If your visiting group has questions; you’ll find some answers here

When is payment due? Can I prepay?

Payment arrangement is due upon arrival on the day of the trip. The invoice sent with your confirmation email is a quote only.

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

How can I pay?

Payment is accepted at the front desk via card, invoice or cash. Card payment can also be made online within the guest portal. 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 cannot be used for group visit payments.

Which adults receive free admission?

For all groups, an overall ratio of at least 1 adult chaperone for every 5 children is required. Adults within the required number receive free admission.

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

All additional adults outside of the required chaperone number are subject to the $14 per person group admission rate (this includes teachers and  parents).

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.

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.

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

Yes; either half or the entire group lunchroom will be reserved for 30 minutes for your group. The group lunchroom is located conveniently next to bathrooms and water fountains.

How should we bring our lunch?

Lunch bags for students and chaperones should be gathered and transported in boxes or bags. We recommend using cardboard boxes or shopping totes. Upon arrival, these will be placed in rolling bins and transported to the group lunchroom for you by Museum staff.

We do not recommend the use of hard-sided coolers or dispensers. We do not recommend that participants each carry their lunch individually.

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.

 

I want my group to be guided, but my planned time frame is not 10:00 am-1:00 pm.

Guides are available until 1:00 pm. After that time, your group can stay in the museum until your scheduled departure time as a self-guided experience.

Example: For an 11:00 am-2:00 pm visit, the group is guided by Museum staff from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, then self-guided from 1:00 – 2:00 pm.

During my visit, does my group have to follow the schedule that was sent to us?

Yes. Following the schedule will prevent your group mixing with other groups and causing hazardous overcrowding of spaces.

Upon arrival, you will be told if there are no other groups and a schedule is not required.

What is the structure of Focus field trips? Will my group still get to visit exhibit spaces?

Focus field trips consist of a 40–60-minute activity in a museum classroom setting, as well as a tour through a selection of our exhibit spaces. Some exhibit spaces like MAKESHOP or the Art Studio may be omitted from your schedule to allow time for the classroom activity.

Do your programs and exhibit spaces align with curriculum standards?

Yes! All our exhibit spaces and programs align with core standards. Reach out to us at groups@pittsburghkids.org if you’d like standards information for your specific program.