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School Group Tours at Creative Discovery Museum

A classroom tour is a wonderful way to help students make real-world connections between education content and concrete examples. Creative Discovery Museum is the only multi-disciplinary children's museum in a 100-mile radius of Chattanooga. Our education department is dedicated to making your visit meet your core content needs. All exhibits visited are designed on standards-based curriculum.

All reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Preschool Tour

Appropriate for ages 3 to 4 years-old 

This one hour and forty-five minute tour is designed especially for the educational needs of the preschooler. The tour includes exploration time in Arts Alley, Excavation Station, RiverPlay and the Rooftop Fun Factory, and discovery time in the temporary exhibit gallery.

Highlight Tours

Appropriate for grades K through 5

This two hour guided tour includes a visit to each of our six core areas, including the featured exhibit in our temporary exhibit gallery. Exploration of each area begins with a brief orientation followed by student centered discovery. Content is covered in both the arts and sciences. Standards met

  • Available year-round, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Cost: $5.50 per student, with 1 complimentary adult admission for every 5 students. Additional chaperones $8.00
  • You can add a free Science Demo to this tour and make it a Super Sized Highlight Tour!
  • Lunch available from Cafe Dino-Mite. (See Menu)
  • Tour Group keepsake bundles available for $3 each or $5 each.

"Pick 2" TOUR

In addition to our existing tours, we've added a new option. NOW YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR TO MEET YOUR CLASS'S SPECIFIC NEEDS! Choose TWO of the following options for a two hour tour.

  • 1 hour Science Theater demonstration
  • 1 hour Science Theater Workshop
  • 1 hour in the Museum in 4 exhibit areas
  • 1 hour Arts experience featuring a cooking activity and visual arts experience
  • Lunch available from Cafe Dino-Mite. (See Menu)

Tour Structure

At the start of one of our tours, a member of the Museum staff will meet students on the bus to conduct a brief orientation. All groups are asked to stay with their assigned staff person to ensure the best experience. Buses are to bring students to the main entrance of Creative Discovery Museum upon arrival. Drivers then will be directed to a specific parking location after students have entered the building. After the tour, buses are to pick up students at the Museum's main entrance at the front of the building for the return trip home.

Please be on time. It is important that groups plan to stay only the time allotted them in the Museum. Arriving extremely early or planning to stay much later without prior arrangements will not gain a group any additional free time in the Museum.

LUNCH

We offer a special menu for group lunches with a variety of choices to please most children. We even will set up an area for your group to eat (dependent on availability). Group Lunches are $5.95 each and include chips, drink and a cookie.

A Discovery Snack Pack to Go for $3.50 each, including drink, animal crackers and small toy, is also available.

If you prefer to bring a lunch, there are many parks near the Museum for a picnic! Find out more about picnic opportunities near the Museum.

Make a Reservation

Call Nancy at (423) 648-6045 
or Sheila at (423) 648-6040
to register today.

Teachers who have reserved a class field trip may call for a free planning pass to tour the facility. For passes, please call (423) 648-6045 or (423) 648-6040 at least 2 days in advance of your visit. Teachers who want to visit as a group to learn what the Museum has to offer may schedule a free teacher orientation by calling or by emailing Nancy at nbm@cdmfun.org.

The Museum requires one chaperone for every 5 students. Your group will receive complimentary admission for the required number of chaperones. Teachers are considered chaperones. Students on free or reduced lunch receive reduced admission to the Museum. Ask your reservationists for more details. Group cancellations required one week prior to date of reserved visit for refunds. You will receive confirmation of your visit via email. Payment can be made by check or credit card at the time of check in.

In an effort to ensure the safety and quality of your tour, please note the following reminders from your confirmation letter.

  • If your group’s adult to child ratio is MORE than 1 to 3 at the time of arrival, your group will be self-guided. This will provide the best experience for all of your children allowing them to move at their own pace. For your convenience, we will call your group to meet in the lobby at the end of the allotted time.
  • If you receive a guided tour, please help us keep all adults with the assigned tour group.
  • We welcome adults who decide to stay and play with their children following a tour and will be glad to apply the tour cost to the price of admission. Each adult staying will need to come to the ticket desk following the tour to purchase a wrist band.