Walker School Program - Guided School Tours

Let our expert Museum Educators guide your students through an unforgettable learning experience! Guided tours typically last one hour and, like all of our tours, are available throughout the year. Tours primarily use a process of student-centered exploration that is designed to deepen critical thinking and discussion skills. That process allows each tour to be conducted at the appropriate level for the class while still promoting student growth.

Thanks to the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, we offer reimbursement for transportation and a substitute to every school that signs up. Additionally, we can provide a free, nutritious sack lunch for each student.

Browse our catalog of preset and custom tour options offered throughout the year.

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How early should we book an in-gallery guided tour?

• We encourage you to schedule your school tour visit as early as possible. In-gallery guided tours should be booked two weeks in advance. Slots fill quickly.

Are private schools and charter schools eligible for reimbursements and lunch?

• Yes! Any K-12 group, of any state, is eligible for the funding. Please, complete and submit the reimbursement form. Organizations associated with the school, such as an art club, also qualify. Community groups such as scouts do not qualify.

Will our entire group take the tour together?

• To provide a more personal experience for the students, groups are asked to divide into small groups of 15-20 students with 1-2 chaperones. Instructions for dividing groups are mailed to your school a few weeks prior to your tour. Occasionally changes to the number of groups may need to be made on arrival, so please be flexible.

What accommodations can I request for special needs?

• We welcome all school groups, including students with disabilities, English language learners, and alternative learning students. Some accommodations available include EnChroma glasses, multisensory tours, braille labels, Spanish translations, assisted listening devices, and ASL interpretation. Please let us know about any accommodation requests at least one week prior to your visit. Additional accommodations can be made upon request.

Does the tour include the whole museum?

• School groups discuss 4-5 specific works of art related to the theme of the chosen tour. No museum overview is included. Temporary exhibitions also are not included, unless the tour focuses specifically on the exhibition.

Are activities planned for after lunch?

• We offer a new Workshop Add-On after a guided group completes their tour and lunch, which includes artmaking activities and/or age-appropriate demonstrations. Please indicate your interest in this when you book your tour.

Can students explore the galleries on their own after the tour?

• If your group decides to explore the museum after the educational program, they are welcome to do so, but they need to remain in their small groups and must be chaperoned throughout the museum.

Need additional assistance? Please reach out to School.Programs@CrystalBridges.org.

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