Field Trips

Although the venues at Thanksgiving Point offer a wide variety of activities, we encourage all teachers to come on a field trip with a purpose for their students to learn something new. Please view the following resources to help prepare for your field trip:

• Field Trip policy available HERE

Download the following maps for driving directions to our five venues:

• Museum of Ancient Life
• Farm Country
• Butterfly Biosphere
• Museum of Natural Curiosity
• Ashton Gardens

If you are coming BY BUS

Please stay on the bus. A Thanksgiving Point Team Member will come on board and provide instructions for the students.

• A team member will escort the main teacher inside to complete the check-in process and complete the final payment. (Same as individual cars)

If you are coming in INDIVIDUAL CARS

• Please have your group gather outside the main entrance of the venue
• One staff will escort the main teacher inside to complete the check-in with final numbers of students and adults for final payment
• One staff will stay to give information and distribute wrist-bands before being admitted to the venue.

The 50% deposit must be paid by a date determined by the Education Department. A receipt is sent via email with the field trip confirmation and the contract.

• The remaining balance must be paid on the day of the field trip at the venue and will be based on the actual number of students (and adults for Discovery Field Trips).

• Early payments on the remaining balance are not accepted. The final payment must be paid on the day of the field trip at the venue.

• Deposits can be paid for with cash, a credit card (via phone), or with a check from the school

• A receipt for the deposit will be sent to the teacher (& school secretary) via email with the field trip contract document

• A $20 processing fee applies to all refunds.

• Ratio Requirements are as follows for all field trips:
  • PK-6 Grade: 1:4 ratio
  • 7-8 Grade: 1:10 ratio
  • 9-12 Grade: 1:10 ratio
  • CEE Field Trips: 1:10 ratio
  • Mammoth Movie Theater: one free adult per class
  • Special Needs students: up to a 1:1 ratio if needed with prior notice
• Groups that arrive without the required ratio will jeopardize their admission to the venue.
• Extra chaperones beyond the ratio requirement for Explorer, Explorer Plus, and CEE Field Trips will be charged $6 per person (must be paid in a single transaction).
• Chaperones are expected to supervise and engage with the students at all times during the field trip.

• You may select the Explorer field trip rate under High School
• $4 per preschool student and high school student
• One free adult per class
• All other policies apply

Home School and Online School Days are back! Visit our venues on designated days and receive a special admission price.

LEARN MORE

We can allow up to a 1:1 ratio for adults (free) to special needs students with prior notice (include in Notes on request form or call 801-768-4971).

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Thanksgiving Point does not have any official place for large groups to eat lunch.

• Public parks near Thanksgiving Point are a good alternative to eating on property. These areas have table, pavilions and playgrounds. Here are some local parks you might want to look into:
  • Olympic Park – 2650 W Parkside Dr, Lehi
  • Greens Park – 1832 W 1600 N St, Lehi
  • Bandwagon Park – 900 N 300 W, Lehi
  • Bluffdale Lions Park – 14400 S, Bluffdale
• The cafes and restaurants cannot accommodate field trip groups.
• If you do choose to eat on property, please bring garbage bags to throw your trash away and then ask a staff member where dumpsters are located.

• Butterfly Biosphere Field Trip lunch area:
  • Schools are welcome to eat in the open area behind the Butterfly Biosphere.
  • Schools may eat lunch in the amphitheater behind the Butterfly Biosphere (in the Brick Canvas area).
  • Bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.
  • Ask staff for locations of dumpsters.

• Museum of Ancient Life Field Trip lunch area:
  • There is a cement area out front of the museum or a grassy tree area down by the big red barn that could work for eating lunches.
  • You may eat on the second-floor mezzanine area of the lobby of the museum with prior notice BUT you must eat on the floor in the area with the mural paintings and NOT in the walk space by the elevator, restrooms, or doors to our department office.
  • Please bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.

• Farm Country Field Trip lunch area:
  • There is not enough space or enough trash cans in Farm Country to accommodate large groups for lunch.
  • Field trips are welcome to eat their lunch in the open field area across the street from the main entrance or other open areas around Farm Country.
  • Bring your own trash bags. Ask staff the location of the dumpster to dispose of trash.
  • Do not feed the animals your lunch food.
  • There is no place to eat indoors.

• Museum of Natural Curiosity Field Trip lunch area:
  • There is NO place to eat inside the Museum or the Discovery Garden.
  • There is NO food allowed in the Museum or the Discovery Garden
  • Please do not try to eat in the lobby. You will be asked to relocate.
  • There are a few picnic tables and a grassy area across the parking lot of the Museum which schools may use
  • Bring your own trash bags and clean up thoroughly.
  • Ask staff for location of dumpsters

• Ashton Gardens Field Trip lunch area:
  • Schools are welcome to eat on the large lawn area in front of the entrance of the main building.
  • There is no space to store lunches
  • The dumpsters are located on the west end of the Greenhouse (ask staff for location if needed)