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TOURS

School tours are offered to grades K-12.Guided tours are approximately 45 minutes. Groups less than 60 can either choose a 45-minute guided tour or choose a Extended Tour option.

Groups of more than 60 students must schedule for a second 45-minute Extended Tour. Our maximum per day is 120 students. If you have more than 120 students, two separate days must be booked. We suggest the following tours:

Students K-3rd Grade

Every Picture Tells A Story Explore seven regions to see how American Indian artists reflect their environments in their art work in this interactive gallery. Each environmental region features a story as well as an activity that reinforces the importance of the relationships between land, animals and people.

Students 4th-6th Grade

HOME: Native People in the Southwest The Heard's permanent exhibition combines more than 2,000 of the museum's finest pieces to tell stories--past and present--of Southwestern Native people. See a spectacular display of Hopi Katsina dolls, a Navajo hogan and Pueblo horno.

We Are! Arizona’s First People Located the Ullman Learning Center, this exhibit is the only gallery display in the state to include all 21 of Arizona's federally recognized tribal communities. In their own voices, Arizona's native people explain their histories, cultures and futures.

Students 7th-12th Grade

Highlights of the Heard Museum allows students to visit all current galleries for a brief description of each (click here for a list of current exhibitions). Students learn about each exhibit’s theme, and one or two artifacts in detail.

EXTENDED TOURS

If you tour in either HOME: Native People in the Southwest or We Are! Arizona’s First People, choose one of the following additional 45-minute tours:

Highlights of the Heard Museum

If you tour in Every Picture Tells A Story, choose one of the following additional 45-minute tours:

Highlights of the Heard Museum

HOME: Native People in the Southwest

BOOKING

School tours for students require a minimum three-week advance booking and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is a $20 guided tour fee per 60 students for each school tour.
Complimentary admission is offered for the students or adults/chaperones.
Pick three potential days that work with your school calendar.
Groups opting for the 45-minute tour have start times of 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Groups booking for an Extended Tour (90 minutes) have a start time of 10:30 a.m. only.

Be prepared with the following information:

School Contact Name:

Cell Phone Number:

E-mail Address:

School Name:

School Phone Number:

School Fax Number:

School District:

School Address:
Street:

City, State, Zip Code:

Date/Time Requested:

Grade Level:

Student Count:

Adult Count:

Type of Tour:

BEFORE YOUR VISIT

You will receive a tour confirmation form via email and a packet from the Heard Museum’s School Liaison Committee via mail.

This packet will contain:

Name badge templates to copy and give to each student. Please ensure that each student wears his or her badge at all times while at the museum.
Expect a call from a volunteer Lead guide assigned to your school group a few days prior to your field trip. The guide will confirm your tour(s) and the number of students and adults in the group. At this time, please let your volunteer Lead guide know if you are emphasizing a particular theme in class. Advance discussion is essential to the success of your tour and will assist in overall student comprehension.
Tell the volunteer Lead guide about any special needs. Do any of the children have disabilities? Are there children in your class who do not speak English? We can make your tour enjoyable if special considerations are requested in advance.

Adult Chaperones

Chaperones are admitted free with the group and are expected to assist with the tour by keeping discipline and ensuring the group stays together. Chaperones are required to stay with the group at all times. An adult with a baby or small child is not considered an adult chaperone.

Grade 7 and below:

One adult for every 7 students is required.

Grade 8 and above:

One adult for every 10 students is required.

ARRIVING FOR YOUR TOUR

Buses must enter the museum from Central Avenue and pull up by the bus bay along the Dorrance Education Center. Do not enter from Monte Vista Road. Student should exit the bus and meet their volunteer lead guide at this point.
Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to your tour. If you anticipate a late arrival, please call 602.252.8840 and dial 0 as soon as possible to reach the Admissions Desk.
Lunches, backpacks, etc. will be left in the Dorrance Education Center. This is also the place where students will re-board the bus.
Restrooms are located in the Dorrance Education Center.
Backpacks and large carry sacks are not allowed in the galleries. If you need to carry a child’s medicine into the museum, a small paper sack will be available at the Admissions Desk.
Due to space limitations, school groups are not permitted in the Heard Museum Shop and Bookstore.
No Flash, video light or tripods are allowed in the galleries.

LUNCH

Children can eat their lunches in several grassy areas including the Scott L. Libby, Jr. Amphitheater. If you have stored your coolers in the Dorrance Education Center before your tour, the guide will provide access to the room once the tour is complete. We ask that schools groups do not use the Courtyard Cafe tables.

CANCELLATIONS

To cancel your visit, please call at least 24 hours in advance. If you fail to make contact or leave a message with the Education Tour Coordinator at 602.251.0262, you will be charged a $25 cancellation fee.