NOTICE: All K-12 field trips are suspended until further notice.

Updated August 21, 2020

As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, Museum of the Rockies has suspended fall 2020 field trips for all preschool through 12th grade students. The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is a top priority. This is a preventative action to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety of our community, members, visitors, staff, and volunteers.

As you continue your educational adventures, we encourage you to explore Museum of the Rockies’ online resources.  We are hosting monthly livestream events, and have made videos, lessons, activities, digital collections and exhibits, and much more available to support you!  Check back often as we continue to build our new online learning platform to bring the museum’s exhibits, collections, and programs to you.

Please contact our education staff at visitMOR@montana.edu to discuss ways we can support students and educatorS during this time.  We are here to support you!

Learn more about MOR's hours of operation and visitation policies.
 

ARE YOU PREPARING FOR A FIELD TRIP IN THE FUTURE?  HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Museum of the Rockies provides FREE ADMISSION and PARTIAL BUS REIMBURSEMENT to all Montana Schools!

School groups from across the state of Montana are admitted free of charge to Museum of the Rockies thanks to generous donations to the Opening Doors for Montana Schoolchildren Fund.

Museum of the Rockies is proud to host, on average, 15,000 school children each year. To be sure all students and teachers have an equal opportunity to engage with our unique exhibits, we require a minimum of three weeks advance notice to create an individualized itinerary that caters to your group's learning outcomes.

In the 2015-2016 school year, MOR hosted 8,770 schoolchildren and their teachers on field trips. Since then, in the past three school years, MOR now welcomes an average of 15,000 students and teachers annually. 

To accommodate this growth, our Education team has added staff, streamlined reservation processes, added additional organizational tools on the day of field trips.

How does all this growth impact you as a Montana educator?  To support our program growth, please note the following field trip program improvements.

Field Trip Requests

• NEW! Field trip requests must be made between the following dates:
  • Field Trip requests must be submitted by April 1 or after June 10.
  • Educators are welcome to submit field trip requests up to one year in advance.
  • MOR is implementing this new policy to support the 70% increase in school group visits in the past three years. Please note that all field trip requests must be submitted by April 1 or after June 10.
• All requests must be submitted online.  
  • Field trip requests must be submitted at least three weeks in advance. 
  • Our Education team will respond to all field trip requests within 2 business days.
  • Please follow-up with our Education team if you do not hear from us within this timeframe. It is possible that we did not receive your request.  

Field Trip Availability*

Museum of the Rockies welcomes schools to visit during the following dates:

• All school field trips are suspended until futher notice.

*Guided tours and special programs have limited availability throughout the school year.  

Educational Opportunities

• Taylor Planetarium: Schedule a Planetarium show that augments your curriculum! Most shows are 25 - 30 minutes long.  Planetarium information and show options begin on page 14 of the School Program Guide.  
   
• Self-Guided Tours: Self-guided tours give you the opportunity to lead your students through MOR’s exhibits. Allow time for your students to explore interactive exhibits independently or in small groups. Let us know which exhibits you wish to include during your visit.

  • Changing Exhibits

    • Thomas D. Mangelsen:  A Life in the Wild
      September 26, 2020 – December 31, 2020

    • Seven Masters:  20th Century Japanese Woodblock Prints
      October 3, 2020 – December 31, 2020

    • Savage Ancient Seas:  The Ancient Aquatic Deep
      January 22, 2021 – May 2, 2021

  • Permanent Exhibits
    • Dinosaurs Under the Big Sky & Siebel Dinosaur Complex 
    • Montana History Hall
    • Welcome to Yellowstone & Enduring Peoples
    • Explore Yellowstone Children’s Discovery Center
      Designed for children up to 8 years of age, this educational hands-on exhibit introduces children to the science and wonders of Yellowstone National Park. Schedule time in the Children’s Discovery Center as part of your educational adventure.
    • Living History Farm 
      Relocated to Museum of the Rockies, the Tinsley House and Living History Farm recreate the history of Montana’s homesteading era. Arrange to visit the 1890s homestead during your visit.
• Guided Tours:  Led by a MOR docent (volunteer educator), tours of the Dinosaurs Under the Big Sky, Montana History Hall, and some changing exhibits can be tailored to the theme or curriculum standards that your students are learning about in the classroom! Guided tours are typically one hour in length and provide students with the most comprehensive experience in one of MOR’s unique exhibits.

To contact the Education office, please email visitmor@montana.edu

We look forward to working with you!