Field Trip Reservation Policies
To help us provide you with a positive and efficient process for booking your trip to The Tech Museum, please read and become familiar with the following reservation policies. For the 2006-07 school year, we have made a number of changes particularly in regard to the trip confirmation and the trip payment schedule. We hope you find these changes improve the process of booking your trips to The Tech.
Trip Booking Tips for Teachers
- You have the option of submitting your trip request through our online reservation system.
- To apply for a trip through our online system, you must have a valid email address, as this is where we will be sending your confirmation information.
- Submit one application per visit. To book multiple trips on different days, please submit separate requests.
- March, April and May are peak months for school field trips. For best selection of activities, try requesting trips in September-October or January-February.
- We strongly encourage you to bring as many chaperones as possible. The Tech requires an 8 to 1 Student to Chaperone ratio.
- Allow enough time to complete the activities during your visit and don't forget to allow time for lunch if necessary.
- Be sure to make arrangements for transportation as soon as you book your trip with the Tech, as the activities you want may not be available if you need to change your trip date.
- We invite you to visit The Tech prior to your field trip to become familiar with our galleries and floor programs. Sign up for our Free Educator Membership and visit The Tech today.
Chaperone/Group Leader Policy
In addition to teachers, The Tech REQUIRES a minimum of 1 adult chaperone per 8 students to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. For K-12 grade trips, chaperones must be over 18 years old and not currently attending the school. Chaperones accompanying students are responsible for supervising them at all times. This includes while your group:
- Visits the museum's galleries
- Participates in a lab
- Is on-board escalators or elevators
- Is inside the IMAX theater
- Shops in The Tech Store
- Visits Café Primavera
Please prepare chaperones/group leaders and students before your visit by reviewing The Tech's policies, rules, and your trip itinerary.
Lab Capacity
Each lab can hold a maximum of 32 students. Groups larger than 32 must be split and booked into two lab sessions.
Lunch Policy and Facilities
The Tech requires that student lunches be stored in our multi-use room or in lockers during your visit. Before leaving your school site, please collect all lunches in boxes or plastic bags so that they are easy to transport when you arrive.
To secure items of value, a small number of lockers are available for 50 cents near the elevator on the Ground Level and on the Lower Level.
For groups desiring to purchase food, Café Primavera @ The Tech offers a range of lunch and snack items. For advance ordering information, please call (408) 795-6285.
We also offer movie concessions at our IMAX® Dome Theater.
Groups may eat lunch in Cesar Chavez Park (located across the street), or in the Tech's large multi-use room, New Venture Hall. This room accommodates up to 300 students and is available on a first come, first served basis.
Confirmation
Your confirmation packet will include your confirmation/invoice, and a general information sheet with chaperone, lunch, and payment policies. Once you have received this confirmation packet, you must communicate this important information to your students AND chaperones.
Online: If you request your trip through our online system, an automated trip request acknowledgement will be sent to the email address that you provide at the time of submission. If you have not received this trip request acknowledgement within 3 business days from the time of your submission, please contact us by email at groupreservations@thetech.org.
A trip request does not reflect an official booking until you have received confirmation from Group Reservations in the form of a phone call/message, email, or letter.
Phone or Fax: If you submit your trip request by phone or fax, please provide a valid email and/or mailing address where we can send your trip confirmation. You can reach Group Reservations at (408) 795-6101 to book a new trip or to make adjustments to an existing trip. You can fax Group Reservations at (408) 279-7167.
Parking and Directions
The Tech Museum of Innovation201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 294-TECH
Getting to The Tech is easy. The museum is located in downtown San Jose at the corner of Park Avenue and Market Street, near Interstate 280 and Highway 87. Our mango and azure building is hard to miss!