FAQ

To qualify as a school group, you must belong to an educational organization (K – 12), make advance reservations, and visit the Museum Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The field trip rate also extends to home schools with at least 10 students.

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/sciencelab 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, ConocoPhillips 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