Group Visit Guide. Staff-Guided Visits 3 hours of interactive learning led by a Port Discovery Program Associate Tuesday & Thursday (October-April)*

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1 Group Visit Guide Group Visit Options A group must have 20 paying children to receive a group rate (Children under the age of 2 are free.) Staff-Guided Visits 3 hours of interactive learning led by a Port Discovery Program Associate Tuesday & Thursday (October-April)* Self-Guided Visits Up to 4 hours to explore the museum Available during standard operating hours year round *Exclusions apply GROUP ORGANIZERS Port Discovery events and exhibits are linked to the Common Core Standards, the Maryland State Curriculum and the Maryland Model for School Readiness. You may download an Educator s Guide and Lesson Planning Guide at It is recommended that educators/group organizers visit Port Discovery prior to their visit to fully optimize the visit experience. Free admission is offered to Maryland teachers only to take advantage of planning for their group visit. This admission is not applied during a scheduled group visit and proper identification (school ID, paystub) must be presented at the Box Office. To schedule an appointment with our School Group Manager to come visit your school, please call

2 STAY CONNECTED Sign up to receive exclusive group specials by ing: Sign up for our newsletters by visiting: YouTube: Facebook: Twitter: Group Sales Phone: Birthday Parties Phone: Overnight Adventures: Phone: Museum Gift Shop: Phone: Teacher Services: Phone: REGISTRATION It is best to book a group visit at least two months in advance to secure a preferred visit date. Registrations are processed in the order received. Four Ways to Register!* Contact the Group Sales department at to speak to one of our experienced Sales Associates. us at groupsales@portdiscovery.org with contact information. Visit and download the appropriate registration form. Fax a completed form to Visit and download the appropriate registration form. Mail a completed registration form with a check or money order to: Port Discovery Group Sales, 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD *PLEASE NOTE: Registrations are not confirmed until the contract sent by the museum has been signed and returned. 2

3 POLICIES Payments Port Discovery is pleased to accept cash, money orders, business checks as well as all major credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa). Personal checks and purchase orders are NOT accepted as payment. Deposits A deposit of $75.00 is reuired at the time of registration. The deposit will be applied to the total cost of the visit. If the contract total is less than $75.00, the visit total will serve as the deposit. The deposit cannot be refunded after two (2) calendar days upon receipt of contract. Contract A contract will be sent after the registration has been completed with payment. To confirm the visit date, the group organizer must sign and return the contract signature page to the Group Sales department within two (2) calendar days of receipt of contract. Cancellations/Refunds Group visits may cancel within two (2) calendar days of receipt of contract to avoid forfeiture of deposit. Refunds will not be given for cancellations after two (2) calendar days. Inclement Weather To verify our operating status in the case of inclement weather, please call after 7:00 am on the morning of your visit. If your school/facility has been closed due to inclement weather, you may call the Group Sales department at to reschedule your visit. Rescheduling must be made within one calendar week of the original visit date. Attendance Groups are responsible for payment of the attendance on their current contract. The attendance may not decrease. Increases are allowed with prior notification to Port Discovery to receive the contracted group rate. Port Discovery does not guarantee that increases can be accommodated. Attendance numbers must be confirmed 24 hours before the scheduled arrival time by calling the Group Sales department at Please leave a detailed voic message if a Group Sales Associate is unable to take your call. If additional adults and children arrive without prior notification, they will be charged the general admission rate per person, which is due prior to entering the museum. 3

4 Late Groups No visits will be allowed to continue past the end time specified in the contract without approval from Port Discovery. If approved, additional fees may be assessed. If you anticipate arriving late, please call the Group Sales office at If you have registered for a guided visit, your first activity may be forfeited upon late arrival. Lunch Time for lunch can be accommodated for 3 or 4 hour visits only. During orientation, the group leader can let a greeter know if they wish to eat lunch in the museum. Space for lunch is on a firstcome, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Lunch is encouraged to be consumed on the bus or outside the museum before or after the museum visit. Refrigerated/heated storage is not available. Gift Shop If you plan to visit the museum s gift shop, please allow at least 20 minutes before departure to do so. Gift items may also be pre-arranged by contacting the Port Discovery Gift Shop at at least one week prior to the scheduled visit date. Bags must be paid for the day of the visit and can be picked up at the gift shop. Safety There is only one authorized way in and way out of the museum and it is staffed at all times. Emergency exits are found within every museum exhibit. All group attendees must wear a Port Discovery issued sticker with the name of the group and date of visit for identification. Port Discovery Security will ensure that all children leave with an adult wearing a matching group sticker. Port Discovery staff can be found throughout the museum wearing Port Discovery purple polo shirts and carrying radios. 4

