Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now open. We appreciate your patience as we prepare for your tour. Please note that spring tour dates fill up quickly, so we encourage you to consider scheduling your visit during the fall.
Welcome to the Great Valley Museum Field Trip Program! Our museum offers an enriching and immersive educational experience designed to ignite curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of Nature. We are excited to invite schools and community groups to explore our diverse exhibits and enjoy guided tours tailored to complement educational curriculum and foster an appreciation for our Central Valley's beauty and history.
Our tour programs are designed to complement your science curriculum and foster a deeper appreciation for Californias Central Valley's natural history. Operated by a small dedicated team of student workers, volunteer docents, and one staff member, we aim to serve as a learning resource that extends education beyond your classroom. To help preserve our most delicate collections, we ask that students engage with our space respectfully. We look forward to a collaborative partnership that inspires respect and wonder for the natural world.
Includes a private Docent led Museum Tour and Planetarium Show. Students rotate through our space and will view a planetarium show of their instructors’ choice.
Max Participants: 60 (this includes teachers and chaperones)
Duration: 2 hours
Start Time: 9:30 AM
Recommended grades: K-5th grade
A Docent is not guaranteed. On rare instance a docent is not available, your tour will be modified into a Self-Guided Tour.
10 Minute staff introduction to the Museum followed by a self guided tour of the current exhibits. Teachers receive instructional materials to supplement their visit.
Max Participants: 100 (this includes teachers and chaperones)
Duration: 2 hours
Start Time: 9:30 AM
Recommended grades: 5th-12th grade or groups larger than 60
The Self-Guided Museum Tour can be combined with a Planetarium Show to create a Self-Guided Combination Tour.
Groups must maintain a student/chaperone ratio of 8:1.
The school staff is responsible for providing an adequate number of chaperones.
Chaperones not included on the original group reservation are not allowed unless they pay separately upon arrival.
All instructors must share our Visitor Code of Conduct with their students.
Monitoring student behavior is the responsibility of the group. Groups that fail to properly supervise their students will result in a suspension of your program activities.
Campus parking is currently free in unmarked spaces (do not park in stalls marked "STAFF"). Lot 207 is the closes lot in proximity to the museum.
Buses may not stay parked in loading zones. A campus map can be found here.
Ready to Request a Tour?
All necessary paperwork is available within the application for download, completion, and submission. For step-by-step assistance, watch our School Tour Request Tutorial video. For additional assistance, call a Visitor Experience Specialist at 209-575-6196. We look forward to a successful visit. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please note the following changes to our process for the 2026-2027 school year:
Submit all paperwork upfront. Your date is not secured until your complete application and required documents are received. We cannot hold reservations without them.
One form per tour date. Submit a separate request for each additional field trip.
Coordinate within your group. All instructors should complete the form together. Designate one Lead Teacher, present on event day, to sign all documents.
Book early for best availability. We encourage schools to schedule fall visits, as spring dates fill quickly and become highly competitive.
Not all requests are guaranteed. Our small team size limits the number of tours we can book. Please be patient as we do our best to accommodate your request.
