FAQ

Groups of fewer than 10 students may still book a field trip; however, they will be charged for 10 students plus any chaperones if they wish to receive the field trip rate. Our representatives are available to help determine the most cost-efficient method for your group to visit the Museum. For an established field trip, the person who booked the trip should call (713) 639-4659 at any time prior to the day of arrival to add or subtract people from the reservation. Groups that fall below 10 students will be charged for 10 students plus any chaperones in order to receive the field trip rate.

We require one chaperone for every ten students (groups should not exceed 10 students). Chaperones must remain with their students at all times. Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age and must wear their chaperone sticker. All teachers and chaperones included in the official count will pay the field trip rate; those not included in the chaperone count will need to purchase their own tickets at the full rate, if available, upon arrival.

Before the trip, reservation numbers can be updated by calling (713) 639-4659. On the day of the trip, the final count of students, parents, teachers, and chaperones must be written on the Required Teacher Admission Sheet found on page 2 of the Field Trip Preparation Planner.

Adding or removing venues from a reservation requires a four-day notice, if available. After tickets have been printed, the reservation may not be changed.

Lunches may be brought in and stored inside the Sugar Land Museum until your designated lunch time. For easy storage and retrieval, it is best to put lunches in a labeled ice chest, plastic tote, or box for transit.

The Museum offers customized TEKS-based curriculum, available at hmns.org/curriculum to accompany your field trip. These free units are designed to make the field trip experience educationally sound and fun and include a TEKS-aligned knowledge hunt and extension activities for grades K-8. High school curriculum is available, with a two-week notice, upon request. For questions, email educationquestions@hmns.org.

Absolutely! Visit Special Attractions for more information about what is currently on display.

Yes! Docents are available to lead tours throughout the Museum. They are great for larger school groups and can accommodate up to 10 people (including chaperones) per docent. Tours are approximately 30-45 minutes long. A two-week notice is required. Cost: $15.00 per docent. Docents are available between 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Explore science, nature, and history in our Science Labs which feature specimens, artifacts, and laboratory equipment. Each lab lasts one hour and accommodates up to 25 students. If your group is interested in scheduling a Lab, please visit hmns.org/labs or contact educationquestions@hmns.org. HMNS at Sugar Land also offers classes to enhance the field trip experience on topics such as Fossils, Fossil Fuels, Landforms, Rock Cycles, and Natural Extravaganzas, for an additional fee. Please inquire when booking for availability and pricing.

To drop off students, buses will enter the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land property from the entrance on New Territory Blvd. Buses may park at the south end of the front parking lot.

It may also be possible to book one of our Outreach programs for your group during your visit to the Museum. These include Chevron Earth Science on Wheels, Science on Stage, El Paso Corporation Wildlife on Wheels, Docents to Go, Bugs on Wheels, and the Discovery Dome. The costs vary per program and per request. Please book your presentation at least one month in advance to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Field trips may be paid for in advance by calling 713-639-4659, by mailing a check, or on the day of the trip. If you choose to pay on the day of the trip, the Museum will accept school district checks, credit cards, or cash (large bills only). A purchase order (PO) will not be accepted. Field trips must be paid for in one transaction. All students and chaperones on the reservation should give their payment to one person who will present the money at the box office. Please mail checks to: The Houston Museum of Natural Science ATTN: School Services 5555 Hermann Park Dr. Houston, TX 77030-1718

We estimate there are 1,500 to 2,000 individual butterflies in the exhibit at any given time.

You can generally expect to see 60 or so species of butterflies from tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

There are a lot of factors that can affect butterfly activity including weather and time of day. These changes in activity levels can make it seem like there are more or less butterflies even though it is always roughly the same!

Yes, though it should be noted that the temperature and humidity are set to mimic a tropical rainforest. Expect the temperature to be between 75F and 80F with a humidity of 70-80%.

Yes, of course! Personal photography and videography is encouraged. Please contact ldavidson@hmns.org for any inquiries concerning photography/videography intended for professional use.

We do not sell butterflies for special event releases outdoors. If interested in purchasing butterflies for a wedding or memorial, please visit the International Butterfly Breeders Association to find a vendor in your area.

For various reasons, we do not accept locally found butterflies to be released in the exhibit. If you are looking for resources on monarchs, please visit our support page.

Yes, the butterfly center is fully accessible, including access for wheelchair users and mobility devices used as an accommodation. Elevators are available to access every level of the butterfly center. There is an accessible entrance to the rainforest for anyone with an accessibility need. Service animals are welcome, but please be aware that this is a live animal exhibit, which can be overwhelming to service animals.

 

You can secure your party date and time at either our Hermann Park or Sugar Land locations through our online box office. If you have additional questions prior to booking your party, fill out the Birthday Party Interest Form. It is recommended that you book your party 4–6 weeks in advance. If you book your party within a month of the party date, spaces may be unavailable and while we will try to accommodate any additional services or amenities, we cannot guarantee availability. Changes to your party package can be made up to two weeks prior to the date of your party. Reservation Coordinators will be unable to make any changes after that time. All birthday parties must be fully paid two weeks prior to the date of the party. Failure to do so will result in the birthday party being cancelled. If it is possible to accommodate any additional services that are requested on the date of the party, or if damages are incurred by a party group, these will be invoiced no later than the following week and due within 14 days of invoice.

