Group Policies
The Saint Louis Science Center is an exciting place to play and explore, and we’re committed to the safety and visitor experience of everyone.
Please fill out this form, print out your confirmation email, and bring it with you on your visit..
Group Policies Acknowledgement Form
We encourage visiting groups to discover and experience the Science Center’s exhibits and programs with the following guidelines in mind.
Reservations & Payment
- Groups of 10 or more must reserve tickets in advance to receive the group discount. We do not offer group discounts at the door. Additional notice allows us to better accommodate your group’s needs. Group leaders can make a reservation to hold tickets at any time.
- To ensure that your tickets are secured, payment is due 10 days prior to your visit. Payment may be made with a credit or debit card, or with a check. NO CASH PAYMENTS.
- Refunds or reductions in your group numbers can only be accommodated until 10 days prior to your visit. However, additional tickets may be purchased at the group rate as long as tickets remain available.
- If you need to add tickets to your group reservation on-site, tickets must be purchased in one transaction from the group leader to receive the group discount. If group members need to purchase tickets individually, they may do so, but tickets will be at our regular rates.
- Groups are not able to hold tickets for feature-length films in advance without payment. Payment is due at the time of reservation.
Chaperones
- For groups with children, we require one (1) adult (ages 18 years or older) for every ten (10) children. Adult chaperones are responsible for group members and must take an active role in supervision at all times. Some galleries may have different chaperone requirements; please see below for more information.
- For your group’s safety and convenience, chaperones must wear the chaperone stickers provided at check-in. Chaperone stickers make your chaperones easily identifiable. Extra stickers are available at the Visitor Services Information desk.
Behavior
- Heelys shoes, Jetts, hoverboards, and other non-required personal transportation devices are not to be used in the building.
- The Science Center is a smoke-free environment. This includes cigarettes and cigars, as well as e-cigarettes and vaporizers.
- The Science Center wants every guest to be able to enjoy our exhibits and activities. Groups should be considerate of other visitors and handle exhibits with care. Any groups being disruptive to visitors or staff will be asked to leave, and no refunds will be given.
Parking
- For groups arriving by shuttle or bus, please unload and pick up in the bus lanes just south of the main entrance of the Science Center’s Oakland building (located at 5050 Oakland Avenue).
- If arriving separately, groups may park in the main parking lot for $15 per car. Parking is free for Science Center members year-round.
- Buses and RVs cannot park in the main lot at the Science Center. See where buses and RVs can park.
Food
- The Science Center offers a variety of convenient food options for groups to pre-purchase for their visit. Learn more about our on-site food options.
- If your group will be purchasing food upon arrival, please let us know what time you plan to eat so our staff is better able to serve your group.
- Please discuss food options with our Group Visits manager when booking your visit.
- If you need a place to eat your sack lunch for your group, please inquire with the group sales department at 314.286.4680, or email us, about other indoor and outdoor group eating areas. The Loft and Science Cafe areas are not available for sack lunches.
Accessibility
- The Science Center offers multiple floors and indoor/outdoor spaces. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and seasonally appropriate clothing. The Science Center provides complimentary wheelchair rentals, as well as motorized scooter rentals for a $25 rental fee. Visit the Information Desk in the main lobby of our Oakland or Planetarium buildings to ask about availability.
- Learn more about Accessibility at the Saint Louis Science Center by reviewing our accessiAccessibilitybility information.
- Groups with accessibility questions should contact Group Visits at 314.286.4680 or email groupvisits@slsc.org.
Specific Exhibit & Attraction Policies
The Science Center’s exhibition hall hosts both traveling and Science Center-produced special exhibitions, which may have varying policies. In general, groups should expect the following unless otherwise noted:
- Groups must have at least one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students or children.
- No food or drink is allowed inside special exhibitions.
- Writing utensils are not allowed inside special exhibitions.
- Flash photography is not allowed.
- Additional requirements and prohibitions may be in place according to the special exhibition production policy.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children.
- Food and beverages are not allowed at Energy Stage.
- Recommended for ages one to eight.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for four (4) children.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in the Discovery Room.
- No single adult tickets may be ordered; children under the age of one require a complimentary ticket for entry.
- Due to capacity limitations, we encourage groups to book a private session. For more info, contact Group Visits by phone at 314.286.4680, or at groupvisits@slsc.org.
- For the safety of our fossils, each child must be accompanied by an adult.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in the Dana Brown Fossil Prep Lab and Dig Site.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children.
- Individual snacks and beverages are allowed. Groups may not eat inside the gallery. For questions about sit-down lunch space, please contact us at 314.286.4680.
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- For the Pulseworks Adventure Pod: Up to eight (8) people per ride. School groups may ride the Pulseworks Adventure Pod with a chaperone present.
- For the GFORCE Encounter Flight Simulator: Up to two (2) people per ride; maximum 250 lbs. per person.
- All riders must be a minimum of 48 inches tall.
Note: The GForce Encounter Flight Simulator may take up to 10 minutes per ride, and many venues, like the Planetarium, do not allow for late entry. Please plan accordingly.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children.
- Food and beverages are allowed. Groups may not eat outside of the gallery’s designated eating spaces. For questions about sit-down lunch space, please contact us at 314.286.4680.
- Visitors must be 5 years of age to enter the Activity Bench area.
- For groups, we require one (1) adult for every three (3) students or children.
- The Life Science Lab Atrium and Classroom are open to all visitors, with one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students or children.
- Food and beverages are not allowed in this area.
- During busy times, visitors are limited to one activity bench. Visitors may reenter the line if they would like to do another activity.
- Recommended for ages 7 and up.
- Makerspace classes are designed as family or small group activities, with one (1) adult chaperone required for every ten (10) children.
- For the general public, Makerspace follows the same policy of one (1) adult chaperone required for every ten (10) children.
- Food and beverages are not allowed.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children.
- Individual snacks and beverages are allowed. Groups may not eat inside the gallery. For questions about sit-down lunch space, please contact us at 314.286.4680.
- One (1) adult chaperone is required for every ten (10) children.
- Individual snacks and beverages are allowed. Groups may not eat inside the gallery. For questions about sit-down lunch space, please contact us at 314.286.4680.
- Chaperone must be present for every ten (10) children.
- No food or beverage is allowed inside the VR Transporter.
- Must be 48” tall to ride.
- Visitors younger than 16 may ride if they are at least 48” tall and must have parent/guardian/chaperone in attendance during the entire ride.
- Max. single rider weight of 250 lbs.
- No eyeglasses allowed.
- Anyone pregnant or with back, neck or heart trouble, medical devices or history of seizures should not ride.
Plan Ahead
All groups should be aware of our Group Policies and should fill out the online Group Policies Acknowledgement form. For more information, contact our Group Visits team by phone at 314.286.4680, or email us.
