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School & Children's Group Visits

Due to the rapidly changing nature of conditions and recommendations surrounding COVID-19, we are not approving any group visits to the Museum until further notice. For updates on the Museum's response to COVID-19, click here. Thank you for your continued support of Joslyn and patience during this challenging time. (updated 3/23/20)

Docent-Guided Tours

Museum tours enrich many areas of school curriculum and can be designed to integrate the study of art with social studies, literature, math, and language. Docent-guided, grade-appropriate tours are available in the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Click here for a list of popular school tours. With plenty of advance notice, tailor-made tours may also be designed to suit your curriculum

needs and special interests. Museum admission and docent services are offered free of charge. Visit times should be requested online four weeks in advance and are not firm until e-mail confirmation is received from Joslyn. Please note: ART WORKS, Joslyn's interactive space, is for general Museum visitors; school groups are not permitted.

Select school tours have an optional hour-long art-making session led by Museum staff on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during the academic year. Art-making fee: $50 (up to 25 students); $100 (26–50 students). Click here for details about art-making activities.

Self-Guided Visits
Teachers may schedule time in the Museum galleries to conduct their own tour with students. Visit times should be requested online four weeks in advance and confirmed by Joslyn staff. Docent-guided tour groups have priority over self-guided groups in the galleries. Please note: ART WORKS, Joslyn's interactive space, is for general Museum visitors; school groups are not permitted.

Home School Groups

Home school organizations are welcome to request a one-hour docent-guided tour or a self-guided visit. Art-making activities are not available with a tour request. We now offer Home School Days, which includes a one-hour tour plus a one-hour art-making, twice during each school year. Click here and scroll down to learn more about this program.

Summer Group Visits
Joslyn will do its best to accommodate requests for docent-guided tours (for groups of 60 students or less) that support educational, curriculum-based summer school programs. Groups from childcare centers, academies, and day camps should plan to enjoy a self-guided visit to the galleries. Either way, please click on the blue button (above) to make a visit request. If your visit will be self-guided, click on the orange button (above) to access helpful gallery activities.

General Information about School Visits

Hours
Docent-guided and self-guided visits may be scheduled anytime during regular Museum hours, as gallery space is available.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm
Thursday, 10 am - 8 pm
Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays*

Note: No group visits will be scheduled from October 27 to October 30, 2020.

Group Size
Docent-guided tours are available for groups of 10 students (minimum) or more. For groups with over 75 students, we request that you schedule two or more visits (ie. one in the morning, the other in the afternoon or different dates). Refer to the list of popular school tours for suggested maximum group sizes.

Admission
Museum admission and docent services are offered free of charge for school group tours.

Art-Making Fee
Up to 25 students – $50; 26-50 students – $100
Academic school year only.

Chaperones
One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students for docent-guided tours and self-guided visits - no more or less, please.

For ticketed exhibitions, the required number of adult chaperones are admitted free of charge.
Each docent-guided or self-guided small group must have an adult chaperone – no exceptions.
Student behavior in the Museum is the responsibility of the adult chaperones.

NOTE: If you must bring additional chaperones exceeding the 1:10 ratio, you must request approval prior to your scheduled visit.

Reservations
To make a reservation, please click on the School Visit Request button above. Docent-guided tours and self-guided visits reservations are required four weeks in advance and are not firm until e-mail confirmation is received from Joslyn. If you have questions, call (402) 661-3823 or click here to e-mail Joslyn's Tour Coordinator.

Transportation Grants

Funding may be available to help cover the cost of transportation to Joslyn.

To receive more details, click here to e-mail Joslyn's Tour Coordinator.

Make the Most of Your Visit

Pre-Visit Planning

Make a tour request online.
Reserve an Outreach Trunk or other Teacher Resource Materials to use in the classroom before your visit.
Become an Educator Member of Joslyn.
Relax and enjoy your visit!

Post-Visit Suggestions

Have students record their experiences at the Museum in a journal using language and/or images. Talk about any questions that students may have.
Send examples of students' reactions to their Museum visit, such as drawings or letters, to the Education Department. Reactions and thank-you's remind our donors how much schools value a visit to Joslyn!
Talk to other educators about your visit to Joslyn and how the Museum's collection and exhibitions enhanced classroom learning.