On-site Field Trips
Step right into the story!
Visit the Historic Village, Genesee Country Nature Center, or the John L. Wehle Gallery. There is nothing like a face-to-face, in-person, hands-on experience at GCV&M. On-site field trips are available on select dates in March, April, October, and December and regularly May through September. Scroll to the bottom of this page to explore our Frequently Asked Questions.
Questions? Contact our Education Team at education@gcv.org or (585) 294-8254. Ready to book?
Self-Guided Tours
Whether your group is visiting for two hours or all day, you and your students can explore at your own pace. Several locations throughout the village provide hands-on activities for students to do during their visit. Not sure what your students should visit or how to organize your day? Use one of the Self-Guided Tour Options, available upon request. Be sure to review our 30-minute Enrichment Activities hosted by a museum interpreter as a capstone to your visit.
Self-guided tours are available on limited Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in the fall and spring. Grant funding may be available for your school.
GCV&M Theme Days
Attend the museum on one of our monthly theme days! Key locations throughout the village are set up to guide your group along – with activities, games, and costumed experts – theme days allow your students to make clear connections between life in the 19th century and today. Each theme covers specific curriculum standards.
Grant funding may be available for your school. Pre-registration is required.
Enrichment Activities
Enhance your self-guided tour by scheduling a structured hands-on 30 minute Enrichment Activity lead by a museum educator. Options include:
- Tin Tapping – Learn about an important 19th century trade and make a tin ornament to take home.
- Little Red School House – Experience a one room school house and practice writing in cursive with a quill pen.
- History Stinks – Learn about many smelly aspects of 19th century life and make a lavender sachet to take home.
- History’s Mysteries – Use objects to compare life in the 19th century to today. Play a game to determine the identity of common 19th century objects.
- 19th Century Games – Explore what children played with in the past. Try your hand at whimmy diddles, pommawongas, jackstraws, graces and more!
Homeschool Days
Calling homeschool families! Join us for a fun and educational exploration of the Historic Village to experience history come to life! Explore our nearly 70 historic buildings on a day that the Village is geared up for families or homeschool groups. Homeschool Days are often themed, more details are below.
Homeschool days only occur on the dates listed below. Admission on Homeschool Days is reduced for families and homeschool groups to our school group rate: $8/student under 16, $12/ parents or chaperone. Pre-registration is required.
FAQs
Various generous donors allow GCV&M to offer grant funding to schools that meet certain qualifications. All RCSD schools, including public charters, are eligible for free student admission and transportation. Any rural/suburban school district where 50% or more students qualify for free/reduced lunch is also eligible for free student admission. Each teacher at qualifying schools can use these grants for two programs per academic year.
The cost of chaperone admission is $13/individual. Chaperones will pay upon arrival at the admissions tunnel – do not collect their payment in advance. If you bring an EBT card and ID you are eligible for $3 admission.
- This varies depending on the type of program. On a regular, non-guided, field trip day we recommend a 1:10 staff/chaperone to student ratio. For guided field trips – there will be a set number of chaperone spots available.
You need to fill out the bus order form in your main office and put GCV&M down as the person to bill. Specific contact information for First Student is: William Simpson, Rochester First Student, 1-585-288-8080.
It is important to dress for the weather, as all of our programs have outdoor portions that take place rain or shine.
Groups can arrive as early as 9 a.m. for field trips at GCV&M!
Yes, we recommend bringing lunch for your students to enjoy while at the Museum. Upon arrival you will receive a lunch location where you can both store your lunches and eat. On busy days, lunch times will be assigned by the Museum.
Retail locations will be open Wednesday – Sunday from May 6th until October 9th. The Museum Store may be open on select days throughout the off season. Click here to learn more.
Enrichments are ½ hour activities that cost an additional $3 per student. They allow students to engage in hands on historical activities. The extra cost of enrichments can not be covered by grant funding. Enrichments must be booked at the time of registration.
The Nature Center is located to the right of the Museum, just before the first two parking bays. You will see a turn-off to the right at this location; turn in there and pull up to the Nature Center Loop for student drop-off and check-in.
The lead teacher is responsible for collecting student payment, presenting a final headcount upon arrival, communicating with GCV&M about any changes to your confirmation, and receiving and distributing materials from the museum upon arrival (maps, schedules, etc.). We also recommend the lead teacher gives their cell phone number to all parent chaperones and bus drivers to facilitate communication.
All necessary teachers, aides, nurses, and bus drivers count as school staff and are admitted at no charge. Parent chaperones do not count as school staff.
Yes, homeschool groups may sign up, as school groups, for any regular, non-guided field trip day. In these instances, only the lead teacher is admitted for free and grant funding is not available. Other parents must pay the chaperone fee. Additionally, we offer specific homeschool theme days throughout the year. Click here to learn more about Homeschool Programs at GCV&M.
Thank you for being a Museum Member! In the instance of school programs, all students must pay regardless of membership status.