Get ready for a unique adventure at The Health Museum! Located in the heart of Houston, our museum offers a range of immersive and engaging experiences to make your field trip unique and memorable.
What’s Included in a Field Trip
- Walk through the Amazing Body Gallery
- Explore our traveling exhibit: MindWorks
- Flex your mental muscles with Brain Teasers, a collection of interactive puzzles that encourage problem-solving
- Hands-on interaction or experiments to elevate your understanding of medical science, see add-on activities below
Field Trip Pricing
Pricing | Admission | Complimentary Chaperone* | Additional Chaperone | Add-on Activities |
School or homeschool groups | $8/student | Free | $8/chaperone | $6-12/student |
Title I schools* | $5/student* | Free | $8/chaperone | $6-12/student |
*Title I schools will need to provide LEA ID and campus # on the reservation form
*The museum requires a ratio of 1 chaperone per every 10 students, required chaperones will be admitted free of charge, and each additional chaperone is $8 per person
Add-On Labs & Classes
- Labs & classes will be facilitated by a museum science educator, reservations are subject to educator availability
- Labs & classes at The Health Museum align with the state and national standards in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) content
Live Dissection Demonstrations
Suitable for all ages
45 mins, $50/session
Sit inside the McGovern Theater and follow a live dissection of a cow eye or a sheep heart performed by one of the Museum science educators.
Each demonstration hosts up to 120 students.
DIY Dissection
Suitable for PK – 12th
45-60 mins, $6-$12/student
Under the guidance of a science educator, students will learn about the structure and function of major organs, while getting an up-close look at some unique animal adaptations.
- DIY Owl Pellet PK-3rd • ($6/student)
- DIY Cow Eye Dissection • 3rd-12th ($8/student)
- DIY Sheep Heart • 6th-12th ($12/student)
- DIY Sheep Kidney • 6th-12th ($12/student)
Healthy Adventure: Early Childhood Classes
30-45 mins, $3-$5/student
Busy Bodies Go on a wild ride inside and out to discover the secrets of the amazing human anatomy, from your brain’s brilliance to your heart’s rhythmic dance, and uncover the mysteries that keep your body bustling 24/7. | Squeaky Clean This fun, interactive hands-on class is designed exclusively for young learners. The class focuses on instilling the importance of good hygiene habits. Students will learn how to develop routines that promote good health and hygiene! |
Healthy Habits This class is designed to empower children with essential skills for lifelong well-being. Through creative arts and crafts activities, students will learn how physical fitness and nutrition play a part in maintaining a healthy body. | The Poop-Tastic Adventure Get ready for some sassy science, and talk about human poop, animal poop, and how we can keep our digestive systems healthy. Learn fun scientific facts while making poop slime! |
Discovery Labs: Clinical Case Labs
60 mins, $8/student
Brain & Vaping Addiction In this session, we dive deep into the brain’s response to nicotine and the science behind vaping addiction. Explore how brain cells are affected by vaping, and learn what makes it so hard to quit. | Mysteries of the Cardiovascular & Respiratory System Dive deep into the intricacies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems through a captivating case study. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with our Synthetic Cadaver. | Cells & Mitosis Learn mitotic stages, examine them under a microscope, and prepare slides from real cell samples. Observe and identify mitosis phases under the educator’s guidance. |
Skills Labs
60 mins, $10-$12/student
CPR Lab This class equips students with essential knowledge and skills in CPR. Students will be taught a fundamental understanding of the human heart, basic cardiovascular information, and the ability to perform chest compressions. | Suturing Lab This experience introduces the skin’s vital role in protecting our bodies and the importance of wound closure. Students will learn to handle various suturing instruments, understand different suture materials, and master suturing techniques tailored to different wound types and locations. | Splinting Lab Explore the art and science of splinting, with an in-depth look into the skeletal system. In this lab, students will learn to assess injuries involving bones and joints, and understand how immobilization aids the healing process. They will also create a custom splint to stabilize and protect injured bones. |
Cell Lab Experiments
20-40 mins, $5/student
Get up close and personal with cells in the DeBakey Cell Lab. Students suit up with lab coats, gloves, and goggles and experiment with a variety of lab techniques and lab equipment. All lab experiments are available in English and Spanish.
All groups must be accompanied by an adult chaperon. Each group may have up to 2 experiments per visit.
Grades 2nd & Up | Grades 4th & Up | Grades 8th & Up |
---|---|---|
DNA Extraction | 15-20 mins See long, stringy DNA strands after breaking down cell membranes of a wheat germ. Cheek Cells | 15-20 mins Stain and examine a small sample of your cheek cells under a microscope. | Examining Blood | 30 mins Make, stain, and look at a sheep blood smear through a microscope to appreciate different types of blood cells, RBCs, WBCs, and platelets (along with human blood smear samples from the lab). Antimicrobial Agents | 20-25 mins Determine which common antimicrobial products are the most effective in killing bacteria. | Mystery Microbes | 30-45 mins Identify living bacteria cultures using chemical tests, stains, and a microscope. Giant Chromosomes | 40 mins Stain DNA, learn to examine the DNA in tightly packed chromosomes under a microscope. |
How do I reserve a field trip?
Complete and submit the online reservation form. After your reservation request is submitted, if the date requested is available, an invoice will be emailed to the contact person submitting this form within 5-7
business days.