Birthday Parties can occur any day of the week. At Hermann Park, we have 9 – 11am, 12 – 2pm, and 3 – 5 p.m. time slots available. In Sugar Land, scheduling options include 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 – 4pm. The Museum is unable to offer parties on the following days: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Holiday weekends are especially busy for the Museum in general. If you book a party on these weekends, we suggest that you and your guests plan to arrive early to allow enough time to find parking.

Yes! To be eligible for the member discount you must be a current family level member or above, both at the time the reservation is made and at the time of the party. If you are not currently a member, we are happy to assist you with purchasing or renewing your membership at the time you make your reservation so you can receive the discount.

Due to high demand and limited availability, each sale will be considered final. Anything paid towards the birthday party is non-refundable. You may reschedule to another available day and time once at no additional charge. The party must be rescheduled within a year of the original date. Parties cannot be rescheduled within 10 days of the originally booked date. If you require more than one date change, any subsequent rescheduling will be subject to a $50 fee per change. Please contact the Birthday Party team at reservations@hmns.org for assistance to reschedule a booked party. Birthday Parties are held rain or shine, but in the case of severe weather we will contact you for alternate arrangements.

Absolutely! If you would like host a joint party, an additional fee of $250 will apply for each added birthday child. The joint party fee does not apply to siblings. Please note all Guests of Honor when reserving the party, and be mindful of the maximum capacity of the party rooms.

Yes! The price of a party includes the price of admission to the permanent exhibit halls – a value of $300 to $750 depending on the size of your party.

Changes to your party package can be made up to two weeks prior to the date of your party. Reservation Coordinators will be unable to make any changes after that time.

We will make every reasonable attempt to make accommodations for you and your guests. We want every birthday to be as successful as possible! We will talk to you about your concerns when we contact you, but some of the possible accommodations include lowering lights, having a sensory backpack on hand and museum visual vocabulary cards to help your kiddo prepare for your time with us. For more information on the Museum’s accessibility accommodations, click here.

Yes, you are welcome to bring in your own food or have it delivered, but there are some restrictions: no alcoholic beverages, no heating devices, and no full-scale catering. Please email us ahead of time with information regarding any deliveries you may be expecting. This will help us ensure your party goes smoothly!

The Museum does not provide food services or allow third party vendors with the birthday party programming. Please feel free to bring in whatever food or decorations that you prefer yourself. Your party facilitator can help setup and take down whatever food or decorations that you have within the time frame provided in the birthday party. This policy is in place because the Museum is quite large and party spaces can be at quite a distance to get from the car to the space. We want your party to go as smoothly as possible within the programming time frame we have to work with.

A single party room will contain 4 rectangular tables, 72” long and 30” wide, and 30 seats. A double party room will contain up to 8 rectangular tables, 72” long and 30” wide, and 75 seats. The tables will be covered in kraft paper so the party guests can decorate them with crayons between activities. Additional surfaces will be available to set up food, presents and cake. Rooms at HMNS Hermann Park may also contain an assortment of permanent, reusable, non-helium balloons. The Overlook will not include and does not allow balloons of any kind to ensure the safety of the Morian Hall of Paleontology, which is located just below the Overlook. Sugar Land rooms will be set up similarly, but unfortunately, the rooms do not have an assortment of permanent, reusable, non-helium balloons. Please note we do not allow outside vendors to decorate or provide services for our parties.

You are guaranteed 1 HMNS Birthday Party Facilitator who will be your liaison between the Museum and your party. If you are expecting more than 15 children at your party, consider adding an additional facilitator to your party. An extra birthday facilitator takes stress off the party family, and helps focus energy on learning and celebrating. Large and Deluxe parties include an additional facilitator.

Yes, but please remember you just have the 30 minutes before your party to set-up.

There are a few rules regarding decorations:

• No outside vendors are allowed for decorations or providing services to the party programming
• No balloons of any kind are allowed on the Overlook. Balloons are only allowed in our regular party rooms.
• Party decorations cannot be hung or taped to walls
• Helium balloons are prohibited
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted
• Confetti/glitter are prohibited
• Traditional piñatas are not permitted. Pinatas with a pull string are allowed.
• Smash Cakes are not permitted
• Sternos, chafers, crock pots, or any other equipment that may require fire or power is not permitted

These rules are in place for the safety of you, your guests, the Museum and its collections. Please note that prohibited items will be confiscated if they are brought inside the building.

Loose helium balloons can cause serious problems for Museum displays. They are also hazards when entering the environment. Loose, balloons can pose a threat to many animals. Birds, turtles and other animals commonly mistake balloons for food, which can harm or even kill them. In addition, many animals can become entangled in balloon strings, which can strangle them or hurt their limbs. Earth’s helium resources are becoming depleted, but they are critical in countless applications such as MRIs, sea exploration and hospital ventilators. As such, we have chosen to eliminate helium balloons from our birthday parties. Don’t worry though! Instead of single use helium balloons, we have opted to decorate with environmentally-friendly, reusable balloons.

