Home School Resource Center

List of Educational Field Trips in USA & Canada
http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/field-trips/

Find museums, zoos, aquariums, planetariums, historic houses, nature
centers, cultural centers, and other educational facilities in your area.

A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Gallery
10406 S. Maryland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
773-928-3935
http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com

Adler Planetarium
1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605-2403
312-922-STAR (24 hour information)
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org

http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/plan/discounts

Admission:
Admission is free on these days. An additional fee for shows applies.
January - 5,11-15, 19 and 26
February - 2, 8-12, 16 and 23
March - 2, 9, 16 and 23
April - 20 and 27
May - 4, 11, 12, 18, and 25
June - 7-11
September - 7, 13-17, 21 and 28
October - 5, 12, 19 and 26
November - 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
December - 7, 14 and 21

THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM
Museum of Architecture and Design
Chicago, IL
815-777-4444
http://www.chi-athenaeum.org/

http://www.chi-athenaeum.org/main/locations.html

Chicago museum temporarily closed, see link for Schaumburg and Galena locations

Admission:
Free for Museum Members. Non Museum members $3.00; Students and Seniors $2.00.

Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, 60603-6404
312-443-3600
http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php

http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/index.html

Hours:
Monday–Wednesday, Friday, 10:30am–5pm
Thursday, 10:30am-8pm 
Saturday–Sunday, 10am–5pm
 
Admission:
Adults: $18, Children, students and Seniors (65 and up) $12
Children under 14 are FREE, Members are FREE
1st & 2nd Wednesdays of each month are FREE all day

Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road
Brookfield, IL 60513
708-688-8000
http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/

http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?nSection=2&pageid=111&nLinkID=2
Hours and Admission
 
Free Admission
January 1, 2010 through February 28, 2010
Zoo admission is free on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fee zoo admission is good only durring normal zoo hours.
 
Free Admission for Military Personnel
To show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the United States Armed Forces, the Chicago Zoological Society is offering free admission to Brookfield Zoo to all active military and reservist personnel. Qualified personnel who present a valid ID badge at one of the zoo's admission booths will be admitted free of charge.

Burpee Museum of Natural History
737 North Main Street
Rockford, IL 61103
815-965-3433
http://www.burpee.org/ 

http://www.burpee.org/visit/index.asp
general info

http://www.burpee.org/education/homeschool.asp
link to homeschool programs offered

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/visit/index.php

The Chicago Botanic Garden showcases 26 unique gardens that range from
the romantic English Walled Garden to the wild Midwestern Prairie. Join a guided tour and stroll through the gardens or hop on the tram for a narrated ride. Special events throughout the year include gardening and cooking workshops.

Admission is free. (No pets allowed, except for service animals.)

Parking Fees
$15 per car (including tax)
$7 for senior citizens on Tuesdays (including tax)
$25 per van (including tax)
$60 per limousine, minibus, bus & RV (including tax)
Parking fees are included in the preregistration fees for school groups.

Chicago Children's Museum
700 E. Grand Avenue, #127
Chicago, IL 60611
312-527-1000
http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org/

Hours:
Daily 10am-5pm
Thursday evenings 5pm-8pm

Museum Hours:
Summer 10am-5pm
School Year: Weekends 10am-5pm, Week Days 12noon-5pm

Admission:
First Sunday of everymonth: Free admission for ages 15 and under.
Thursday Evenings from 5pm-8pm: Free admission for everyone.

Children - $10.00
Adults - $10.00
Seniors - $9.00
Members - Free
Children under one - Free

Chicago Cultural Center
Visitor Information Center
77 E. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60602
312-744-8000

Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
312-642-4600
http://www.chicagohs.org/

http://www.chicagohs.org/planavisit/visitorinformation

Hours:
Monday - Saturday - 9:30am-4:30pm
Sunday - 12pm-5pm

Admission:
Adults - $14
Seniors (65+)- $12.00
Students with ID (13-22 years) - $12.00
FREE for children age 12 and younger

We offer a new schedule of days, which provide free admission to visitors:
Tuesday, August 23-Wednesday, August 24
Monday, September 12-Friday, September 16
Monday, September 19-Friday, September 23
Monday, September 26- Friday, September 30
Monday, October 3-Friday, October 7
Monday, October 10-Thursday, October, 13 

Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
9600 East Shore Dr.
Oak Lawn , IL 60453
(708) 423-6709
http://www.cmoaklawn.org

http://www.cmoaklawn.org/
Click to Plan Your Visit

Hours:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday-Saturday - 9:30am-5pm
Thursday Evenings (2nd and 4th) 5pm-8pm
Sunday - 12pm-5pm

Admission:
$6.00 per child
$6.00 per adult
$5.00 per senior (55+)
Children under one are ALWAYS Free!

