Milwaukee's Mitchell Park
Horticultural Conservatory

 

Please note, field trips are subject to change or cancellation due to current social distancing requirements. If cancellation is necessary, the decision will be made no less than two weeks before the scheduled field trip. We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time. 

 

 

Navigation: 

1. General Information

2. Fee Structure

3. Scheduling

4. Programming Options

5. FAQs

 

 

1. General Information:

 

Educator-Led Field Trip Information: Schools, Scouts, Youth, After School, Homeschool, Camps, and any other group of children attending Educator-led Programming

 

Thank you for choosing the Mitchell Park Domes as your field trip destination! Our unique facility allows children to explore the rainforest, desert, and mediterranean - all in one day! 

The Friends of the Domes’s Education Program offers NEW field trips programs for grades K5-12. These programs, available for scheduling throughout the school year and summer, provide every attendee with the opportunities to acquire nature-based knowledge, experiences, hobbies, and values. Each Field Trip will include: Pre-trip information and optional curriculum, a hands-on, interactive, educator-led experience, exploration through all three Domes, and post-trip information with optional curriculum. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for your educator-led field trip.

 

 

 

2. Fee Structure:

 

 

Additional Information on Fee Structure: 

Chaperone Numbers and Costs: 

Chaperones include any and all adults attending with the group during the time of your field trip, including teachers, assistants, paraprofessionals, aides, school staff, parents, etc.

Groups must have one adult per every 10 students*. (for example, if you have 35 students, you must bring at least 3 adults that will follow the Chaperone Policy). These adults will receive free admission. The fee for each additional adult is $7. 

*Groups with all students over the age of 14 may have one adult per every 15 students. 

Groups with young students or students with accessibility or special needs are recommended to have additional chaperones, although it is not required. 

Scholarship Information: 

The Dr. & Mrs. John Thomas Scholarship Fund was created through the generosity of the Thomas's with the intention of underwriting field trips for schools in need of financial assistance. Any schools that are interested in visiting the Domes for an educational program, but lack funding, are encouraged to apply to this fund for assistance. The fund generally funds 50% of the cost of a field trip.

If you are interested in applying for a partial or full scholarship, please indicate this on the Field Trip Request Form. We will contact you with more information. 

3. Scheduling

Booking Information: 

An online field trip request form is required to request a program. Please fill out this form before calling or emailing, as this is best for keeping all of our groups organized.  

Schools: Click Here for our School Field Trip Request Form

All Other Groups: Click Here for our Group Field Trip Request Form

 

*These forms have been available starting June 1st for the 2020-2021 School Year This form will be emailed to the Education Director. To contact Erica directly, please email ericaputman.fod@milwaukeedomes.org.

 

*We have two separate forms as some questions are slightly different between schools and other groups. 

In this form you will need:

A Google login to access the Google Form

Group information: Contact information, student information, 

Programming requests: Experience selection, learning objectives

Scheduling Information: Preferred times and dates

Check for understanding: understanding the information provided

Busy Times at the Domes:

Field trips are scheduled during times that the Domes are open to the public.  Please keep in mind when scheduling your trip that afternoons, especially in winter, are typically busier.

For a full calendar of events, please visit https://milwaukeedomes.org/events-calendar 

*Please note when the Show Dome is closed. 

4. Programming Options

Our programming for the 2020-2021 school year is currently being developed! 

The current program categories are listed below. You will choose a category, then we will send options for more specific programming to fit your groups’ learning objectives! 

 

• The Tropical Experience- Tropical plants, plants that changed the world, animals, biodiversity, and human impact on the rain forest
• The Desert Experience- Desert plants like cacti & succulents, animals (meet the bearded dragon!), adaptations, and survival
• The Show Dome Experience- Explore the current Show Dome theme (which changes 5 times a year!), herbs, and Mediterranean plants
• The Wisconsin Experience - Native plants and their importance, invasive species, Milwaukee water, local pollinators, save the bees!
• The Team-building Experience- Team-building challenges, using your senses, mindfulness, restorative circles, and group discussions
• The Arts Experience - Explore the arts, inspired by our diverse and unique plant collection