Field TripsPlan Your Field Trip

Field Trip FAQs

Field Trip Reservation FAQs

• What types of organizations qualify for the field trip rate?

  All classrooms, home school groups and school groups qualify for educational field trip rates as well as some other groups. If unsure if you qualify, please email [email protected]

• Are field trip rates available on weekends?

  No, field trips rates are tied to childcare and school groups who attend during the work or school week. If your group is planning to attend over a weekend, we offer a group rate discount for groups of 15 or more. A reservation is not required to qualify for the group rate. However, you must pay for every member of the group with a single check or transaction. For more information about group rates, please visit exploration.org/groups.

• What’s the minimum amount of time required to schedule a field trip?

  To ensure your class has a fun and inspirational STEM learning experience at the science center, please submit your request at least two-weeks in advance.

• How do I know my class or school field trip is scheduled?

  You will receive an automatic confirmation email from our system confirming the date and time for which you signed up. If we cannot accommodate your group on that day, we will call you within three (3) business days to reschedule your field trip.

• What’s the best way to communicate parent or guardian chaperone payment and check-in procedures to parents?

  Within a few days of reserving your date using the Field Trip Reservation Form, you will receive an email with detailed instructions including a map of where to enter. It includes a message to parents requiring them to pay and reserve their spot through the teacher so all have a pleasant experience checking in. This ensures all pre-registered parents, guardians and chaperones receive a ticket to the shows for which you registered.

• Can students use their membership to pay for the field trip cost?

  Students may not use an Exploration Place membership for field trips. They pay the field trip rate, which is significantly lower than any entrance fees to the museum.

• Is there a special rate for teachers and school staff?

  School staff and teachers who bring schools/classes to Exploration Place receive free admission for all field trips. This number must be provided when the class or school arrives.

• Can guardians or parents use a membership for field trips?

  Yes, parents may use the Exploration Place membership to enter the museum. Due to space limitations, however, they are not guaranteed a seat in the Live Science Show or Dome movie, even if they attend as an official chaperone. Please have guardians and parents entering with their Exploration Place membership check-in with the ticket counter when they arrive.

• How much will parent chaperones cost?

  Parent chaperones are the same cost as students when they register with the teacher. If the parents pay separate from the school’s invoice or check payment, they pay full price plus tax unless they use their membership. Please note that adults who pay separately from the school must get in line to check in. Due to space limitations, they are not guaranteed a seat in the show or film because priority is given to the field trip students and staff.

• Do school para-professionals, bus drivers or other school staff have to pay to attend?

  No. All school staff enter free with the class or school. This includes teachers, paras, bus drivers, principals etc.

• What if our group’s total number of guests changes after I’ve booked the field trip?

  We understand that headcount can change. Please update all final totals at the front desk, on the day of the visit.

Planning Your Field Trip

• How many adult chaperones are required?

  All field trips for groups with students in eighth grade or below requires one adult for every 8 youth. Small groups are encouraged for best experience.

• May parents attend if they did not register and pay with the school?

  Yes, but they must enter the museum via the regular guest line. These parents are not guaranteed a space in shows for which you pre-registered.

• Where do we eat lunch?

  When you check in at the front desk, they will let you know the available lunch spaces for the day. Typically, we have limited indoor seating, and ample outdoor seating.

Tax Exempt Groups

• Do we have to pay sales tax?

  All Kansas schools and nonprofits group in Kansas that are already tax exempt in Kansas do not pay taxes for any guests who register and pay through the organization, including parents. If your group is visiting from another state, you must register with the State of Kansas as a Tax Exempt organization prior to visiting and present that paperwork at registration to avoid paying taxes.

• How much is the sales tax?

  The current sales tax rate is 7.5%.

• What is the cost per person if we are tax exempt?

  The cost per person is the package price that was selected when the field trip was booked. If the school collects the parent and adult chaperone money in advance, and includes them on the school check, they will not have to pay sales tax.

• What If I forgot my Tax Exempt form?

  As long as you plan to pay with an organization check or credit card, we will exempt the order from sales tax. If we receive a copy of the completed Kansas Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax Entity Exemption Certificate within a week, we will not bill you for sales tax. If we do not receive a copy, you will receive a bill for the sales tax. Please email the form to [email protected] within one week.

• Are we tax exempt if we live in Oklahoma or another state?

  Sales tax exemption is based your state of residence. Only organizations within Kansas are exempt from sales tax at Exploration Place.

Arriving and Entering for your Field Trip

• What should we do when we arrive?

  • There is a large circle drive in front of the main entrance to Exploration Place to drop off and pick up children.
  • Ask your bus or van driver to pull as far around the circle drive as possible so others can also drop off students or guests as shown on this map.
  • When you arrive, the lead staff member who organized the field trip should enter, but all other students, parents, and school staff should remain on the bus.
  • We will greet your school on the bus, provide wristbands, and instructions.
  • The main contact of the school will work with the front desk to finalize billing or accept payment.

Group Rates For Organizations, Scouts and Clubs

• What if I have a group that wants to visit but is not a school or educational nonprofit group?

  Field Trip rates are available for school and educational nonprofit groups with at least 15 students in elementary through 12^th grade.

  Group rates are not the same as Field Trip rates. Group rates are $1 off per person. To qualify, the group must enter and pay as a group. Examples of groups that qualify for the Group Rate would be Scout Troops/Packs, teams, clubs, large family excursions, etc. Group Rates Information