For our Hermann Park location, party guests should enter through the Museum’s main entrance or through the Museum Store to the Grand Hall. They should then head to the party via the Permanent Exhibit Hall Entrance. If they are unsure where to go, Birthday Party staff will have signage for guests to follow to their party location. Museum staff will also be able to direct them! For your guests’ convenience, all we require is that they tell us the birthday child’s name or the name of the parent who made the reservation. Parking can be difficult in the Museum District on weekends. We recommend that you tell your guests to arrive early to ensure their timeliness to your birthday party. For our Sugar Land location, please park in the surface parking lot in front of the Museum. Guests will arrive through the main entrance and proceed directly to the party space. For your guests’ convenience, all we require is that they tell us the birthday child’s name or the name of the parent who made the reservation. 

You will be allowed access to the space 30 minutes before your party time to set up any items you may bring. If you arrive prior to this window, you will not have access to your birthday party space.

Yes! We take care of the clean-up for you! The Museum will provide a cart to assist with transporting your items out of the party room and then the Museum staff will take care of cleaning up the room after your room time ends.

Our facilitators cannot accept tips. If you would like to recognize outstanding service, please consider telling other families about your event, donating to HMNS or renewing/purchasing a membership!

Because other parties may be booked after your allotted time, we are unable to extend your reserved time if you are late. Birthday Party staff will do their best to adjust your schedule accordingly.

To make sure we have ample supplies for your party, party upgrades must be purchased at least 2 weeks before your event, but are subject to availability. We recommend allowing at least 3 weeks notice to better your chance of upgrades being available. Changes to your party package can be made up to two weeks prior to the date of your party. Reservation Coordinators will be unable to make any changes after that time.

We have contracted with a variety of vendors to ensure your birthday experience is an easy, efficient one-stop shop for parents. These vendors are familiar with Museum protocols and safety procedures and are trained to provide an entertaining and easy addition to your party experience. As such, we do not allow outside vendors for services we offer. 

We unfortunately can no longer extend our parties over the 2 hour period. If you have any questions or concerns over the time frame of your party, please let your booking coordinator know to help you better strategize your party.

View our Birthday Party Upgrades for package information.

Birthday party activities are age and theme appropriate. To see what is offered by theme and age, click here.

We can accommodate up to 30 people in a regular party room and up to 75 people in a large party room. For deluxe parties, a small deluxe party can accommodate 50 people and a large deluxe party can accommodate 75 people. If you have more than 75 people, we can discuss a couple of other options for you.

Fire code restrictions prevent the Museum from making exceptions. For parties with more than 30 guests, we require renting a second room. A second room rental will more than double the included guests, from 30 to 75, and include a second facilitator to help manage your experience. For parties larger than 75 guests, we can speak to you about your options. Contact us at reservations@hmns.org to see what option is right for you!

All attendees will be included in the head count. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times. For children’s safety, we do not allow birthday guest parents to drop off and leave their children during birthday parties.

Yes. The number of guests included in the reservation is based on the maximum occupancy of the party room.

If space is available, your party will be moved to a room large enough to accommodate all of your guests and you will be invoiced for the additional fee. If space is not available, up to 30 guests may remain in the booked space. Every child must have at least one caregiver. Additional guests will be free to tour the permanent exhibit halls, and you will be invoiced for their admission.

About a week before your party, you will receive instruction on how to access staff to help you bring supplies into the Museum on the day of your party.

At the Hermann Park location, park in the Museum’s garage, if space is available. Party families will receive two free parking vouchers for the Museum garage. For Sugar Land birthday parties, complimentary parking is available in the lot directly in front of the main entrance to the Museum.

For birthday parties at Hermann Park, guests are welcome to use the Museum’s parking garage or other area parking. Guests will receive the discounted rate of $15 per vehicle if they park in the HMNS Museum Parking Garage. Party facilitators will instruct guests as to how they can receive this parking rate at the end of your party. For Sugar Land birthday parties, complimentary parking is available in the lot directly in front of the main entrance to the Museum.

There are several free lots as well as other parking garages surrounding the Museum. Please refer to the Parking Map for more information on parking in the area. Please note: we can only offer a discount at our parking garage.

No. The Sugar Land location has free lot parking outside the facility.

Your birthday party deposit secures your desired birthday date and time slot for a basic party package at either the Sugar Land or Hermann Park location.

Please note that this fee is a deposit only and will be deducted from your final invoice. Birthday parties at HMNS start at $350 for Members; you can review all pricing here.  

When the details have been confirmed, HMNS will send you your final invoice, including the total cost of your party, any additional upgrades, and the remaining balance (after deducting your $200 deposit). This invoice must be paid in full two weeks prior to the date of your party.  

Scout classes are taught by HMNS staff and volunteers, scouters and school teachers who bring their professional knowledge of the Badge, Adventure or Journey to enhance the scout’s experience. All teachers have gone through a background check and have taken Youth Protection Training with BSA and/or the Museum’s Youth Education Department. Scout BSA classes are taught by Merit Badge counselors who are registered with Sam Houston Area Council.

Classes follow the same guidelines as the BSA and Girl Scouts, as applicable, and are generally based on the grade that the Scout will be attending in the fall. 

