Class Field Trips
Gateway Science Museum is proud to offer exciting, interactive and educationally-rich field trips throughout the year. The museum’s field trips further our mission of “Inspiring the exploration of science and natural history, in our region and beyond,” while also helping to support the educational goals of teachers and students. Come explore and discover all the amazing things we have going on!
Spring 2025 field trip registration will be open on Jan. 15, 2025 at noon.
Spring 2025 field trips run Feb. 11 through May 2, 2025. No field trips Feb. 28, or Mar. 18-21, 2025.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer Explorer field trips this spring.
1st - middle school
Offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays during spring 2025
These staff-guided field trips combine guided explorations of our exhibits and a hands-on lab module pre-selected based on the age-group.
Discovery field trips begin on February 11 and run through May 2, 2025. No field trips available February 28, or March 18 - 21, 2025.
All our field trips:
- Take place while the museum is closed to the public
- Begin promptly at 9:30 am and end approximately 10:50 am.
- Align with NGSS
- Are limited to one class per day
- Cost $125
- Offer free parking in Gateway parking spaces
Field Trip FAQs
- How much do field trips cost? $125 per class
- How do I schedule a field trip?
Click the link above to schedule the field trip type of your choice (Explorer or Discovery). If there is no active link, sign ups are currently closed. You will be able to choose your top three (3) preferred dates. Within one week of submitting your field trip request, you will receive an email with your tentative field trip date and time.
You must confirm that this field trip date and time works. A confirmation email will provide the payment deadline and instructions once the date has been confirmed by the teacher.
- How can I pay for a field trip?
To secure your field trip date and time, payment must be received by the due date specified on your confirmation email. Field trips are reserved on a first paid basis. If your field trip is not paid by the due date, your field trip date reservation is subject to cancellation and will be made available for booking by another class.
- Credit card payments can be completed by phone Wed-Fri 10am-4pm at (530) 898-4119.
- Checks should be made out to “Chico State Enterprises – Gateway Science Museum” Please include the teacher’s last name and field trip date on the check and mail to: Gateway Science Museum, Attention: Field Trips, Chico State, 400 W. First St., Chico, CA 95929-0545.
- Purchase orders should be emailed to gateway@csuchico.edu. Please include the teacher’s last name and field trip date on the PO. A field trip is considered “paid” on the date a PO is received.
- What if I need to reschedule a field trip I’ve already paid for?
Rescheduling is subject to availability. If rescheduling occurs less than five (5) business days prior to the original field trip date, a rescheduling fee of $25 will be charged.
- What if I need to cancel a field trip I’ve already paid for?
A cancellation request must be received by Gateway at least TWO WEEKS prior to the scheduled field trip date to receive a full refund. Missed field trips or field trips cancelled less than 2 weeks prior to scheduled field trip date will be charged 100% of the field trip cost.
- How many chaperones can I bring?
Minimum number of chaperones per class is three (3) adults (teacher + 2 parents/guardians).
Maximum number of chaperones per class is eight (8) adults (teacher + 7 parents/guardians) are included in the field trip cost. If there are more than 8 adults, there will be a $5 charge for each additional adult. Payment in CASH will need to be made prior to the end of the field trip. We cannot accept credit cards for extra adults.
- Can chaperones bring other children who are not enrolled in the class?No. Our field trips are only for students enrolled in the class.
- Can I schedule a field trip for a kindergarten class?At this time, we do not have the resources to provide supplemental instructional content for this grade level.
- Where do we park for a field trip? Free parking(opens in new window) during field trips is available for private vehicles in the Gateway parking lot in the spaces with curbs painted green with the words “Gateway Parking.” Buses can drop students off in the parking lot but must remain off-site for the duration of the field trip. Neither vehicles nor buses are allowed to park in the Bidwell Mansion parking lot.
- What happens if we arrive late for our field trip?
Being late results in students not receiving the full educational experience of the field trip. We ask that you arrive 10 minutes early to ensure a prompt start. Be aware that your field trip will be limited to the remaining time available, as we cannot extend time.
If something delays your arrival the day of your field trip, please call (530) 898-4119 and let us know as soon as possible.
- What should I do prior to our field trip?
Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early to ensure receive the full field trip program. Field trips cannot be extended for late arrivals.
Give your chaperones the information about where to park.
Please divide the class into two (2) groups with a balanced number of students and chaperones per group.