Visit Planning Guide

Booking your field trip to the Academy of Natural Sciences is easy! Here’s how.

School Bus and Field Trip
  1. Choose your preferred dates and experiences: Self-guided Visit, Hands-on Gallery Program, or Discovery Lesson;
  2. Call 215-299-1060 or Register Online to complete your reservation;
  3. Check your mail in 2 to 3 weeks for a confirmation and schedule;
  4. Book your bus and recruit your chaperones.

Please allow at least 1 hour of free time to explore Dinosaur Hall, the changing exhibits hall, Science at the Academy, and the diorama halls of North America, Asia, and Africa.

To help you on the day of your visit, download the Welcome Letter and the Field Trip Schedule Planner.

Group Admission & Program Fees

Group Admission
Basic:
$7.00 per person
Basic + Butterflies!:
$8.50 per person
Groups are defined as 10 or more people, ages 3 and up. Groups must provide one chaperone for every 10 students through Grade 12. (Admission for chaperones is free.) Chaperones must be over 18 years old.
Hand-on Gallery Programs
Outside In (35 minutes):
$40 per program for 10-30 students
$75 per program for 31-60 students
The Big Dig (20 minutes):
$30 per program for 10-30 students
$55 per program for 31-60 students
Discovery Lessons
Grades Pre-K-6 (35 minutes):
$75 per lesson for 10-30 students
Grades 7-12 (90 minutes):
$120 per lesson for 10-30 students
Please note that Discovery Lessons can be booked Tuesdays through Fridays.

Visiting Details

Entrance:
Use the 19th Street Doors. A representative will meet with you at the scheduled time.
Bus Parking:
Buses can park at the Bus Parking Facility at 2nd and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia.
Download the Bus Parking Directions.
Download the Bus Parking Street Map.
Cancellation Policy
Payment for group visits and all additional programming are due in full upon arrival. The museum reserves the right to turn away groups for insufficient funds. Cancellations must be made a minimum of 2 weeks prior to visit. Cancellations within 2 weeks of scheduled visit are still invoiced for lessons and gallery program fees. Overpayments by check are refunded by check back to the original account. Museum Memberships cannot be combined with group visits. Other discounts, coupons, and affiliate memberships are not applicable with group admission.
Chaperones:
Groups MUST provide one chaperone (complementary admission) for every 10 students (or campers) through Grade 12. Chaperones must be over 18 years old. Admission for each additional chaperone is $7.
Download the Chaperone Guide.
Chaperones may also find the following exhibit guides useful:
Africa and Asia Diorama Hall Activity Guide
North American Journey
Lunchroom:
A lunchroom is located in the Commons Room on the Ground Floor. Lunchroom reservation is based on availability. There is a 30 minute time limit.
Museum Hours:
Monday–Friday: 10 am to 4:30 pm
Weekends and holidays: 10 am to 5 pm
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

If you have any questions contact the registrar, call 215-299-1060 or email .

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