School Tours
For over 25 years the Rice Museum has offered opportunities to learn about the Earth Sciences and STEM, in particular geology and mineralogy. Our programs are designed for all ages, interests, and abilities.
School Tours are exclusively for classrooms, home school groups, and other educational organizations that work with children.
The greatest gift an educator can give is a new appreciation for the world around them, including the world under a student’s feet. Our programming is compatible with the Next Generation Science Standards.
The historic Rice Museum houses one of the world’s finest collections of rocks and minerals. With extensive galleries, touchable specimens, and skilled tour guides, we create a layered educational experience for students of all ages. Tour topics include rock and mineral formation, fossilization, the geologic time, and more.
Logistics
A school tour is approximately 90 minutes long.
Plan an additional 30 minutes if you would like to have lunch on the grounds and another 30 minutes if you would like to explore the Museum Store. A visit to the store, and lunch on the grounds must be added to your reservation prior to your visit. Please note that our picnic area is not covered, and no food or drink is allowed in the museum.
Each student may take home one rock from the Rock Pile as part of their experience.
Please read through our Tour Policies before booking your tour. Once you have made a reservation, share our Museum Rules with your students prior to your visit.
The pricing gives a group discount from our standard admission rates and guided experiences.
Pricing
$80 for 1-10 attendees (adults and children)
$175 for 11-25 attendees (adults and children)
$300 for between 26-50 attendees (adults and children)
We can facilitate a maximum of two classes a day, smaller groups are welcome. Please fill out the reservation form accurately. Teachers and chaperones are responsible for separating groups prior to the start of the tour. One chaperone per 10 children is required.
Payment Policy
Payment is due at the time of making a reservation. Payment is made online through the registration portal. If you need to pay via an alternative method, contact us at [email protected].
Cancellation Policy
In the event you must cancel your paid tour with us, you will receive a refund as defined below:
- There is a 20% non-refundable registration fee for all Museum programs.
- 80% of payment will be refunded if a written notification of cancellation is submitted NO LATER THAN 3 weeks before the start of the program.
- Cancellations received later than our policy date will end in automatic forfeit of full tuition.
- In the event of an illness or family emergency, a formal physician’s note must be submitted to receive a full refund of tuition.
- Cancellations for family vacations and/or personal reasons will not be refunded.
- 100% of payment will be refunded for any state mandated order affecting Museum programs, or if the tour is cancelled by the Rice Museum.
Questions? Please email [email protected].
We have been included in the most recent article on the best field trip locations in Oregon to visit by the international educational publisher Twinkl – you can read more here.