Scouts BSA: 

• Tigers: 1st grade 
• Wolves: 2nd grade
• Bears: 3rd grade
• Webelos: 4th-5th grade
• Scouts BSA: 6th grade – 17 years old

Girl Scouts: 

• Daisy: K-1st grade 
• Brownies: 2nd-3rd grade
• Juniors: 4th-5th grade 
• Cadettes: 6th-8th grade 
• Seniors: 9th-10th grade
   

 

Scouts BSA classes are 4 hour long classes from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 pm. Webelos, Cub Scout classes and Girl Scout classes are 2 hours long. They are usually from 10 – 12 p.m. or 1 – 3 pm. Girl Scout Journey classes run between 4 – 5 hours.

At HMNS Hermann Park location, we are thrilled to have Sodexo as our partner providing new dining options. Sodexo offers limited box lunch options from The Periodic Table Café and Elements Grill. Campers and Scouts can preorder a meal to be delivered by Periodic Table. To order a lunch for your child, please visit: hmns.ezplanit.com/#/welcome. Orders must be placed before 10:15 a.m. the day before. Campers are not permitted to purchase a meal during supervised lunch time. Contact the Periodic Table Café at 713-639-4699. 

For campers and scouts attending the HMNS at Sugar Land location, you may bring a lunch from home. Unfortunately, we do not have an order option at this location. 

Classes can be purchased here.

With a purchase of a scout class, one parent or chaperone is admitted with their scout into the Museum and can visit the permanent exhibit halls before or after their class. HMNS asks for parents of scouts in 2nd grade and younger to stay with their scout in the classroom for school year classes. Younger siblings and extra parents will need to purchase a general admission ticket for the Museum. Depending on the number of scouts and parents, extra parents and siblings may be asked to tour the Museum during class time. For summer scout classes, parents are not allowed to stay in the room. Each class will have a teacher and teaching assistants to work with the scouts.

Due to the high demand for camp and class spaces, each sale will be considered final. Patrons who cancel a camp or class will receive a 50% refund of the cost of a cancelled or dropped camp or class if notification is received at least 10 working days before that camp or class starts. In order to receive the 50% refund, patrons must contact the Education Department in writing. Please email summercamp@hmns.org or scouts@hmns.org. 
There are no refunds for camps or classes cancelled or dropped less than 10 working days before the program begins.
 

HMNS scout program does not require scouts to wear their uniforms to class. Uniforms are required for Scouts BSA, during field trips to court houses, fire stations and other outside organizations during summer scout classes.

HMNS provides a certificate with requirements met during the class. Scouts will need their troop or pack to purchase the badge, belt loop or pins earned in the class. HMNS does provide a special dinosaur patch and rocker strip for the HMNS Daisy and Brownie Trails and Careers in Science classes.

We are happy to accommodate children with disabilities and special needs. If you have a scout or camper who may need assistance to complete activities or badge requirements, a parent or caregiver should expect to stay in the room to assist. The individual that accompanies the camper or scout must pass a background check. Please contact the Scout Program Manager at 713 639-4631 or The Summer Camp Director at 713-639-4651 to discuss any special needs to help your child be successful at the museum. Help us help your child by completing the health profile tool via the Campdoc Online Management Tool for summer campers and scouts at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and notifying us of any disabilities, allergies, accessibility concerns, behavioral, psychological or emotional concerns, or any other special needs.

HMNS recommends that each Scout BSA get permission from their Scoutmaster before starting work on Eagle and Non-eagle merit badges. If a Scout takes a class without the Scoutmaster’s approval, they may not be given credit for the work. HMNS will not issue a refund in such circumstances.

Prerequisites are requirements that cannot be completed in the class. These should be completed before the class, but can be done after the class. A list of prerequisite requirements by Merit Badge and their downloadable worksheets can be found on the Scouts BSA Prerequisite Workbooks page. Outside work is work that is assigned by the Merit Badge counselor for two-day and five day classes. This is work that cannot be done in the classroom or work that the scout needs to finish for a requirement. At the end of class, any incomplete work (partials) will need to be completed by the Scout afterwards and verified by the Scout Program Manager and HMNS staff merit badge counselors. 

Please send a scan PDF of your missing requirements to scouts@hmns.org. After the work has been verified to show that the scout has met the requirements, a Merit Badge card will be sent. 

Please note that this procedure is in compliance with the requirements dictated by the Boy Scouts of America and Sam Houston Area Council. We are unable to issue Merit Badge cards without verifying that all requirements have been met.

For Scouts BSA classes, HMNS issues pre-printed “BLUE CARDS”, the official BSA form for Merit Badge Counselors, detailing the requirements completed by the Scout during class and verified by the Merit Badge Counselor. 

HMNS highly recommends getting prior approval for a merit badge class by your Scoutmaster for all merit badge classes taken at HMNS. HMNS will not issue a refund for classes that were not accepted by the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster may require you to bring a signed blue card for the merit badge. The scout is responsible for turning in their signed merit badge card to the counselor on the day of the class and submit the completed Blue Cards to their troop after completion of the class.