5 CHAPERONE INFORMATION A chaperone is an adult who accompanies, supervises and encourages children to explore, learn and have fun while at our museum. Chaperones are reuired to travel with their children during the entire visit. All chaperones must be at least 18 years old. Inattentive chaperones and/or disorderly behavior from the group could result in immediate dismissal of the group. For a speedy check-in, we ask that admission for chaperones be given to the group organizer prior to check-in. Groups who do not have the reuired amount of chaperones as outlined below will not be admitted into the museum. Grade Level 2nd grade and under 3rd grade and up Mixed age groups (Pre-K-5th grade) Reuired Chaperones* 1 adult per 5 children 1 adult per 8 children 1 adult per 6 children *Home schools and groups with special needs, please call for more information. Please detach below and distribute to all chaperones prior to your visit date along with a museum directory. Helpful Tips for Chaperones! You are responsible for your group s behavior and safety. To ensure an enjoyable experience for your group and all the museum visitors, please be mindful of the tips below: Know the number of children in your small group. Periodically, do a head count. This is especially useful when traveling from one exhibit to another. Learn the names of all the children in your group. You must travel with your group at all times. Children are not allowed in exhibits without their chaperone. Encourage the children to use their inside voices and to walk, not run, in the museum. Engage your group of children by asking uestions about what they are learning in each museum space. Ask the teacher/group organizer if there are topics that the children should focus on during their visit. Share with your group the schedule for the day as outlined by the teacher/group organizer, such as time for departure. Important Information Date of visit: Number of children in my group: Notes for my group: 5

6 VISIT CHECKLIST Planning Your Visit: Check your school or organization s calendar for any conflicts and pick three (3) preferred dates for your visit Get appropriate approval (e.g. Principal, site coordinator, director, etc.) Contact Port Discovery s Group Sales office to schedule your visit Arrange transportation Review contract and group visit guide Sign and return contract to Port Discovery within 2 business days of receipt of contract Refer to the pre- and post- trip lesson plans on Port Discovery s website Distribute the Helpful Tips for Chaperones tear-off and museum directories to all teachers and chaperones attending the visit Day Before Visit: Call Group Sales to confirm your final attendance Finalize transportation information including arrival and departure times Confirm payment method Remind chaperones and children to dress in appropriate attire and footwear (Open-toe shoes, flip-flops, heels, heelies, and skirts are strongly discouraged) 6

7 Tips on Kidworks Kidworks is our three-story urban treehouse. Different paths are mapped out and color-coded by age, making it easier to navigate the structure. Distribute a copy of the attached directory to each chaperone. Assign one chaperone at each of the six exits during free play on Kidworks. Establish with chaperones a time to stop playing on Kidworks. Ask Port Discovery staff stationed within Kidworks to help gather your children. DAY OF VISIT Check-In 1. Arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled start time. 2. Be sure to get the exact number of chaperones and children prior to entering the museum. 3. Have the teacher/group leader report to the Box Office to settle remaining balance and to pick up stickers for the group. 4. Be sure that chaperones and children receive and wear a sticker. 5. Assign a meeting place for departure. 6. Guided groups: Select one roaming chaperone to act as the contact person during free play. Departure 1. Ask Port Discovery Guest Services staff (purple shirts) to assist in gathering your group. 2. Make sure all trash has been properly disposed of in the appropriate receptacles. 3. Remember to retrieve all items (e.g. coats, lunch bags, art projects, etc.) before exiting the museum. 4. Please complete the group evaluation form or feel free to contact Group Sales with feedback and suggestions on your visit. 7

8 DIRECTIONS AND PARKING FROM I-95 NORTH/SOUTH Take 95 to 395-Baltimore (Downtown/Inner Harbor) past Camden Yards Stadium to Pratt Street and make a right. Once past Inner Harbor, get into far left lane to make a left onto Market Place. After crossing Lombard Street, Port Discovery will be on the right. FROM 295 NORTH Take 295 North towards Baltimore. Once in Baltimore, 295 will become Russell Street. Follow past Camden Yards Stadium and make a right onto Pratt Street. Once past Inner Harbor, get into far left lane to make a left onto Market Place. After crossing Lombard Street, Port Discovery will be on the right. FROM I-83 (HARRISBURG/JONES FALLS EXPRESSWAY) Take I-83 South towards Baltimore. Once Expressway ends, make a right onto Lombard Street and then the very next right onto Market Place. Port Discovery will be on the right. BY SUBWAY The Metro station Shot Tower/Market Place stop is located in the plaza just outside our doors. Call (410) for more information. AREA PARKING GARAGES Lombard & Market Place (Harbor Park Garage) Pratt & Lombard Street (Lockwood Place Garage) Market Place & Frederick Streets (Arrow Garage) Additional parking garages located within a few blocks from museum. Limited metered parking available within walking distance. BUSES Buses and Vans are to drop off and pick up groups at our Market Place entrance. Buses are NOT allowed to park on Market Place and are not able to fit in the Harbor Park Garage. Unattended, illegally staged/parked vehicles or unauthorized street loading may result in traffic citations. Bus Parking Options Please call the numbers listed for directions and current pricing. Maryland Stadium Authority Lot J Operated by Central Parking Systems (410) Key Highway Lot Operated by Central Parking Systems (410) Baltimore s Motorcoach Parking Facility at the B&O Operated by Parking Authority of Baltimore City (410)