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 Planning
a School or Youth Group Visit
Scroll down the page to find items on the menu below or click on a link to jump to an item.
Visit Options
Preview
the Museum
Museum Educator-led Programs
Self-guiding in the Museum
Scheduling
Buses
Lunch Options
Making Your Reservation
Prices
Make the Most of Your Visit
Museum Floorplan (PDF)
Chaperone Guide
Pre-Visit Questionnaire
Help the Museum meet your group's needs. Fill out this quick and easy form.
Teacher Resources
Preview
the Museum
Educators
can preview the Berkshire Museum free of charge year-round! Call
ahead. (413) 443-7171, ext. 19. Our Educator Receptions are the
perfect opportunity to preview special changing exhibits and to
meet education staff. General
Admission Information and Driving/Parking Directions
Museum Educator-led Programs Let our experienced team of Museum Educators introduce your students to a world of discovery. Drawing from fine art, history and natural science collections, as well as special exhibitions, the Berkshire Museum is dedicated to creating a meaningful educational experience for its young visitors. A full schedule of programs featuring inquiry-based discussions, objects from the collections, interactions with live animals, and cooperative group activities, are designed to engage participants in hands-on, minds-on experiences that delight and educate.
These programs are available for school groups, scout troops, homeschool groups, and groups from youth organizations.
Museum Educator-led Programs are available Monday - Friday with starting times from 10 am to 3:30 pm for groups of 10-25 students. Advanced reservations required.
Learn more about Planning a Group Visit.
To find out more about our Museum Educator-led Programs, select a Category below.
Grades Pre K - K
Grades 1 - 2
Grades 3 - 5
Grades 6 - 8
Grades 9 - 12
Programs Related to Changing Exhibits
Special Education Programs
Self-guiding in the Museum Groups interested in seeing the Museum on their own must arrange their visit by appointment. Call (413) 443 - 7171, ext. 21.
Learn more about Planning a Group Visit.
Teacher Resources will help you make the most of your visit! You'll find activities and resources to use in the classroom before, during and after a visit, or anytime. Great ideas for families too!
Buses
The Berkshire
Museum is PASS approved for busing funds through the Massachusetts
Cultural Council. Apply through your local Cultural Council.
Note: deadlines are typically mid-October.
Click
here for driving directions and parking options
Lunch Options
Call (413) 443 - 7171, ext. 21 for information on available spaces for lunch.
Making Your Reservation
Museum Educator-led Programs are available Monday - Friday with starting times available from 10 am to 3:30 pm for groups of 10-25 students. We suggest that groups limit their time to two Educator-led Programs per museum trip and leave plenty of time to explore the museum.
Programs are 45 minutes for grades PreK - K and 1 hour for grades 1 - 12.
Reserve your date at least three weeks prior to your visit. The Museum is wheelchair accessible.
To register, call (413) 443-7171, ext. 21.
Confirmation of your visit will be sent to you by mail or E-mail.
Please note! October, April, May, and June are popular months. Please call early to ensure that your desired date is available!
Groups must have a minimum of 1 chaperone for every 10 students. Up to 1 chaperone for every 5 students may accompany a group at no charge (teachers are also free).
To help us insure student safety and security, please be prepared to leave a class list at the visitor's desk upon arrival and provide students with name tags. Individual student name tags, clearly labeled in large letters, are also extremely helpful to Museum Educators.
Educator's Checklist
Please have the following information available before you contact the Museum:
- Date of visit, with alternate dates
- Name of school or organization
- Address
- Grade level(s)
- Contact person's name, phone number, and E-mail address
- Number of students attending
- Number of chaperones attending
- Names of all educators attending
- Title(s) of the Educator-led program(s) requested
- Time of arrival
- Lunch plans
Group Visit and Program Prices
Pittsfield Visits Free
Through special funding from Laurin Publishing Company, all Pittsfield public and private religious schools can make unlimited visits to the Museum free of charge!
Click here for printable version of group rates and program prices.
| School Groups: |
| Program Selection |
Visitor
Age |
Cost/
Student |
Minimum
Charge |
Free chaperone/
Student Ratio |
Fee/Extra
Chaperone |
Self Guiding Museum Visit
(includes Festival of Trees) |
PreK - 12 |
$2 |
$20 |
1:5 |
$5.00 |
Educator-Led Programs
(includes Museum admission) |
PreK - 12 |
$3 |
$30 |
1:5 |
$5.00 |
| Special Ed Classes |
PreK - 12 |
$3 |
$30 |
based on need |
based on need |
Museum Visit & Performance
(when available) |
PreK - 12 |
$3 |
$30 |
1:5 |
$6.00 |
| Festival of Trees (seasonal) |
PreK - 12 |
$2 |
$20 |
1:5 |
$5.00 |
| Other Group Visitors: |
| Program Selection |
Visitor
Age |
Cost/
Student |
Minimum
Charge |
Free chaperone/
Student Ratio |
Fee/Extra
Chaperone |
| Youth Groups Visit
(Performance/Program add $1.00)
|
up to 18 yrs. |
$3 |
$30 |
1:5 |
$5.00 |
| Group-Level Members |
any age |
1-12 free
over 12: $3.00 each |
-- |
-- |
| Adult/Senior Group Admission |
over 18 |
$6 |
$60 |
2 comps |
-- |
| Adult/Senior Guided Tour |
over 18 |
$50 tour fee for up to 30 people (plus group admission rate) |
2 comps |
-- |
Outreach programs
First program (for up to 25 students): $125.
Add $25 for travel outside Pittsfield.
Add $50 for travel outside Berkshire County.
Additional consecutive programs: $100 each.
Notes on fees and admission
- Chaperones: Each class receives free admission for one chaperone for every five students, plus the teacher/group leader. Additional chaperones are $5 per person, plus an additional $1 per chaperone for performances.
- Special Education groups receive free admission for as many chaperones as needed.
Laurin Publishing Company grant covers free Museum visits for Pittsfield-based schools.
Chaperone Guide
Children are usually very excited about an upcoming Museum visit. It is helpful to review with your class the itinerary of the day, including information on what their lunch plans are, whether they are visiting the Museum store and when, and if they will have time to visit some favorite spots during their visit. Clarifying their expectations allows them more free time to focus on their current experience and learn more during their visit.
Please fill out the guide for chaperones and review it with them before your visit. These guidelines are designed to help groups and chaperones make the most of their visit. To create a pamphlet, simply print out the guide, photocopy the two pages back-to-back, and fold in thirds. Click here to download.
Groups must have a minimum of 1 chaperone for every 10 students. Up to 1 chaperone for every 5 students may accompany a group at no charge (teachers are also free).
To help us insure student safety and security, please be prepared to leave a class list at the visitor's desk upon arrival and provide students with name tags. Individual student name tags, clearly labeled in large letters, are also extremely helpful to Museum Educators.
Pre-Visit Questionnaire
After scheduling your visit, please take five minutes to fill out this form. It will help us to meet your group's needs. Click here to fill out the form on-line or click here for a printable version. Hard copies should be mailed to the Museum at least a week before your visit, if possible.
Teacher Resources
Teacher Resources will help you make the most of your visit! You'll find activities and resources to use in the classroom before, during and after a visit, or anytime. Great ideas for families too!
Recources: Self-guiding in the Galleries
Preview galleries and print out discussion questions, hunts, gallery guides, and other activities.
Resouces: Educator-led Program
To find resources for a particular Educator-led Program, select the appropriate grade group from the Educator-led Program section and scroll down to the program title and description.
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