For Scouts BSA, daily class attendance is required to complete the Merit Badges. A Scout cannot make up a class by attending another session without registering for the full week. If a Scout misses a class, they will need to meet with their Merit Badge counselor to find out what they missed and if there is a possibility to make up the work, depending on the activities missed. The Merit Badge counselors may assign homework for the Scout to complete. If a Scout does not make up the missed work, they will get a partial on their Blue Card. For Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Webelos, teachers will try to catch the scout up on missed Adventures, Badges or Journeys. This may require the scout to do work at home.

For Sign In and Out, Scouts who are in Scout BSA, Cadette Girl Scouts, or Senior Girl Scouts may be given permission by a guardian to sign themselves in and out of class. At the main museum, Scouts will be released at 3:00 and escorted up to the entrance, near the Butterfly Center on Hermann Park Drive. Parents will pick up their child from this location only and will not be able to park in this loading area. All scouts who have not been picked up by 3:45, will be escorted back to extended day and parent will have to come in and sign them out of class. A parent must be present on the first day of class in the classroom to give permission for their scout to check themselves in and out. Extended Day self-checkout for Scouts BSA or Cadette Girl Scouts: due to poor phone reception on the lower level of the museum, parents will need to call the scout office at 713-639-4631, before their child can be released. Please have a designated location for picking up your scout that you have discussed with them beforehand.

Your child does not have to be a scout to participate in Scouting classes at HMNS! They just need to meet the age requirements for the class.

Scouts in Webelos, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts do not need to get permission to take a Summer Scouts class at HMNS. 

For those in Scouts BSA, we recommend getting permission from your Scoutmaster prior to starting work on a merit badge. If a Scout takes a class without the Scoutmaster’s approval, they may not be given credit for the work. HMNS will not issue a refund in such circumstances.  
 

Curbside Pickup is only available to Scouts BSA and Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts. It is not an option for our younger Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Webelos. 

For Curbside Pickup on the first day of the class week, parents MUST walk their scout to class and fill in curbside pickup information for that week. Parents can choose options that work for them: 

Sign-In        
•    To Before Class* between 8:00 and 9:15 a.m. *Before Class is a PAID SERVICE.
•    Sign into Class beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Sign-Out
•    Sign out from class. Scouts will be escorted to the Scouts pick-up location on Hermann Park Drive. They must be picked up at this location.  This option is available between 3-3:45 p.m.  
•    Sign out of After Class* at ______ (Time). Release will be 5 minutes prior to the designated pick-up time. I will pick-up my child at___________ location. *After Class is a PAID SERVICE.

Please note that for signing your scout directly out of class, they will be escorted to a designated pick up location on Hermann Park Drive, and that is where you will be able to pick them up. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate alternative pick up locations during that window. Any campers not picked up at 3:45 p.m. will be escorted to After Class and must be picked up from the classroom inside.

For our Virtual Summer Scouts classes, there are no physical supplies that will be mailed to your scout. You will receive an email delivering additional information the Friday prior to your start date for each virtual class booked.

Virtual Summer Scout classes provide around two hours of educational engagement, live interaction with one of our skilled Scouts educators via Zoom, and workbooks to guide scouts through the requirements of the merit badge. An HMNS Scout Educator will be on a virtual call with the class to interact with scouts, lead them in activities and answer questions. 

Summer Camp and Summer Scouts hours are the same! Camp or Class are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Patrons can begin dropping their campers or scouts off at their classrooms around 9:50 a.m., and they can pick up campers between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.

If you sign up for extended day, then Before Camp/Class is from 8-10 a.m. and After Camp/Class is from 3-5:30 p.m. daily. 
 

You can utilize the Museum parking garage. Summer Camp or Summer Scouts patrons utilizing the museum garage will need to display the SUMMER CAMP PARKING PASS hangtag. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will be emailed to all registered patrons prior to your scheduled week of camp or scouts. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will also be available in the Education or Scout Office in the Museum. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will provide FREE exit from the Museum garage.  

There are also alternate lots available around the Museum. Please see this map to see alternate lots and parking options!
 

In the event of inclement weather we will make every effort to make an announcement about camp and summer scouts closure as quickly as possible. Updated information will be available on our camp hotline at 713-639-4652 and announced on social media. In the event of a camp or scout class cancellation due to inclement weather, including the period of time required to re-open the facilities after the immediate weather incident has passed, there will be no refunds or exchanges. 

Some classes have PREREQUISITES that need to be completed prior to attending class and/or homework assignments during the week. Worksheets for these prerequisites can be found on the Scouts at HMNS website (hmns.org/scouts). Please download these worksheets and have your Scout bring the completed worksheets to class and turn them in to the Merit Badge Counselor. Homework should be completed and turned in by the due date provided by the Merit Badge Counselor. At the end of class, any incomplete work (partials) will need to be completed by the Scout afterwards and verified by the Scout Program Manager scouts@hmns.org for merit badge credit. 
 

HMNS only offers week-long camps over the summer break.

Our age policy for summer camps is that a student in the 6-7 age range must be at least 6 years old by September 1st or entering into Grades 1-2. For our 8-9 age range, students must be at least 8 years old by September 1st or entering into Grades 3-4. For our 10-12 age range, students must be at least 10 years old by September 1st or entering into Grades 5-7. If your student has a summer birthday and is between age ranges, they can choose to attend either age range that can apply.

