Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be leading my students around the Museum?
Field trips are guided by Museum docents, volunteers who have been trained in-depth on history and tour techniques.
The week before your tour, a docent will call you to confirm your field trip and gather background information. Docents are not able to accept or handle any changes you request. These requests must be submitted in writing to the Education Department.
Can my students hear a speaker during our visit?
Yes, we will try to offer all students in grades 6 and above the opportunity to hear from a survivor or eyewitness during their field trip whenever possible. While we will do our best to include a speaker as part of your scheduled field trip, we cannot make any guarantees. The stories of our local survivors are also woven throughout the Karkomi Permanent Exhibition through videos and artifacts.
Please do NOT submit a separate Speakers' Bureau request form if you are booking a field trip to the Museum.
Younger visitors will have the opportunity to hear age-appropriate testimonies in the "Survivor Stories" section of Make a Difference: The Harvey L. Miller Family Youth Exhibition.
My school cannot afford a field trip. Can you help?
The Museum is pleased to be able to provide a limited number of IHMEC Opportunity Scholarships to support field trip expenses for qualified Illinois schools during the 2012-2013 academic year. The program enables us to offer subsidies for transportation and/or admission to the Museum for students and chaperones. For details on the program and how to apply, visit the Opportunity Scholarships page.
I hear it's hard to get in for a field trip. How do I know if you have room?
The Education Department revised its field trip options to accommodate more students at more times, according to feedback we received from teachers and schools. Still, we recommend planning in advance for the largest selection of dates and times.
Please view our IHMEC Field Trip Availability for a list of dates through the end of the school year, along with the number of students we can accommodate per tour type on each of those dates.
After I receive a confirmation letter, what should I do to prepare for my field trip?
Please thoroughly read and review our Pre-Visit Information sheet, which will be e-mailed to you along with your field trip confirmation (10-15 business days after registering). This sheet contains vital information and instructions regarding your students’ visit. Additional Pre-Visit Information, such as the Chaperone Guide and suggested classroom activities, is also available for you to download.
Skokie, IL