Registration and Field Trip Policies

Transportation | Chaperones | Check-In & Orientation | Lunches | Reservations

Transportation

Each group visiting the Fleet Science Center is responsible for making travel arrangements to and from our location. Please be sure to schedule a bus for your group immediately after making your reservation with us.

If you need assistance, we recommend contacting San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). MTS provides discounts for advance group bookings. Visit MTS atMTS provides discounts for advance group bookings. Visit MTS at www.sdmts.com for more information.

Chaperones

We require one adult chaperone per 10 students for 2nd grade and up, and one adult chaperone per five students for pre-K through 1st grade. Required adults are free. Adults beyond the required number must pay admission.

Chaperone Policy: Adult chaperones must properly supervise students in the group at all times during their visit to the Fleet and are responsible for the safety of the students and the exhibits they visit. Inadequately supervised groups or groups causing disturbances will be asked to leave the Science Center. No refunds will be extended. No member vouchers will be accepted for educational programs.

Check-In & Orientation

Groups are required to check-in no later than 15 minutes prior to their first scheduled program and must pay in full at that time. No other discounts, coupons, vouchers or passes may be used in conjunction with the education program prices.

Your group will be given an orientation upon arrival. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone visiting the Fleet, we kindly ask that your group follow the rules. We reserve the right to remove any individual or group not in compliance with reasonable standards of behavior.

Lunches

Food, beverages, candy, and gum are not to be consumed in the Exhibit Galleries or Heikoff Dome Theater. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center provides indoor shelving for storage of lunch sacks and backpacks. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Use of these shelves is at your own risk. We recommended students do not bring electronics or other items that will be left unattended.

There are no facilities located inside the museum for students to eat their lunch. Schools should plan to enjoy their lunch in Balboa Park.

Galactic Lunch Sacks are available for purchase in advance from Galileo’s Café. These are $8.50 per person and include:

• 1/2 turkey, ham or vegetarian sandwich
• chips, granola bar, raisins or apple slices (choose two)
• bottled water, milk, juice box or canned soda

To place an order, please call the Special Events Coordinator at (619) 238-1233 ext. 724.

Fleet Grab Bags

Students can purchase a Fleet grab bag from the North Star Science Store for $7.00. Contents of the grab bags are specially selected and correlate to current Fleet exhibitions. Please place these orders in advance by calling (619) 238-1233 ext. 724.

Teachers also receive a 10% discount for individual purchases at the North Star Science Store.

Reservations

Making Reservations: We offer 3 ways to place your reservation request:

• Call our Client Services Dept: 619-238-1233 x806 (M-F, 8:30am - 4:30pm)
• Fax your reservation request worksheet to: 619-685-5770
• E-mail us at clientservices@rhfleet.org

When making a reservation, please provide an estimated count of students and chaperones. If these numbers change, notify the Client Services Department. Reservations are not guaranteed until confirmed. Tentative reservations or date holds are not accepted. If you have not received confirmation within seven days of booking, please contact the Client Services Department at 619-238-1233 ext. 806 or clientservices@rhfleet.org.

Educators are encouraged to make their own reservations. Please be sure that permission for the field trip has been obtained before calling.

Group sales for our public IMAX shows are available at an additional cost. All groups of 15 or more must make a reservation at least 2 weeks in advance. We cannot guarantee space for groups without a reservation. Please call 619-238-1233 ext. 806 to make a reservation.

Other rules, policies, procedures and restrictions apply and will be sent to you with your confirmation. It is important to read these materials carefully before your visit as cancellation fees apply.

Reserve early! Programs often fill to capacity, and there is a limit to daily school group admissions. Most programs require at least two weeks notice in advance.

Tentative reservations will NOT be processed. Be sure to confirm with your transportation department first.

A reservation request does not reflect an official booking until you have received a confirmation from our Client Services Office.

In order to secure your reservation(s), a Purchase Order (PO) or a credit card number must be received by The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center within 2 weeks from booking. If you are sending a PO, please be sure to include your transaction number (located at the top of your confirmation).

Reservations for school shows made with less than 2 weeks notice will require a PO or credit card number within 24 hours. Reservations for Nierman Challenger Learning Center and education workshops are not accepted with less than 2 weeks notice.

Confirmations

An official confirmation will be sent to you within 7 business days after processing. We will send it either by e-mail or fax. Attached to the confirmation you will receive the Fleet’s Policies and Attendance Guarantee for Education Reservations. YOU MUST SIGN this document and FAX it to us at (619) 685-5770 to secure your reservation.

Payment Options

Payment for most education programs is due the day of the visit. The only payment that is taken in advance is for Education Outreach programs and Family Science Nights, and these are due 30 days prior to the event date. If booked with less than 30 days notice, immediate payment by credit card is required upon booking.

The Fleet accepts the following payment methods:

• School, School District or personal checks made out to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. (Please provide ONE check per transaction. If you wish to pay separately for each class then please schedule an individual reservation for each of them)
• Credit Cards (AmEx, Visa, MasterCard, Discover)
• Cash (one lump sum, large bills only please)
• Purchase Orders: A mailed PO or fax copy referencing the entire balance must be received by the Fleet at least 2 weeks prior to the trip date. We will send out an invoice for payment once the trip has occurred.

Attendance Guarantee

Your numbers become final 2 weeks (14 days) prior to your scheduled field trip. You may only increase your numbers at this time provided space is available. You school/institution will be responsible for the full amount of your field trip as of 2 weeks (14 days) prior to your scheduled date(s). If you arrive on the day of your field trip with fewer than the reserved numbers, you will still be responsible for the committed quantity.

Cancellations

A minimum of two weeks notice is required for rescheduling or canceling your reservation. Cancellations made with less than two weeks notice will result in a full billing for the original total. "No Shows" will also be charged in full. You must receive written confirmation from us to verify your cancellation.