Before Your Field Trip
Preparing for your field trip to La Brea Tar Pits?
This video will show you and your students what to expect on your Ice Age adventure! You’ll see what makes La Brea Tar Pits such a special place, and get some tips on how to make the most of your visit.
A Field Guide For Field Trips
Ready for your field trip to La Brea Tar Pits? Use the checklist below to ensure you’ve got everything you need for a successful field trip!
BEFORE YOUR FIELD TRIP
- Check that the information in your confirmation email is correct. Haven’t filled out a field trip request form yet? Book your visit.
- Looking for a museum map, park guide, or tips for your visit? Our Field Trip Guide (also available in Spanish) has everything you need to stay organized. Print copies for all of your adults ahead of time.
- Visit our Learning Resources library to download free, grade-appropriate lesson plans and activities for your visit.
- Review the Field Trip Policies (listed below) with your students and chaperones prior to your visit.
- Use our Sensory Guide to help prepare your students for your visit, and check out our Museum Visit Social Narrative for additional sensory-friendly tips. You are also welcome to plan a Sensory Friendly Field Trip on the first day of every month, from October to June.
- Provide parking directions to La Brea Tar Pits to your drivers.
ON YOUR WAY
- Bus pick-up and drop-off occurs on the west side of Curson Avenue and buses may park for free along Curson.
- Personal vehicle and van parking is available for $20/car in the Tar Pits Parking Lot on Curson Avenue.
- Leave lunches on the bus, in vehicles, or securely zipped in backpacks. Because of the sensitive nature of our collections, we cannot store lunches in the Museum. Thanks for protecting our collections!
- If you are running late, give us a call at 323.857.6300.
YOUR FIELD TRIP BEGINS!
- When you arrive, gather your group in front of the museum and count the number of students, chaperones, and teachers.
- Send one teacher inside with your final headcount to check in with Guest Relations at the Front Desk.
- Remind your chaperones to help their students adhere to the Field Trip Policies available on their Field Trip Guide (also listed below).
- Once your group is checked in and admission stickers have been provided to all adults, use the doors on the left to enter the museum.
FIELD TRIP POLICIES
Take a look at the important information below to help you and your students be prepared for their field trip experience. Questions? Contact us at info@tarpits.org!
- Admission to the museum and reservations for performances, programs, or special exhibits are free for all students and school staff (including teachers, one-to-one aides, teaching assistants, and administrators). *Some add-on experiences are fee based; please see our "Field Trip Add-On" page to see which ones.
- We require a minimum of one chaperone for every ten students. Additional chaperones beyond the 1:10 ratio are welcome to enjoy the museum, free of charge. However, to prioritize student participation, additional chaperone participation in add on experiences may be limited due to capacity limitations and may require purchase of tickets for special exhibits or performances (such as Ice Age Encounters).
- Students must be within eyesight of their teacher or chaperone at all times, regardless of age. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior of the students in their group. Please monitor students closely while in the Museum Store.
- Please arrive to timed reservations at least 10 minutes prior to your reservation time; we may not be able to accommodate late arrivals. Please pre-divide your students into groups for your reservations before your visit. Group numbers are listed in your confirmation email.
- To protect our collections, food and drinks (except water) should be consumed outside of the museum. Please see the Field Trip Guide for outdoor picnic spots and excavation sites.
QUESTIONS?
Check out our FAQs for more information!