Clarke House Museum
1827 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL
312-326-1480
http://www.cityofchicago.org

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/

Chicago's oldest house, Clarke House is now open to the public. Tours of this 1836 Greek Revival style house reveal what life was like for a middle class family in Chicago, when the city was in its formative years before the Civil War.

Tour Hours:
Wednesday through Sunday, noon; 1pm; 2pm

Admissions:
Adults $10, Seniors and Students $9, Children 5 -12 years old $6.
WEDNESDAYS ARE FREE

Hours of operation (ET)
Monday–Friday 10am.- 6pm. (March-September, Fridays open until 9pm)
Saturday 9am.- 6pm.
Sunday 12pm - 6pm.

Admission:
Follow this link for rates on one day admission, two day passes, planetarium, groups, ect. http://creationmuseum.org/tickets/

Discovery Center Museum
711 North Main Street
Rockford, Illinois 61103
(815) 963-6769
http://discoverycentermuseum.org/

http://discoverycentermuseum.org/museum/

Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, Noon to 5 pm
(Memorial Day to Labor Day), Thursdays until 7 pm

Admission:
$6.00 - Adults, $5.00 - Children
FREE - Children under 2 and members
Groups: Special reduced rates are available for groups of 10 or more with at least 10 days advanced registration.

DuSable Museum of African-American History
740 East 56th Place
Chicago, IL 60637
773-947-0600
http://www.dusablemuseum.org/

http://www.dusablemuseum.org/visit/admission-information/

Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday 10am–5pm
Sundays 12–5pm

Admission:
Adults $3.00
Students and Seniors - $2.00
Children ages 6 to 12 - $1.00, Children under 6, are FREE
SUNDAYS ARE FREE TO ALL

Environmental Education Center
2405 Calumet Avenue
Hammond, IN 46325
219-853-2420
http://www.lcswmd.com/

http://www.lcswmd.com/programs1.htm

Hours:
M-F 8:30a-4:30p

The ReUz room (inside building) has tons of free arts and craft supplies. They also have a nice indoor play area and more activities.

Homeschool Schedule:
http://www.lcswmd.com/home_school_schedule.htm

FREE Programs Offered:
http://www.lcswmd.com/programs2.htm

http://www.exploration-station.org/PlanYourVisit.htm

Hours:
Mondays - Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sundays 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Admission:
$6.00 - Adults and Children (12 months and up)
$4.00 - Seniors (ages 55 and better)
FREE - Children under 12 months
$1.00 off admission for active military
$2.00 off for Bourbonnais Township residents

Tuesday and Thursday Afternoons:
Tuesdays and Thursdays are donation afternoons at Exploration Station. After 2:00pm admission is a suggested $1.00 per person donation. Donation afternoons do not apply to groups of 10 or more.

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/plan_visit/free_days.htm

2011 Target Free Second Monday of each month
Hours 9:00am-5:00pm

Regularly Scheduled FREE Basic Admission Days in 2011:
January: 3, 11, 13, 18, 19, 24, 26, 31
February: 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 17
April: 11
May: 9
June: 7, 13
July: 11
August: 8, 29, 31
September: 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 20, 21, 27, 29
October: 3, 5, 6, 10, 24, 25
November: 2, 7, 14, 21
December: 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 20, 22

Field Museum Critical Thinking Guide - Christian Perspective
http://www.facebook.com/l/d3f8a;www.midwestcreationfellowship.org/pdf/field-museum-critical-thinking-guide.pdf

Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624-1996
312-746-5100
http://www.garfieldconservatory.org

http://www.garfieldconservatory.org/cgi-bin/calendar/calendar.cgi

Hours:
The Conservatory is "Open Every Day of the Year"
Daily Hours: 9am - 5pm
Thursdays: 9am - 8pm

Admission:
FREE! We do ask for a suggested donation during special events and exhibits. Please check the Shows and Events page for more info.