How do I pay for my field trip?
Field trip reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. A non-refundable deposit of $50 must be received 2 weeks after your reservation has been confirmed, to ensure your field trip date is secured. The non-refundable deposit is credited towards the total balance due. Reservations without paid deposits within two weeks will be canceled. A non-refundable deposit is not required if the reservation is paid in full within two weeks.
Payments can be made by credit card or check. Please make checks payable to “The Health Museum”, and include your invoice/sales order ID number. You may drop off your check at the museum or mail it to:
The Health Museum – Reservations
1515 Hermann Drive, Houston, TX 77004
Final payments are due no later than 20 days before your field trip. Reservations without paid balances will be canceled. If you are reserving a field trip less than 20 days from your visit, the reservation must be paid in full upon receiving your confirmation.
If scheduling multiple reservations, a separate payment is required for each date reserved. If checks include more than one reservation payment, it will not be accepted.
Any chaperones not included in the reservation and paying separately will pay the regular museum admission. Museum memberships and guest passes/vouchers are not valid for field trip entrance.
If add-on labs are reserved with a field trip, and the full payment is not received 20 business days before the scheduled field trip, an educator cannot be guaranteed and the lab will be canceled.
Can I make changes to my reservation?
- Rescheduling or changes can be made until 20 days before your scheduled field trip. Changes must be made in writing via email to reservations@thehelathmuseum.org.
- Schools bringing fewer students than reserved will be given general admission vouchers for each student who is paid for but not attending; no monetary refunds will be given.
- Schools bringing more students than reserved will be expected to pay for the additional students and chaperones upon arrival. Space is not guaranteed, and accommodations will be made based on availability.
- Vouchers, gift passes, Museum memberships, and general admission tickets cannot be used to pay for field trip reservations.
What if I need to cancel my field trip?
- Cancellations must be received in writing by e-mail within at least 20 days before the scheduled field trip date.
- Any “no-shows” or schools that fail to cancel within 20 days before the scheduled field trip will be billed for the full contracted amount of the reservation.
How many chaperones can I bring?
- We require that K-12 schools bring one chaperone for every ten students. The required chaperones will receive complimentary general admission.
- Each additional chaperone will be charged the adult group rate of $8.
- Chaperones or parents who arrive and pay independently of the group will be charged the regular adult admission rate of $10.
Where do buses drop off and pick up students?
Bus pick-up and drop-off are on La Branch Street at the group entrance of The Health Museum. Bus parking is not available along La Branch St., but limited bus parking is available along other streets in the Museum District. For The Health Museum, we recommend parking your bus along Crawford Street next to the museum. Please let your bus driver be aware of this information, so all our guests can safely arrive and depart.
Where do individual vehicles park?
If you will be arriving in individual vehicles, parking is available in our surface lot for $8 per vehicle.
Can we eat lunch at The Health Museum?
We do not have an onsite lunch facility, or an area for students to eat lunch. However, many groups bring a picnic lunch and eat across the street at Hermann Park or McGovern Centennial Gardens before or after their scheduled field trip. If you plan on attending the museum for more than 2 hours, please inform reservations in advance so that accommodations can be made.
Can I preview The Health Museum before our field trip?
We welcome all teachers to visit the Museum in advance of their scheduled field trip. We recommend attending a Teacher Tour or just visiting to find out what the Museum has to offer and how to use it in your classroom. We would also be happy to attend a faculty meeting or parent organization meeting to present our programs.
As a current member, will my FIELD TRIP reservation HAVE any additional discounts?
Memberships cannot be used for additional discounts on school field trips or group visits. For additional information please contact Reservations at reservations@thehealthmuseum.org.
How can I plan my trip prior to my visit?
Complete required school documentation (field trip permission forms, transportation forms, etc.). Secure chaperones, including the required emergency chaperone, for the trip and ensure that they are aware of arrival and departure times. Confirm your final headcount. Chaperones not included in the reservation and paying separately will pay the regular museum admission rate. And review field trip educator guide.
Day Before Your Field Trip
Assign student groups to chaperones (10 students per one chaperone required). Confirm the required contingency chaperone is ready with their own transportation.
Day of Field Trip: Arrival
Museum doors will open at 10:00 a.m. Please let bus drivers know to drop off the students and chaperones on La Branch St. NOTE: We do not provide school bus or motor coach parking. If you are running late for any reason, please contact the Visitor’s Service Desk at 713-521-1515.
Day of Field Trip: During Your Visit
- All tours are self-guided.
- Chaperones must remain with their students throughout the visit and are responsible for their group’s behavior.
- For everyone’s safety, no running or rough play is permitted. Please emphasize the importance of using inside voices while within the museum.
- If your group visits the museum’s gift store, please note that a maximum of 5 students (accompanied by a chaperone) are allowed at a time.
- We want our visitors to enjoy their experience at The Health Museum and expect all groups to respect other visitors. If these guidelines are not followed, you may be asked to leave the museum. If this occurs, you will not be refunded for your visit.
Day of Field Trip: Departure
When your group is ready to depart, please call for your bus only when your entire group is at the bus pick-up area and ready to leave.
We thank you for joining us at The Health Museum. Have fun!
Eveline Amador
Reservations Coordinatorreservations@thehealthmuseum.org713-337-8451For more information about field trips or virtual outreach at The Health Museum, please reach out