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Field Trips at the Museum: Self-Guided Plus Add-On Experiences
What can you do at the Desert Museum?
You can tour with the aid of one of our downloadable field guides, and add an up-close live animal program or Stingray Touch experience. Your students will enjoy real-world discovery of Adaptations, Structure & Function, Ecology, Ecosystems, and Conservation Issues.
Orientation Video
Help your students prepare for their field trip by showing them this short video, which explains what they will see and learn at the Museum, what the Museum environment will be like and how to behave to get the most out of their visit. Please share this link with your chaperones as well.
Desert Explorers Theater Program
Want a more focused, standards-based experience for your students but are short on time? The Desert Explorers Theater Program is a great choice! This interactive, multi-media program features up-close encounters with our live animal ambassadors! Your students will leave the theater ready to use all their senses to continue discovering how plants and animals survive and thrive in our desert environment. The program accommodates large groups in just thirty minutes, so students will have plenty of time to explore the Museum. Download the "I Spy Adaptations" Field Guide (and Answer Key) to use during your educational Museum adventure!
Offered: Tuesday through Friday.
at 10:00, 10:30, or 11:00 a.m.
Length: 30-40 minutes
Grades: K-12
Arizona Science Standards: L1 & L2
Stingray Touch Experience
The Gulf of California is an essential part of the Sonoran Desert. Discover our connections to the ocean with this captivating immersion experience. After a short introduction, your students will be able to experience the thrill of watching and being touched by a stingray!
Offered: 7 days a week; any time during exhibit opening hours.
Length: May be limited during busy seasons; groups may need to wait in line to enter.
Prepayment Required: All bookings must be prepaid prior to arrival. Payments will not be accepted at the ticket window for group rates. Purchase orders received are considered paid. Reservations at the school/youth group rate are available for groups of 10 or more, subject to availability. All group members must enter together; individuals not included in the reservation will need to pay the regular Museum admission at the ticket window. The school/youth group rate is not available for reservations made less than 15 days before the requested visit date.
- $8.00 per person: Students and Chaperones Admission (1:7 chaperone-to-student ratio required)
- $4.00 per person: Students and Chaperones Admission only for Title 1 Schools (verified on the Arizona Department of Education website.
- $12.00 per person: Additional Adults (beyond 1:7 ratio) not eligible for Title 1 discount.
- $3.00 per person / $149.00 minimum: Desert Explorers Live Animal Theater Program (requires 30-day advance reservation; call 520-883-3025 to confirm availability.)
- $3.00 per person: Stingray Touch Experience (optional)
- $2.00 per student: Animal Tracking Booklet (optional, coming soon!)
- Full Payment Required:
- Total fee must be paid in full at least 10 days before your booking date. Reservations not paid by this deadline will be canceled.
- Purchase Orders:
- Submit purchase orders at least 10 days prior to the booking date; billed for the reservation total with net 30 payment terms.
- Reservation Process:
- After paying the $5 non-refundable reservation fee, you will receive instructions within 5 days to complete full payment online.
- Discounts and Passes:
- Discount coupons and guest passes cannot be combined with the school/youth group rate.
- Inquiries and Purchase Order submissions:
- Email [email protected]
- Picnic Ramada:
- Available by reservation, located outside our entrance near the bus loading area. Lunch times may be scheduled based on arrival/departure and other factors. Priority is given to educational programming; smaller groups may share space. The Museum cannot store lunches, backpacks, or personal belongings. Water bottles are permitted.
- Dining Options:
- Dine-in options at Ironwood Terraces Restaurant. Contact Anna Boudoin at [email protected] for more information. This will be billed by Craft Culinary.
- Chaperone Ratio:
- We require 1 chaperone per 7 students in grades PreK-12. Additional adults above the required ratio will be charged the Additional Adult admission fee.
- Group Management:
- Before arriving, assign chaperones to their groups of students. Once checked in, groups should remain in small groups and tour the grounds in different directions. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of students in their group and must stay with them. All chaperones are expected to read and adhere to the chaperone guidelines. View chaperone guidelines here.
- Lost or Injured Students:
- If a student or youth is lost or injured, contact a staff member or a volunteer or go to the Entrance Patio ticket window.
- Greeting:
- Upon arrival, your group will be greeted by staff or a volunteer at the large picnic ramada outside the Museum admissions area. On holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the group should gather in the picnic area while the group lead checks in at the ticket window.
- Documents:
- Bring the paid receipt, Expectations & Safety Acknowledgement and Emergency Contact Form.
- Vehicles:
- Buses should use the bus-loading zone near the picnic area for loading/unloading and park in the designated bus/RV area.
- Food Storage:
- Keep all food in vehicles until your scheduled lunchtime if using the picnic area.
- Chaperones:
- Ensure they are aware of the time to return to the bus or picnic ramada for lunch and or departure.
- Desert Explorers Theater Program:
- We cannot guarantee reservations if you arrive late. No refunds if you miss the show.
- Contact Us:
- Call us at 520-883-3025 or 520-883-3022 if you will be 15 minutes late or more.
We understand that plans can change, and we strive to accommodate the needs of our visitors. Please review our cancellation policy for field trip reservations:
- Cancellations Made 15 Days or More Before the Reservation Date:
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- A cancellation fee of $25 will be charged for each reservation, including those made with purchase orders.
- The remaining balance will be refunded to the original method of payment.
- Cancellations Made 14 Days or Less Before the Reservation Date:
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No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within this timeframe, including those made with purchase orders.
- How to Cancel:
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To cancel a reservation, please email us at [email protected] with your reservation details.
- Exceptions:
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In the event of severe weather, natural disasters, or other unforeseen circumstances, exceptions to this policy may be made at the discretion of the museum management. Please contact us to discuss any special circumstances.