Online registration for both in-person and virtual summer camps and scout classes is available at hmns.org/education. Online registration is required for all camps and Scout classes. We are unable to accept registrations over the telephone.

There are priority registration dates for Members. HMNS Membership must be current FAMILY LEVEL or above to take advantage of early registration dates. To qualify for the member rate, your membership must be valid at time of registration and during your purchased program.

Priority Membership registration dates: 
Please note online registration begins at 12:01 a.m. on the date indicated below

• H.P. Attwater Society level members | Nov. 25, 2024
• Family Flex and above | Nov. 26, 2024
• All other family-level members | Dec. 3, 2024
• General public | Mar. 3, 2025

Please upgrade or renew your Membership at least two weeks prior to your registration date. To renew or upgrade, please visit the Membership section of our online box office.  

Summer Camp and Summer Scouts hours are the same! Camp or Class are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Patrons can begin dropping their campers or scouts off at their classrooms around 9:50 a.m., and they can pick up campers between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.

If you sign up for extended day, then Before Camp/Class is from 8-10 a.m. and After Camp/Class is from 3-5:30 p.m. daily. 
 

You can utilize the Museum parking garage. Summer Camp or Summer Scouts patrons utilizing the museum garage will need to display the SUMMER CAMP PARKING PASS hangtag. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will be emailed to all registered patrons prior to your scheduled week of camp or scouts. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will also be available in the Education or Scout Office in the Museum. The Summer Camp Parking Pass will provide FREE exit from the Museum garage.

There are also alternate lots available around the Museum. Please see this map to see alternate lots and parking options!
 

At HMNS Hermann Park location, we are thrilled to have Sodexo as our partner providing new dining options. Sodexo offers limited box lunch options from The Periodic Table Café and Elements Grill. Campers and Scouts can preorder a meal to be delivered by Periodic Table. To order a lunch for your child, please visit: hmns.ezplanit.com/#/welcome. Orders must be placed before 10:15 a.m. the day before. Campers are not permitted to purchase a meal during supervised lunch time. Contact the Periodic Table Café at 713-639-4699. 

For campers and scouts attending the HMNS at Sugar Land location, you may bring a lunch from home. Unfortunately, we do not have an order option at this location. 
 

In the event of inclement weather we will make every effort to make an announcement about camp and summer scouts closure as quickly as possible. Updated information will be available on our camp hotline at 713-639-4652 and announced on social media. In the event of a camp or scout class cancellation due to inclement weather, including the period of time required to re-open the facilities after the immediate weather incident has passed, there will be no refunds or exchanges. 

We are happy to accommodate children with disabilities and special needs. If you have a scout or camper who may need assistance to complete activities or badge requirements, a parent or caregiver should expect to stay in the room to assist. The individual that accompanies the camper or scout must pass a background check. Please contact the Scout Program Manager at 713 639-4631 or The Summer Camp Director at 713-639-4651 to discuss any special needs to help your child be successful at the museum. Help us help your child by completing the health profile tool via the Campdoc Online Management Tool for summer campers and scouts at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and notifying us of any disabilities, allergies, accessibility concerns, behavioral, psychological or emotional concerns, or any other special needs.

All of our summer camps are discounted for Museum Members. HMNS Membership must be current FAMILY LEVEL or above to take advantage of the member discount and early registration dates. To qualify for the member rate, your membership must be valid at time of registration and during your purchased program.

Please upgrade or renew your Membership at least two weeks prior to your registration date. To renew or upgrade, please visit the Membership section of our online box office.  
 

Unfortunately, we are not currently offering scholarships, but we will post any updates on our Summer Camp page online.

Refer a Friend

Share your HMNS adventures with a friend. Refer a friend to Summer Camp at HMNS or Summer Scouts at HMNS and you’ll both receive of a discount of $25. Your friend will get $25 off one HMNS Summer Camp or one five-day Summer Scouts Class and you'll get $25 credit toward your next purchase.

After your purchase, you will receive a special single-use code to share with a friend. If they use the code to complete an eligible purchase, they will receive the discount automatically in their cart. After they have completed their purchase, please email the confirmation of your purchase as well as theirs to summercamp@hmns.org, and we can issue the $25 credit to your account for a future purchase.

Second Summer

Are you ready for another summer of science adventures? If you attended Summer Camps at HMNS or Summer Scouts at HMNS in 2023 or 2024 – don’t wait! Returning campers or Scouts receive $25 off one Summer Camp or five-day Scout Class.

Second Summer discount codes will be sent via email to eligible participants when your member level opens. If you are not a member, you will receive your code when sales open to the general public on March 3. If you have not received your unique second summer discount code when sales open for your membership level, please email summercamp@hmns.org.

Please note that discounts cannot be combined on one individual Summer Camp or Summer Scout Class. Discounts cannot be applied to Museum District Explorers. Discounts do not apply to Four, Two, and One-Day Summer Scout Classes or Virtual Summer Scout Classes.

Due to the high demand for camp and class spaces, each sale will be considered final. Patrons who cancel a camp or class will receive a 50% refund of the cost of a cancelled or dropped camp or class if notification is received at least 10 working days before that camp or class starts. In order to receive the 50% refund, patrons must contact the Education Department in writing. Please email summercamp@hmns.org or scouts@hmns.org. 

