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Group FAQs & Policies
Buses:
Discovery Center Museum is located within the Riverfront Museum Park building. For driving directions use the following address: 711 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103
Buses should drop off / pick up groups near the blue and green kinetic sculpture to the right of the main doors. Our staff in blue aprons and green shirts will meet your group at the bus(es) and help bring everyone inside for orientation.
Buses can park at the back of our parking lot free of charge.
Chaperone Information:
We require a ratio of one adult (18 or older) to ten children, with a maximum ratio of 1 adult to every 5 children. Adult Chaperones must stay with and supervise the conduct of their students/children at all times. Chaperones who have not registered with their group and paid their chaperone fee in advance are subject to the full retail admission costs upon arrival at the Museum.
Group Behavior Expectations:
Every visitor deserves to have an exciting, educational day at Discovery Center Museum. Please carefully read and share the following behavior expectations with all students and chaperones.
Be safe
Use your walking feet in the museum; running and roughhousing are not permitted.
Stay with your group
Be respectful
Use your inside voices
Take turns at the exhibits so everyone has a chance to play
Remember other groups and families are visiting the museum as well
Be curious
Play and interact with our exhibits
Ask questions! Think in “hows” and “whys” during your visit
Failure to abide by the Group Behavior Expectations may result in your group being asked to leave the museum. Refunds are not issued to groups who are asked to leave.
Group Visit Schedules
Group schedules are created for every guided group visit and provided to the Discovery Center Staff that will be assisting your group and are designed to accommodate all of the groups that are visiting on a particular day. These schedules begin and end at the Start and End Times listed on your Group Reservation and include any STEM or Early Childhood STEAM Labs, Group Planetarium Shows, or Lunchroom Rentals you have requested. Groups are expected to abide by the group schedule and staff directions to avoid overcrowding any one exhibit area. Group schedules are subject to change without notice.
Lunch Space Rentals
Groups that rent the lunch space will be scheduled for lunch(es) between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Lunch times are assigned based on group arrival time and what timing works best to accommodate the needs of all groups visiting the museum on that day. Groups that do not schedule a lunch space rental will not have lunch time or location included in their reservation.
Gift Shop
Groups that would like to visit the gift shop must request this on their Group Visit Request. Students / Children must be supervised by an adult in the gift shop at all times. One adult and five children will be allowed to shop at one time to avoid overcrowding our shop.