Plan Your Visit

Click Here to print out a map for your bus driver

Booking School Visits School

visits to the museum are by reservation only. Experiences are available for students in Pre-K through Grade 8 from October 1, 2007, through June 15, 2008. See individual lesson descriptions for available dates and times. The museum provides pre-visit materials including activities related to the lesson(s) you’ve booked and “trip tips” to help you prepare your students in advance to make the most of your museum visit. Call 585-263-2700 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to schedule visits.

Chaperons

For students in grades K through 8, one chaperon for every five students is required. Pre-K classes may bring one chaperon for every three students. The teacher is counted as one chaperon. Chaperons must remain with their group to assist museum staff with supervision of students. All chaperons are admitted to the museum free of charge.

Extended Stay

Please Note: To visit museum exhibits after your lessons, you must book a one-hour Extended Stay. Reservations are limited. A museum teacher will meet your group before and after your Extended Stay. Chaperons must remain with students.

Monday Kicks for Ages 2 to 6

Our youngest museum guests learn, play, and explore at a different pace from older children. One Monday each month (October through May) is set aside for Pre-K and Kindergarten groups to come to Strong National Museum of Play® for fun experiences and delightful early childhood activities. Groups of older students will not be scheduled on these days: October 22, November 19, and December 10, 2006, and January 28, February 25, March 10, April 28, May 19, and June 16, 2008. Pre-K and Kindergarten groups may schedule visits on other days as well.Cost:  $5.50 per student.

Lunch Reservations

Advance reservations for lunch seating are required for all groups planning to eat at the museum. Lunches may be brought by students or ordered in advance from the many options available from our Food Court vendors on a menu designed specifically for school groups. Lunches ordered from the Food Court will be delivered to a space reserved for your students in our new school lunch room. Groups of 10 or more planning to order from the Food Court must preorder their lunches at least two weeks prior to their scheduled visit. For a lunch order form, please call 585-263-2700 or click here to download the PDF file.

* Multiple Visit Option also available.
** Extended Stays are two hours long between October 1 and November 30, 2007 (at no extra charge).

Groups with Special Needs and Interests

Museum education staff can help you with individual arrangements for special needs groups, as necessary. For more information, please call 585-263-2700.

Payment

Cash, check, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover Card) may be used to pay for the entire group when you arrive for your lesson. If you prefer to be billed, please provide a purchase order number. (See chart on page 21 for prices.) Payment for school lunches must be made separately from payment for school lesson fees. If not paying with cash, please consolidate payment for your group’s lunch order into a single check or charge transaction.

Need Funding Assistance?

There are two ways to apply for funding assistance:

• Transportation funding of $100 per bus is available to a limited number of classes in Monroe County through the Ruth D. Maurer Memorial Fund, established in memory of long-time museum volunteer Ruth Maurer. Demonstration of need is required. For more details, call 585-263-2700.
• If your school participates in the BOCES Arts in Education program, your lesson costs may be eligible for state aid. Please contact Young Audiences of Rochester at 585-530-2060 for more information.

Transportation

Transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the visiting school. Strong National Museum of Play is close to many downtown bus routes and is a short walk from bus stops at Midtown Plaza.

How to get to Strong National Museum of Play®

Strong National Museum of Play® is close to many downtown bus routes and is a short walk from bus stops at Midtown Plaza.

Click Here to print out a map for your bus driver

All school groups must enter the museum through the new School Group Entrance located off Pitkin Street. After unloading, buses will be directed to the designated bus parking area. Parking is free.

All school groups arriving by car or on foot must enter the museum through the Main Public Entrance. Parking is free.

We will send you a map and directions along with information about your lesson(s) prior to your visit.

 

From the East

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 45 (Rochester). Take Interstate 490 West to Exit 16 (Clinton Avenue/Downtown). At the second traffic light, turn right onto Court Street. At the third traffic light on Court Street, turn right onto Pitkin Street. Turn right into the second entrance for Strong National Museum of Play® and proceed to the School Group Entrance underneath the blue metal awning.

From the West

Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 47 (LeRoy). Take Interstate 490 East to Exit 18 (Monroe Avenue). At the first traffic light, turn left onto Monroe Avenue. Travel one mile to Court Street (one block past the museum building) and turn right onto Court Street. At the second traffic light on Court Street, turn right onto Pitkin Street. Turn right into the second entrance for Strong National Museum of Play and proceed to the School Group Entrance underneath the blue metal awning.

From the South

Take Interstate 390 North to Interstate 590 North. Follow Interstate 590 North to Interstate 490 West. Take Interstate 490 West to Exit 16 (Clinton Avenue/Downtown). At the second traffic light, turn right onto Court Street. At the third traffic light on Court Street, turn right onto Pitkin Street. Turn right into the second entrance for Strong National Museum of Play® and proceed to the School Group Entrance underneath the blue metal awning.