There are no refunds for camps or classes cancelled or dropped less than 10 working days before the program begins.
 

Registrations are not transferable from child to child.

Yes! When a camp sells out online, a waitlist option will become available. You can fill out the information to be added to the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, a member of the Summer Programs team will reach out to you to coordinate payment and purchase of that camp spot.

Before Camp and Before Class are from 8-10 a.m. After Camp and After Class are from 3-5:30 p.m. 

The Summer Camper Drop-Off/Pick-Up Curbside Carpool service is a paid service exclusively offered to Museum members. This service is offered at the Main location during camp weeks and the service can be purchased online.

Patrons will receive a Summer Camp Carpool email a few days prior to the start of their camp week requesting information for the carpool service including names of campers using the service and the authorized adults allowed to pick up those campers. Once that information is completed, they will receive a SUMMER CAMP CARPOOL PASS via email. On Monday (or the first day of your camper’s camp week), patrons will need to drop off their child in person to fill out required information for the camp week. For the remainder of the week, the Drop-off and Pick-up carpool line will be on Hermann Park Drive in the “Bus Loading Zone.” 

Carpool Service hours:
Drop-off Morning service: 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m., Tuesday-Friday (Camper drop-off service is not available on the first day of the week)
Pick-up Afternoon service: 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday
 

In the morning when your camper is dropped off, summer camp staff will escort your camper to the Before Camp rooms until their camp day begins. For afternoon pick-up, your camper will be in a designated carpool pick up room with staff and activities until your camper is picked up. 

No, we do not offer the Carpool service on Scouts weeks (June 16-18 and 20, June 30-July 3 or July 21-25) or at the Sugar Land location. 

Our Carpool service covers one household. If you have multiple campers, you will only need to purchase one Carpool spot per household per week. 

HMNS at Hermann Park is open 9:00-5:00, Monday through Thursday and 9:00-6:00 Friday through Sunday. Hours are extended during holidays and summer. Please check here for any changes or early closures.

HMNS at Hermann Park has extended hours for all holidays, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. HMNS is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

General admission into the Permanent Exhibits is $25 for adults, or $16 for children between the ages of 3-11 and seniors over the age of 62.

Special exhibits may vary. For the most updated prices, please check here.

There is no single ticket that covers the entire museum. A Permanent Exhibit ticket covers more than a dozen exhibits in our collection, which you can find detailed here. The purchase of a special exhibit ticket (King Tut’s Tomb Discovery Experience, Sharks! The Meg, The Monsters, & The Myths or Death by Natural Causes) will also grant access into the Permanent Exhibit Halls.

HMNS operates two locations: HMNS at Hermann Park, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030 and HMNS at Sugar Land, located at 13016 University Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479.

For the safety of our guests, shoes are required for entry into the Museum. Any guests who will be walking or transferring, including infants, toddlers, and guests using mobility devices, are required to wear footwear.

They are at each entrance to the Museum that is open to the public as well as each emergency exit.

Of course, HMNS's bathrooms are fully handicap accessible.

HMNS at Hermann Park has manual wheelchairs available to borrow on a first-come first-served basis. Wheelchairs may be checked out at the Museum Services desk in exchange for a photo ID.

Unfortunately, HMNS does not have any motorized wheelchairs or scooters available.

We welcome service animals, identified by the ADA as any breed of dog or miniature horse, that are trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability unless the animal poses a direct threat, is not housebroken or is not under control. Emotional support/comfort/therapy animals and pets are not permitted anywhere in the building. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. Service animal relief areas are located outdoors on any of the grassy areas surrounding the Museum.

At our Hermann Park location, in addition to the family bathrooms, we have a designated nursing room. It is located on the 2nd floor, near the bathrooms on the Paleo Overlook.

Yes, we have several wonderful venues to choose from. You can view the available venues on our Event Spaces page, or contact us at specialevents@hmns.org to discuss the location which will best suit your wedding needs.

Our Cockrell Butterfly Center, Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, Burke Baker Planetarium, Morian Hall of Paleontology and Sun Dial are all wonderful venues for wedding ceremonies.

The Museum can accommodate up to 5,000 guests for a cocktail reception. Please contact us at specialevents@hmns.org to discuss the spaces that would work best for you and your guest count.

The first step is to relax – planning a wedding at the Museum is an easy process! Here at the Museum, we have everything down to a science – including wedding planning. The second step is to decide which Museum venue would be the best fit for your wedding. Please contact us to discuss which location would be the best fit for your wedding needs. The third step is to consider catering – the biggest component in planning a wedding at the Museum. The Museum has several exclusive caterers that are contracted to provide food for any wedding. For more information, please visit our Catering page. The final step is to contact us at specialevents@hmns.org to secure your desired date. With any wedding, once you have your venue, everything else falls into place.

No, you must use one of the Museum’s catering companies.

Yes. City Kitchen Catering holds the Museum’s liquor license, so all alcoholic beverages must be provided by them. Please contact them directly for more information. City Kitchen Catering is a full service catering company, so you may use them for both your food and beverage needs. If you decide to use them for just your alcoholic beverage needs, you may also select any of our other caterers for food.