FREE PARKING is just south of the Conservatory's main entrance.

Glessner House Museum
1800 South Prairie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-1480
http://www.glessnerhouse.org/

http://www.glessnerhouse.org/tours.htm

Tour schedule:
Wednesday - Sunday at 1 and 3 pm

Admission:
Adult - $10.00
Student/Senior - $9.00
Children (ages 5 -12) - $6.00

WEDNESDAY IS FREE
Free day does not apply to groups of ten or more

Historic Pullman Foundation Visitor Center
11141 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-785-8901
http://www.pullmanil.org/default.htm

Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am-3pm
Winter closing January 7 - February 11

Admission:
FREE

Hours:
May - September: Tuesday through Sunday 10am-4pm
October - April: Tuesday through Saturday 10am-4pm

Admission:
Adults $10
Students & Seniors $6
Tuesdays are FREE

Isle a la Cache Museum
501 E. Romeo Rd. (also 135Th St.)
Romeoville, IL 60446
815-886-1467
http://www.reconnectwithnature.org/visitor-centers/details.asp?id&name=isle+a+la+cache+museum+

Hours:
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday
Noon - 4:00 p.m., Sunday

http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/_museum/hours.html

Hours:
Tuesday - Friday 10am-4pm
Sunday 12-4pm

Admission:
FREE

MILLENNIUM PARK
Michigan Ave between Randolph and Monroe St
Chicago, IL
Welcome Center
201 E. Randolph Street
Northwest Exelon Pavilion
312-742-1168
http://www.millenniumpark.org

http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/

Hours:
park open daily from 6am - 11pm

Welcome Center
fall and winter open daily from 10am - 4pm
spring and summer open daily from 9am - 7pm

Admission:
is always FREE

Morton Arboretum
4100 Rte. 53
Lisle, IL 60532
630-719-2465
http://www.mortonarb.org/

http://www.mortonarb.org/general-information.html

MORTON ARBORETUM
Located 25 miles west of Chicago, the Morton Arboretum is home to1,700 acres of spectacular gardens, world-renowned plant collections and unique natural areas that can be viewed by car, on foot or via the open-air Acorn Express tram. Stop at the Visitor Center, where you can get tour information, grab a bite to eat or pick up a souvenir.

Arboretum Admission Fees
Adults $11 ($7 on Wednesday)
Seniors (65+) $10 ($6 on Wednesdays)
Youth (2-17) $8 ($5 on Wednesdays)
Under the age of 2 are FREE
Admission includes FREE parking!
Members always enter for free!
Free admission on Arbor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christams

http://www.museum.tv/museumsection.php?page=3

The MBC is closed to the public at this time as it prepares for its transition into its new home at State and Kinzie in downtown Chicago. The new MBC is scheduled to open late 2008, possibly early 2009.

Marion E. Wade Center
Wheaton College
NW corner of Washington & Lincoln
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-752-5908
http://www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter/

The Marion E. Wade Center of Wheaton College, Illinois is a major research collection of materials by and about seven British authors: Owen Barfield, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams.

The Wade Center is open to the general public as well as the Wheaton
College community. There is no admission fee to visit our museum or to use the resources of the Kilby Reading Room.

Regular Open Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

http://www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter/welcome/hours.html
check here for days they are closed

Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
312-280-2660
http://www.mcachicago.org/

http://www.mcachicago.org/information/general.php?page=g_info

Hours:
Tuesday 10 am - 8 pm
Wednesday through Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Admission:
FREE EVERY TUESDAY
Suggested General Admission $12
Students with ID and Senior Citizens $ 7
MCA Members and Children 12 and under, members of the military FREE

Museum of Science & Industry
57th Street &. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL
773-684-1414
http://www.msichicago.org

http://www.msichicago.org/visit-the-museum/museum-info/admission/

Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9:30am-4pm
Sunday: 11am-4pm

General admission will be free on the following dates:
January - 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29
February - 8, 14
March - 18
April - 19-23
May - 3
June - 7-11
August - 30
September - 7-14, 20-21, 27-28
October - 4-6
November - 11
December - 6

General admission does not include parking or entrance to Omnimax® and 3-D Theaters, U-505 on-board tour and BODY WORLDS 2.

