field trip faqs

When is payment due? Can I pre-pay?

Payment arrangement is due upon arrival on the day of the trip.  

To avoid overpayment in the case of absences, we do not recommend pre-payment. For the same reason, we do not recommend bringing a pre-filled check for payment on the day-of. 

How can I pay? 

Payment is accepted at the front desk via card, invoice, or cash. If paying by check, you will receive an invoice with your final headcount and total on the day of your trip. 

Payment is also accepted by card within the guest portal; check your email for more instructions or a link to pay. 

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh gift cards are not applicable to group admission transactions. 

Which adults receive free admission?

For all groups, an overall group ratio of 1 adult:10 children is required for chaperone purposes. Adults within that ratio receive free admission.

Nurses, paraprofessionals, one-on-one aides, etc., are always free and do not count toward the chaperone ratio.

All additional adults outside of the required chaperone ratio are subject to the $17 per person group admission rate (this includes teachers, parents, etc.).

Adult participants are subject to the $17 per person group admission rate.

I have extra group wristbands; what should I do with them? Can they be used in the future?

Group wristbands can only be used on the day of your scheduled visit.  If you have extra wristbands, please give them to the front desk when you check in. Your payment is based on the headcount on the day of your visit, not the number of wristbands that you were sent. Group wristbands have no ticket or monetary value and are not a valid proof of purchase.

Who is eligible for this program? How do I know if my group qualifies?

The following groups qualify for the Title I Free Admission Program:

• Students in grades K-12 from public Title I schools in Pennsylvania
• State-approved, public Pre-K Counts programs operating out of public Title I schools in Pennsylvania (Pre-K Counts programs operating out of non-public schools, learning centers, etc., do not qualify)

To be considered “Title I” in the context of this program, schools must either:

• • Have a State-approved schoolwide Title I program in place and active

OR

• Meet the low-income requirement of at least a 40% free or reduced lunch rate among their student population

Use this link to search for your school and check the free or reduced lunch rate.

Use this link to view the list of State-approved schoolwide Title I program schools.

Schools that have targeted assistance Title I programs and/or do not meet the minimum free or reduced lunch rate do not qualify.

If you are unsure, contact your school or district federal programs coordinator to verify your school’s Title I status. Reach out to groups@pittsburghkids.org with any additional questions about eligibility.

My school qualifies—how do I participate in the program?

When requesting your field trip on our website, answer “Yes” to the question about your school’s Title I status. You do not need to provide any additional information; we will verify eligibility internally.

Do you have a dedicated lunch space that will be reserved for my group?

Yes. A suitably sized lunchroom is reserved for 30 minutes for your group, located conveniently next to bathrooms and water fountains.

How should we bring our lunch?

Lunch bags should be gathered and transported in boxes or bags. We recommend using cardboard boxes or shopping totes. Upon arrival, these will be carried from the drop-off point to the front entrance of MuseumLab.

For safety reasons, Museum staff is not permitted to load lunch materials on or off of buses.

Do you offer plates, utensils, cups, etc.?

We encourage you to bring these materials if your group needs them. If you forget and are in a pinch, please let a staff member know at the beginning of your lunch period.

Can chaperones get their lunch offsite from MuseumLab?

MuseumLab is a closed campus that remains locked throughout the duration of your field trip and re-entry to the building must be facilitated. For this reason, we do not recommend that chaperones leave MuseumLab during the lunch period.

Where can I park?

Passenger vehicles, apart from buses, may park in our main visitor lots at the Children’s Museum. Parking is $8 per vehicle, to be paid at kiosks within the lot itself.

Buses are not permitted to park in our visitor lots. A map showing recommended drop-off and parking locations for buses will be included in your field trip confirmation email.

What should students wear?

Students should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes with socks. Gymlacium is a shoes-off, socks-on environment. Aprons will be available to borrow during any messy activities.

Who can visit Gymlacium?

Visitors must be 48″ tall to visit Gymlacium. Adults are welcome to climb and explore.  Visitors with limited mobility can experience Gymlacium from the ground level. This accommodation can be made day-of, or you can request it in advance of your visit.