Northwoods Children's Museum
Field Trips

What's In A Northwoods Children's Museum Field Trip?
Field trips are tailored to the age of your children and the amount of time you visit the museum.  We encourage you to make the museum your classroom for the day.  Choose from our Program Selections to plan your stay.

Field Trip Hours
Field trips are not necessarily limited to normal operating hours.  The museum will open prior to 10:00 a.m. to accommodate a field trip of 20 or more students.  The museum will also open on Monday (normally closed) in April and May for field trips of more than 40 paying students.  The following table shows "normal" field trip hours.  Contact the museum to arrange for hours outside those listed.

Field Trip Pricing
Pricing is per pupil and depends on the number of hours you plan to stay at the museum.  Essentially the more time you spend, the more programming (and fun!) the museum will provide.  The following table shows basic rates per student;

Design-Your-Own Field Trip
A Northwoods Children's Museum field trip can be as simple as spending time playing and exploring in the museum's 20 hands-on exhibits OR as complex as your time will allow.  No matter how many program choices you make, the museum staff organizes and oversee the field trip to ensure everyone has a great learning experience!  The following table shows programming options associated with each type of available field trip;

Field Trip Program Selections
Two, three, four and five star field trips include a choice of program as shown above.  Program selections can be anything from a hands-on science time, to hands-on math games and more.  You do not need to know your program choice to schedule a field trip - but the sooner you know what you want to do with your time, the more organized your trip will be.  Museum staff will touch base with you about two to three weeks prior to your trip if you have not made your program selection at the time of booking. All other field trips will be contacted one week prior to the field trip to firm up the field trip schedule based on your programming selections.  The following table lists program options;

Discovery Store Shopping
All field trips include time for shopping in the Discovery Store.  The museum uses a five step shopping process to turn shopping time into an opportunity to practice estimating skills, learn about tax and learn to make wise choices - moving math from the worksheet to real life.  Your field trip confirmation will include a Field Trip Spending Money Planning Guide to copy and send home with your students.

Field Trip Size and Chaperones
A minimum of 10 paying students is required to qualify for field trip pricing and programming options.  Smaller groups may choose to purchase a vacation passport (see the membership section for more information).  The museum reserves the right to limit maximum field trip size to between 60 and 80 students and their hands-on helpers (depending on the trip's program selection and time availability).   Field trips organizations are responsible to provide chaperones (called Hands-On Helpers) to supervise their field trips and help with facilitating field trip activities.  Preschool field trips require 1 Hands-On Helper for every three children.  K-5 field trips require 1 Hands-On Helper for every five children.  Three, Four and Five Star field trips are encouraged to bring additional Hands-On Helpers.  We waive the admission fee for Hands-On Helpers at the required ratio.  Adults in excess of the number we require (based on your field trip size and programming selections) pay $5.00 per person.

Field Trip Historic Adventures
Three, Four and Five Star field trips have the option of adding an historic adventure to their field trips.  Click on the button below which corresponds to the adventure you are considering.


 

Field Trip Schedule
Click on the button below for a current list of field trips.  If a day is NOT listed, there's a good chance it is available for a field trip.


Lunch Options
Two, Three, Four and Five Star field trips include use of the Lunch Room.  The Lunch Room includes an oven, microwave, sink and refrigerator.  Field trips routinely bring bag lunches to the museum.  Past field trips have also ordered food from Dairy Queen ((715)-479-8511) or McDonalds ((715) 479-5222) - Make sure you mention you are having your party at the Northwoods Children's Museum and Dairy Queen will donate 20% of your food purchase to the museum.   Any costs for food are NOT included in field trip rates quoted above. 

Confirmation
To lock in your field trip, the museum must receive a $20.00 confirmation fee.  The confirmation fee is refundable provided you cancel your trip at least three weeks prior (six weeks prior for April/May field trips).  We will also refund the booking fee if you are unable to reschedule a field trip affected adversely by winter weather (We reserve the right to assess a $2.00 per student fee for late cancellations unrelated to weather).  The booking fee can be paid using Cash, a Personal Check, by Master Card/Visa or using a school purchase order.  The field trip coordinator will be asked whether the booking fee is to be applied toward the field trip cost OR returned as of the date of the trip.

After the booking fee is received, you will receive a confirmation including the your field trip schedule, directions to the museum and any adventure/programming materials you may need.

To Book Your Field Trip
Call the museum at (715) 479-4623 or start the process with an email to nwoodschmus@verizon.net.