Step 2: Prepare For Your Field Trip
Your field trip to the Natural History Museum of Utah is coming up! We are excited to have your class visit us and explore our incredible exhibitions. Use the resources below to prepare students, lead explorers, and get ready for an amazing field trip!
Prepare Lead Explorers
The Natural History Museum of Utah calls chaperones Lead Explorers. Well-prepared Lead Explorers are essential for a successful visit. We appreciate their willingness to volunteer their time to help make student field trips possible. Use the information in the following sections to help recruit and prepare your Lead Explorers so they have an awesome experience too!
Lead Explorer Welcome Video
Share the video below with all Lead Explorers (chaperones) before the field trip to the Natural History Museum of Utah. This video will help prepare chaperones to lead their group through Museum explorations and create a safe, memorable visit for all.
Lead Explorer FAQs
What are NHMU's expectations of Lead Explorers?
Lead Explorers guide students on a journey of discovery and help students make observations using their senses. During their field trip, we want students to get M.O.R.E. out of their experience. We ask them to:
- Model museum mode by using quiet voices and displaying calm bodies
- Observe using their senses (see, touch, smell, and hear)
- Respect each other, Museum staff and volunteers, the building and visitors, and Lead Explorers
- Explore and engage in exhibits while staying with their Lead Explorer
Please be sure to share the Lead Explorer Welcome Video with all chaperones to help prepare them for their visit. To help communicate your expectations with your chaperones please use the Lead Explorer Guide linked below. The Lead Explorer Guide has spaces for student names, lunchtimes, and other useful information to prepare your Lead Explorers.
How many Lead Explorers can come with us on our field trip?
We have found the following adult to student ratios to be optimal for students, Lead Explorers, and teachers to have the best museum experience:
Pre-K and Lower Elementary: 1 adult: 4 students
Upper Elementary and Middle School: 1 adult: 6 students
High School: No fewer than 1 adult: 10 students
Does it cost to bring extra Lead Explorers?
Thanks to the generous support of the Utah Legislature chaperones are FREE* for Utah public and charter schools. We recommend the above adult to student ratios for the best experience for everyone, but accommodations may be possible based on the needs of students and approval of the Field Trip Coordinator. Please email the Field Trip Coordinator regarding accommodations to the number of chaperones.
* Up to 40,000 students on a first-come, first-served reservation basis. Check your confirmation email for final costs for field trips.
Can Lead Explorers bring student's siblings?
To ensure students have the best possible museum experience, we ask that chaperones not bring students' siblings during the field trip. However, we understand that sometimes it's not feasible to have adequate chaperones without bringing younger siblings. If it is unavoidable, please encourage chaperones to use frontpack or backpack carriers and discourage the use of strollers.
Student Welcome Video
Help your students get M.O.R.E. out of their field trip by watching the video below in class before your field trip. Use the video below to review Museum behaviors, set expectations, and create field trip excitement.
Pre-Visit Activities
Begin to dive into NHMU's exhibitions and prepare students for their field trip with virtual field trips and pre-visit activities. Looking for more ways to extend the classroom learning? Check out the resources in Step 4!
Virtual Field Trips
These videos provides students with a sneak peak of the NHMU exhibitions through virtual experiences developed and led by our own expert scientists and educators. Here, you can visit our permanent exhibits and our past special exhibitions.
Activities
These activities allow students to hone their science skills before coming to the Museum. Junior Science Academy classes should complete at least one of the following activities before their visit.
Free Teacher Preview
Curious about the NHMU exhibitions? Interested in visit before your field trip to create activities or plan for classroom connections? Teacher preview visits are available for groups with a confirmed field trip. Plan a Free Teacher Preview with your team to plan for your field trip - email the field trip team to request a discount code for free admission.
Still have questions? Email The Field Trip Team.