Omnimax info: http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/omnimax-3d-theater/

National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 West 19th Street
Chicago, IL 60608
312-738-1503
www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/pages/visit.html

Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 10am-5pm

Admission:
FREE, donations welcome

The Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
773-755-5100
http://www.chias.org/

http://www.naturemuseum.org/index.php?id=104

Hours:
Monday through Friday – 9am-4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday – 10am-5pm

Admission:
Adults – $9
Seniors age 60+ and Students ages 13-22 (with valid student ID) – $7
Children ages 3-12 – $6
Thursdays –Suggested Donation Days
Nature Museum members – FREE
Suggested donation for Thursdays is $9 per adult
(applies to groups of less than 10).

Oriental Institute Museum
1155 East 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-9514
http://oi.uchicago.edu/

http://oi.uchicago.edu/visit/

Hours:
Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10am-6pm
Wed 10am-8:30pm
Sun 12-6:00 pm

Admission:
FREE
Suggested Donation: $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children under 12
If you plan on bringing a group of more than 10 people, please check with the Education/Volunteer Office at 773-702-9507 to avoid gallery congestion.

Settler's Pond
1301 East Offner Road
Beecher, IL  60401
708-946-2448
http://www.settlerspondshelter.net/home.shtml

http://www.settlerspondshelter.net/Events.html

Visit us from 10:00 a.m. until dusk Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. until dusk on Sundays.

Bring your group for and education and fun day at the Pond! Admission includes
our Indoor Petting Zoo, one feed cup, Mole Farm, Museum, Straw Maze Corn
Maze, Fiberglass Milking Cow, Seed Tables, Egg Display and Putt Putt Mini Golf.
Each child getsa pie pumpkin and each class recieves a large carving pumpkin.
Rides are $1 each and include the Barrel Train Ride, Wagon Ride and our
Carnival Rides.

Settler's is open for group outings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week

Shed Aquarium
1200 South Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-2438
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/discounts.html

Community Discount Days
On our Community Discount Days, general admission is free. Includes the Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, and the Caribbean Reef. Packages including Wild Reef, Polar Play Zone and Oceanarium are available at a discounted rate. Shedd's 52 discount days a year take advantage of civic and school holidays to make family visits more convenient.

Our Monday and Tuesday Community Discount Days in 2010 are:
Janurary - 4-5, 11-12, 25-26
February - 1-2, 8-9, 22-23
September - 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
October - 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
November - 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30

And take advantage of our Community Discount Weeks:
January 16-21
February 15-19
June 14-18

Smart Museum of Art
5550 S. Greenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-0200
http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/

http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/general/

Hours:
Tues, Wed, Fri 10am–4pm
Thurs 10am–8pm
Sat and Sun 11am–5pm

Admission:
FREE

Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies
610 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
312-322-1700
http://www.spertus.edu/

http://www.spertus.edu/visiting/index.php
 
FREE - an installation in the Spertus street level vestibule, can be viewed free of charge Sunday-Thursday 10am-5pm

Hours:
Sunday 10 am-5 pm
Monday-Weds. 8:30 am-6 pm
Thursday 8:30 am-7 pm
Friday 8:30 am-3 pm
 
Admission:
General admission: $7, Students and seniors: $5
Children under 5: FREE, Spertus members: FREE

Admission to the 9th and 10th floor galleries is: General: $7, Students and Seniors: $5, Spertus members and children under 5: Free

FREE for everyone:
Wednesdays - 10:00am-Noon
Thursdays - 2:00pm - 6:00pm

Swedish American Museum Center
5211 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640
773-728-8111
http://www.samac.org/

General Museum Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am-4pm

Children's Museum:
Monday-Thursday: 1pm-4pm
Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am-4pm

Hours:
Guided tours of Tinker Swiss Cottage are available Tuesday-Friday and Sunday at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 pm. Please allow at least 1 hour for the tour. The Museum is closed on Mondays and Saturdays.

Admission:
$5 Adults (18-64), $4 Seniors (65+), $3 students (5-17)
Free for TSCM members and for children ages 4 and younger.