Teachers FAQ
What are the tour choices?
You may come for a self-guided tour, a guided tour, or an all-day visit with educational programming, available for K-12. Reservation is required.
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A self-guided tour will require at least 1.5 hours for an average classroom. This type of visit includes access to all exhibits including the time in the navigation simulator and our 17-minute museum film, entitled Rivers: the Heart of our Nation.
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A guided tour is reserved in advance and a staff member will host your group. It includes all of the above and the guide will provide additional information.
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An "all-day" field trip is one that takes up most of the school day. This tour provides educational programming that is age/grade-specific and is available 10:00am - 1:30pm unless other arrangements have been made. RDC is considered an off-site classroom for this type of visit. Programming can be adjusted for content and for your time constraints.
Can home schools participate in RDC programming?
Because all tours are age/grade-specific, no guided tours will be given to groups with a wide age-range. These groups may enjoy a self-guided tour.
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Please contact education@riverdiscoverycenter.org to discuss program options.
What are the behavior expectations at RDC?
We expect students to be well-mannered and to show respect to all staff, volunteers, and museum property. We will not allow disrespect to staff and volunteers, loud voices, destruction of property, shoplifting, running, or other unacceptable behavior.
How many students do you allow in a tour?
25-30 is the ideal tour group size. RDC staff will work with you to accommodate larger groups. Larger groups may be split up into smaller groups.
Are we required to have a guided tour?
No, the exhibits are designed to be self-guided.
Where does the bus park?
School buses may drop the students off in front of RDC, but will then need to park in the city parking lot located one block away on Broadway.
Can we eat lunch?
If visiting the center over lunchtime, arrangements may be made for the students to eat inside the theater or down at the riverfront, if preferred.
Do the students shop in the gift shop?
We offer a program that makes shopping easy for teachers. We deliver pre-sell sheets to the teachers prior to the visit. Those forms are sent home with the children and brought in the day of the visit. The orders will be filled and bagged with the students' names. There will be one large box/bag to take to the school for distribution.
How much does it cost?
Some field trips are unique with various costs, but most of our programming is $5 per student. Groups must have at least 15 children to receive this rate. Skippers is free to all third grade thanks to generation donations from Ingram Barge Company.
How can we expect the day to go?
Two dynamics govern your schedule for the day: your number of students and the total time you are here. We divide your total number into smaller groups and we strive to limit those to 15-20 students per staff member/volunteer. We will rotate groups through with everyone doing all the same activities. Your registration form will ask for your arrival and your departure times. This is important information and must be accurate. We make out a schedule for the entire day and when a group arrives late, the first rotation is cut short. Likewise, when a teacher tells us that they will be leaving early, the last rotation will be shortened. If in doubt, check with the bus driver before you send in your reservation. It is difficult to change a finely-tuned schedule after you arrive.
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We will start the program at the designated time. If you arrive early, your students may view the flood wall, or you may otherwise engage your students.