Red wine is allowed in all of the halls where food and drinks can be served. Please note that no food or drinks can be served on the 3rd floor or in the newly renovated William Stamps Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife.

Let the caterer know your anticipated date, guest count, and budget. Budget is one of the most important pieces of information, as it assists the caterer in providing you a more accurate proposal. Also, have an idea of whether you want a seated dinner, a buffet, food stations or a cocktail reception. Please visit our Catering page for definitions of each wedding type and catering contact information. The more details you can provide, the better.

Return your signed contract and deposit to secure a date.

For evening weddings, the rental fee includes security, an onsite wedding manager, house staff and building manager. The fee does not include food, beverage and equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, etc. All of those things are an additional cost and would be handled by one of our four caterers. Please contact the caterers directly for that information.

All wedding ceremonies and receptions take place when the Museum is closed to the public. During the summer months, the earliest weddings can typically begin is at 7 p.m. During the rest of the year, the earliest weddings can begin is 6 p.m.

No. The Special Events department customizes each wedding according to your wedding needs.

Yes. The Museum does not have a bridal suite, but we do have a conference room and classrooms that are often used as dressing areas.

No, the Museum does not provide decorations. One of the benefits about having your wedding at the Museum is that very little décor is needed, as the exhibits serve as décor. You are more than welcome to bring in free-standing décor for your wedding. Please contact us regarding specific décor policies.

Two hours prior to your scheduled wedding.

For weddings and receptions, the Museum offers complimentary self-parking in the Museum’s parking garage. If you would like valet parking, this service would be an additional cost and can be arranged through any of our catering companies. Please contact the caterers directly for information on costs.

Yes. Rehearsals can be scheduled Monday-Friday after Museum business hours.

We often have weddings and events occurring simultaneously on any given evening and take all the necessary steps to keep each wedding private—including separate entrances, security and support staff. However, we do offer full Museum usage based on needs and availability. Please contact us to discuss that option.

Your guests only have access to the spaces that you rent.

Yes, there are many great locations throughout the Museum where a band or D.J. can set up.

Yes, Museum members receive a 10% discount off of the facility rental fee.

Please contact us to schedule an appointment for a site visit. Site visits are available with the Museum Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Some typical events include: dinners, cocktail receptions, meetings, weddings, galas, award ceremonies, presentations, client appreciation events, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc.

The Museum can accommodate up to 10,000 guests for a cocktail reception.

During the summer months, the earliest events can typically begin is at 7:00 p.m. and the rest of the year at 6:00 p.m. Classrooms and meeting spaces are available for rentals during the day.

The first step is to relax – planning an event at the Museum is an easy process! Here at the Museum, we have everything down to a science – including event planning. The second step is to decide which Museum venue would be the best fit for your event. Please contact the Special Events department to discuss which location would be the best fit for your event needs. The third step is to consider catering – the biggest component in planning an event at the Museum. The Museum has several exclusive caterers that are contracted to provide food for any event. For more information, please visit our Catering page. The final step is to contact the Special Events department to secure your date. Typically with any event, once you have your venue everything else falls into place.

No, you must use one of the Museum’s exclusive catering companies.

Yes, each of the Museum’s exclusive caterers will provide your alcohol service as well.

Red wine is allowed in all of the halls where food and drinks can be served. Please note that no food or drinks can be served on the 3rd floor or in the newly renovated William Stamps Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife.

Let the caterer know your anticipated date, guest count, and budget. Budget is one of the most important pieces of information, as it assists the caterer in providing you a more accurate proposal. Also, have an idea of whether you want a seated dinner, a buffet, food stations or a cocktail reception. Please access the Catering information page for definitions of each event type and catering contact information. The more details you can provide, the better.

Return your signed contract and deposit to secure a date.

For evening events, the rental fee includes security, an onsite event manager, house staff and building manager. The fee does not include food, beverage and equipment such as tables, chairs, linens, etc. All of those things are an additional cost and would be handled by one of our four caterers. Please contact the caterers directly for that information.

To make your event extra special, view a special exhibit, add a tour guide, participate in a corporate teambuilding Expedition Center Mission or view a film in our Planetarium or Giant Screen Theatre.

The Special Events department customizes the event according to your event needs.

Parking in the Museum’s garage is complimentary for all special events rentals. If you would like valet parking, this service is available for an additional cost and can be arranged through any of our catering companies. Please contact them directly for information on costs.

Please keep in mind that we often have events occurring simultaneously on any given evening and take all the necessary steps to keep each event private – including separate entrances, security and support staff. However, we do offer full Museum usage based on needs and availability. Please contact us to discuss that option.

For evening events, your guests have access to the spaces that are rented. For daytime events, your guests have complimentary access to any of the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls.

The Museum has a limited amount of A/V equipment that can be provided. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Yes, there are many great locations throughout the Museum where a band or D.J. can set up.

The Museum offers a 20% discount off the rental of exhibit halls, conference rooms and classrooms for non-profits. For information on corporate sponsorship discounts, please contact the Museum’s development department at development@hmns.org.

Site visits are available with the Museum Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 pm. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.