School Trips

A group of school children eat lunch outside of the Monroe Science Center.

Looking for an educational field trip your students will love? Consider booking a school trip with us! 

Daily group admission is limited. To help accommodate larger groups, we may open on Tuesdays for groups of 100 or more on a case-by-case basis, pending availability.

Request forms must be submitted at least two weeks before your requested visit date.

Download our school trip informational brochure (PDF).

Submit a school trip request form

Discounted Admission for School Groups

We are happy to offer discounted admission for K through 12 schools that are visiting the science center. Your organization must be a North or South Carolina Certified Public or Government-Funded institution to qualify for this discount.

Daycares, pre-schools, summer camps, and private kindergartens are excluded.

If you do not meet this requirement, please visit our group visit page.

School Group Prices

  • NC and SC Certified Schools: $5 per person plus tax (minimum 15)
  • Adult Chaperones: 18 years or older (1 required for every 10 students)
  • 1 free Adult Chaperone ticket for every 10 paid student tickets
  • Extra Chaperones: $5 plus tax each when prepaid, full price of $10 plus tax at the door

Rules & Arrival

We will require a final count 14 days before your visit. Numbers cannot be changed on the day of the visit, and no refunds will be issued due to no-shows of students or chaperones.

There must be a ratio of one chaperone to no more than 10 Students. A chaperone must be prepared to enforce all Monroe Science Center rules regardless of their position within the school, including parent volunteers. Students must always be supervised while in the Monroe Science Center. The chaperone guide (PDF) should be shared and reviewed before arrival. Our facility map (PDF)* may also be helpful to share to help chaperones navigate their group through the museum. 

*Exhibits are subject to change at any time without notice.

There is no food or drink allowed in the Science Center. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please use the outdoor space included with admission for snacks or meals.

We are unable to refrigerate any food items. You are welcome to bring coolers if needed. 

We can provide a cart for storage (first come, first served); however, the Monroe Science Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Please keep your wristband on if you plan to re-enter on the same day.

Once your group has arrived at the Science Center, please send one person to check in with your group before unloading your students.

There is designated bus parking in our lower parking lot. Unless you have students who require lifts or wheelchairs, please unload after parking and not directly in front of the main entrance. This causes traffic and safety issues. 

A staff member will do a group greeting to review the museum rules and expectations with your students and chaperones.

Please review the museum rules listed below with your students before your visit. School groups violating any policies may be asked to leave depending on the severity of the situation:

  • No eating or drinking in the museum.
  • No running. Please walk at all times.
  • Shoes must be worn at all times.
  • Please use the Sensory room as intended.
  • Keep exhibit items within the designated exhibit spaces, picking up all items before moving on to the next exhibit.
  • Be respectful of Museum staff and volunteers, as well as other visitors.
  • The Monroe Science Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

At this time, you will be given the appropriate number of wristbands. No one will be admitted without a wristband. If you have extra guests who did not prepay, they will be required to pay the regular admission price.

Please Note: If your group is not arriving together, no one will be admitted until the contact/leader has checked the group in and received their wristbands for distribution.