Guidelines for School Group Tours

Clilck here for a list of school field trips offered.

Advance Reservations Required.

Upon arrival and inside the Bennett Museum

If your group is not able to arrive at the scheduled time, we may need to shorten your tour.

• For, one adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children; that chaperone is admitted free of charge with a minimum of 20 students. Students must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.

• Students are not to play in the pine straw around the building, climb the sides of the foundation or play on the handrails at the front of the facility.

• Teachers and chaperones are responsible for the discipline of the students.

• Please don’t touch. Fingerprints damage! Objects and exhibits that may be touched are labeled accordingly.

• Video/flash/non-flash photography is not permitted in the art galleries.

• Water bottles, candy, gum or any other food or drink is not allowed inside the Museum.

• Students, teachers and chaperones are asked not to talk among themselves while the guide is speaking.

• When changing venues, keep voices low so other groups are not disturbed.

• Guides welcome questions.  If time does not allow questions during presentations, please see guide at the end of the tour.

• Outdoor picnic facilities are available for 150 - 200 people. We do not have indoor facilities for food or drinks during inclement weather.

• All cell phones, pagers, PDAs, etc., must be turned off during the tour.

Museum Store Guidelines

We would like to encourage your group to shop in the MUSEUM STORE if possible. These sales provide major support for our non-profit Funk Heritage Center. The store offers a wide range of merchandise from inexpensive souvenirs to high quality items; children can find items from ten cents to a dollar and up, with 6% added for sales tax.    

• One teacher/chaperone is required per 10 students inside the store.

• If the majority plan to shop, it will be a 15 minute stop on their tour.

• If only a few children plan to shop, they may do so during lunch.

• Teachers/chaperones should assist students in quickly selecting items within their budget. 6% sales tax will be added to their purchase.

• If shopping during a tour, each student's purchased items will be put in a bag with student's name and given to the teacher at the end of the tour.

• Students will be asked to wait outside their store after they have checked out.

• Teachers and chaperones are invited to come back and shop during lunch.

Appalachian Settlement Guidelines

• If your tour includes a trip to the Appalachian Settlement, please make sure everyone is properly attired for weather conditions, including shoes for trail walking.

• Visitors should stay behind their guide.

• No running, watch your step and stay on the trail.

• Wasps, yellow jackets and other insects are prevalent during certain times of the year.

• Please be aware: poison oak and poison ivy are common to the area.

• Do not touch items displayed in the cabins.

• Do not move tools, rocks, sticks, logs or pick vegetation.

Group Tours

• Admission fees for school field trips are $5.00 for children under 18, $6.00 for adults 18 to 65, and $5.50 for seniors over 65 (plus sales tax, if your group is not tax exempt). 

• Guided tours may be arranged for groups of 15 or more adults, and for 20 or more children.

• Adult groups may arrange to have lunch at the W. Frank and Evelyn J. Gordy Center. Contact us for details.

We appreciate your scheduling a field trip to the Funk Heritage Center. We hope you will have a wonderful learning experience. Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy your visit!