Night Journeys

Besides having an awesome overnight staff team, our overnights are smaller than those at many other museums and are more focused on the hands-on programming and themes. Less time is dedicated for exploring the museum exhibits and grounds because it’s important to fill your time with the special activities and experiences that you can only get during an overnight.

Sample schedule:

• 5:15 pm – 6:00pm - Arrival and check-in
• 6:30 pm - Program begins including hands-on activities and evening snack
• 9:30 pm - Evening planetarium show
• 10:00 pm - Bedtime
  

• 7:00 am - Wake up and breakfast
• 8:00 am - Morning programming
• 9:15 am - Museum Gift Shop Opens
• 9:30 am - Check out

Guests who want more time to explore can easily do so by purchasing a $5 day pass in the morning. All guests under 18 also receive a return admissions pass to come back for free another day!

Guests will sleep inside among the exhibits on the museum floor. Guests are welcome to bring air mattresses for comfort. Youth must sleep within sight of their caregivers, and a few lights will be left on at all times for safety. For groups that are part of single-gender programs and want to sleep in a designated area, please let our team know when making your reservation.

When packing, please bring what you need to be comfortable sleeping on the floor in a variety of temperatures. Like many other old buildings, our building has variable temperatures, so we suggest dressing in layers for your stay. Please check the weather forecast and bring clothing appropriate for going outside in the predicted conditions. 

Do Bring: Pajamas, a flashlight, toothbrush, an extra layer, sleeping bag, pillow, and air mattress. Stuffed animals are welcome!

Do Not Bring: Straws, balloons, toy weapons, pets, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, fireworks, firearms, or other weapons or restricted substances.

Please do not arrive before 5:15 pm for your overnight stay, as our staff will be closing the Museum to the public. After 5:15, you are welcome to start exploring as soon as you have dropped off your gear and checked in. Night Journey guests who wish to explore the museum before 5:00 pm are welcome to purchase museum day passes on-site at the gate for $5 per person. Those with day passes will be able to explore the museum from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Overnight participants are also welcome to purchase next day passes for the morning after their overnight for $5 per person on the morning of the program.

Every group attending a group overnight, must have at least one adult chaperone present for every five guests under 18 years of age. Chaperones are expected to stay with the youth they are responsible for at all times in order to assist them with activities and enforce behavioral expectations. Once you make your group reservation we will send you a chaperone guide to share with all adults attending the overnight.

Night Journeys are open to a maximum of 80 participants, and the Museum is shared amongst all groups who have booked for a given night. Private Night Journeys are available for a flat rate of $4,800. All Night Journeys programs are staffed by our amazing co-ed team of Night Journey program instructors who stay overnight at the Museum in a designated staff sleeping area.

Small groups are welcome and encouraged to register. We will prioritize scheduling additional groups on your selected dates so that your program is able to run. A Night Journey session will only run if there are at least 40 participants registered for the session. 

Groups will be notified at least one month in advance of the program if there is insufficient enrollment. If this is the case, we will work with you to find a different night that works for your group or issue a full refund (including deposit).

To guarantee that your Night Journey will run, groups of fewer than 40 guests are encouraged to reach out to other similar groups in their community to reach a combined total of 40 guests for their reservation. Alternatively, a group may choose to pay for 40 guests, despite knowing that fewer will attend the overnight, in order to secure a particular date.

Scouting America or Girl Scout groups of fewer than 40 are encouraged to make a reservation for one of our scout-specific nights.

A 50% deposit is required at time of reservation. Final payment is due 5 weeks before your Night Journey. No changes may be made to your reservation after this time. All payments are non-refundable.

Yes! Any group of people is welcome to attend a Night Journey. Girl Scouts Nights and Scouting America Nights are our only events closed to non-scouting groups.

Troops who merely require a physical division (i.e. a closed door or a separate floor of the building) between their Girl Scouts and other co-ed groups during sleeping hours are encouraged to share this requirement in our Registration Request Form. 

Troops who wish to attend a Girl Scouts Only overnight are encouraged to register for one of our Girl Scouts Night events or which are specifically offered for Girl Scouts. Groups may also book a private Night Journey for up to 80 Girl Scouts.

All Night Journeys programs are staffed by our amazing co-ed team of Night Journey program instructors who stay overnight at the Museum in a designated staff sleeping area.

Yes! Patches may be purchased at the Gift Shop in the morning after your Night Journey for $3.00 plus tax.