apply to additional children accompanying the field trip.
- How far in advance do I have to schedule a field trip?
- We ask that you reserve your trip at least 2 weeks before.
- Please note that there is an influx of requests during the school year and spots fill up quickly.
- What if I want to visit the museum the week of?
- We highly encourage you to purchase group tickets here 48 hours before your visit.
- Please note that there is a maximum of 30 tickets that can be purchased and any groups larger than 30 must book a field trip. The minimum is 10 people.
- Do you accommodate ADA students?
- Yes, we do! If your class has need of special accommodations, our staff will be happy to help you schedule a special ADA day especially for your students. Email [email protected] for more information on how to book this option.
- Does TCMU provide scholarships for field trips?
- Scholarship availability is based on funding that TCMU receives.
- Currently, only Title I Schools are eligible for scholarships. However, meeting the qualification criteria does not guarantee funding.
- Scholarships are now available on a Pay What You Can Model. If your Title I school does not currently have any funding, please select “Unable to contribute at this time.”
- Where should our bus unload and park?
- Buses can unload in the bus lane located in the front of the museum on College Street. Buses should pull as far forward as possible to accommodate other buses. Once students have exited the bus, the driver is welcome to park on West Elford Street across from the Greek Orthodox Church. Click here for a digital map.
- Personal vehicles may park in the Heritage Green Parking deck located behind Heritage Green. It is a county parking deck with a maximum fee of $4.00 per day.
- Is there a chaperone to student ratio?
- One adult for every five students is required. Adults include teachers, teacher’s aides, parents, caregivers, etc.
- For safety reasons, if the 5:1 ratio is not met, your group may be asked to leave. Your trips can be split into different days or can be rescheduled to another day.
- Chaperones should be at least 16+ years old
- I’m an adult chaperone. What are my responsibilities?
- Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of all children during the field trip.
- Chaperones should encourage children to interact with the exhibits respectfully and responsibly. TCMU reserves the right to ask disorderly groups to leave the museum without refunds.
- Chaperones are encouraged to silence their cellphones or use them only when urgent.
- No food, drinks, candy, or gum are permitted in the museum besides in the Café.
- Groups of 10-30 people are encouraged to purchase tickets at least 48 hours before their visit date. This is the only way to guarantee entrance and secure the $11/person group rate. Arriving with a group the day of will result in paying full price admission.
- Group visits must always maintain a 1:5 adult-to-child ratio. Groups who do not meet this ratio will not be allowed entrance into the museum.
- Group visits only include the discounted group rate and no additional perks. If you would like any of the below accommodations, you will need to book a field trip with our Community Engagement Specialist.
- A TCMU staff member will facilitate a welcome greeting that informs your group of restroom locations, programming schedules, and can answer all group questions
- Reserved lunch tables in our TCMU cafe
- Book a private enrichment experience
- What is an enrichment activity?
- TCMU offers a variety of program and lesson options that can be added to your field trip for an additional fee. All enrichment activities explore STEAM concepts through hands-on and creative applications. If you are interested, a TCMU Staff member will help you decide the best offering for your classroom upon booking.
- Do your enrichment activities follow state standards?
- Our lesson plans are based on the current South Carolina state standards and explore STEAM concepts through creative hands-on applications.
- Can our group eat lunch at the museum?
- Yes! If your group would like to eat lunch during your field trip, The TCMU Café is available. Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm if you will be using Café for lunch.
- Groups are welcome to bring their own lunches.
- Additionally, The TCMU Café has kiosks that offer a variety of sandwiches, salads, snacks and refreshments. Vending machines accept credit cards only.
- TCMU staff members are not responsible for handling or facilitating lunches in the Café space. Please be respectful and clean up all trash and wipe down eating areas.
- What are the safety measures at TCMU regarding COVID-19?
- Face coverings are optional for museum entry. Per CDC guidelines, it is strongly recommended that guests wear masks when Covid-19 community levels are high regardless of vaccination status. Anyone with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask regardless of community levels.
- Will my students be photographed?
- It is possible! Museum staff are often on the floor taking photos and videos for marketing purposes. TCMU reserves the right to photograph or video visitors.
- If a student cannot be photographed, the adult booking the field trip is responsible for informing the Community Engagement Specialist.
Payments must be made no later than two weeks prior to your visit. Your field trip is subject to cancellation if payment is not received by this deadline.
No refunds are given for students unable to attend.
If school is canceled on the day of your visit, you may reschedule your visit within the same school year.
Arriving late to your visit may result in your add-on program being shortened or canceled . Refunds will not be given to groups arriving late.
One adult for every five students is required. Adults include teachers, teacher’s aides, parents, caregivers, etc.
All adults are free of charge.
- TCMU offers a variety of program and lesson options that can be added to your field trip for an additional fee. All enrichment activities explore STEAM concepts through hands-on and creative applications. If you are interested, a TCMU Staff member will help you decide the best offering for your classroom upon booking.
Adults are responsible for the behavior of all students during school visits.
Adults should encourage children to interact with the exhibits respectfully and responsibly. TCMU reserves the right to ask disorderly groups to leave the museum without refunds.
Adults are encouraged to silence their cellphones or use them only when urgent.
No food, drinks, candy, or gum are permitted in the museum besides in the Café.
Students must stay with an adult at all times.
Students should practice respectful and responsible play.
Students should be kind to the museum and others.
Students should have on wristbands provided by TCMU staff at all times in the museum.
No food, drinks, candy, or gum are permitted in the museum besides in our café area.
75 individuals at check-in is TCMU’s capacity.
If you have more than 75 individuals in your group, TCMU staff will ask, upon booking, that you split into two (or more) separate groups, with consecutive time slots.
Please plan, prior to booking your trip, how you will split up your group and select the number of individuals for your check-in slots accordingly.
Buses can park in the bus lane located in front of the museum on College Street. Buses should pull as far forward as possible to accommodate other buses. Once students have exited the bus, the driver is welcome to park on West Elford Street across from the Greek Orthodox Church. Click here for a digital map.
Personal vehicles may park in the Heritage Green Parking deck located behind Heritage Green. It is a county parking deck with a maximum fee of $4.00 per day.
Yes! If your group would like to eat lunch during your field trip, The TCMU Café is available. Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm if you will be using Café for lunch.
Groups are welcome to bring their own lunches.
Additionally, The TCMU Café has kiosks that offer a variety of sandwiches, salads, snacks and refreshments. Vending machines accept credit cards only.
TCMU staff members are not responsible for handling or facilitating lunches in the Café space. Please be respectful and clean up all trash and wipe down eating areas.
- All scholarship awards are determined based on funding that TCMU receives.
- Only Title I Schools may receive scholarship awards at this time. Please note, qualification does not guarantee funding. If you think your group may be eligible for a scholarship, please contact [email protected] prior to booking your trip.
Memberships cannot be applied to student admission on field trips.
Adults who have a membership at TCMU will be allowed into the museum without paying admission.
Face coverings are optional for museum entry. Per CDC guidelines, it is strongly recommended that guests wear masks when Covid-19 community levels are high regardless of vaccination status. Anyone with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask regardless of community levels.
It is possible! Museum staff are often on the floor taking photos and videos for marketing purposes. TCMU reserves the right to photograph or video visitors.
If a student cannot be photographed, the educator booking the field trip is responsible for informing the Field Trip Coordinator.
Would you rather TCMU visit your classroom? Learn more about TCMU’s On-the-Go educational programming opportunities!
