Bring your family, students, scouts, or youth group on a unique overnight adventure.
Enjoy a night of hands-on thematic programming and exploration! Designed for groups of children ages 5-14, overnights at the EcoTarium are educational, interactive, and FUN!
A Night Journey is a special overnight program at the EcoTarium focused on a scientific theme. Guests will engage in hands-on science, see live animals, and sleep among the exhibits! All youth attending will receive a free admission pass to return to the museum for a future visit. Night Journey program costs include an evening snack and simple breakfast for all participants. Night Journey evening programming concludes with a planetarium show.
COVID- 19 Guidelines for Night Journeys:
- All Night Journey participants both youth and adults, need to show proof of full vaccination status. Participants will be considered fully vaccinated if they have received the initial dose(s) and a booster within 14 days of becoming eligible. Proof of vaccination can be submitted via email to overnight@ecotarium.org. Any participants who are not fully vaccinated will need to have a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before the program and submit a negative result either via email or presented when they arrive.
- Upon arrival at the EcoTarium, all Night Journey participants, youth and adults, will receive from the EcoTarium a rapid COVID test. All participants are required to administer the rapid test in their vehicle and bring the negative test into check in.
- As listed on our website under health and safety guidelines, masks are recommended indoors for all museum guests to reduce the risk of transmission while exploring the museum’s fun interactive exhibits and programs. Your mask should cover your nose and mouth at all times except when actively eating and drinking in designated areas. The EcoTarium provides complimentary, disposable masks.
- All Night Journey program payments are non-refundable. Please submit final attendance numbers and payment four weeks prior to your reservation date. Additional adjustments to number attending may not be accommodated after this time. Staffing and supplies are based on your reported attendance numbers and are secured in advance to ensure that you have an enjoyable experience. If a member of your group is unable to attend the scheduled night journey for whatever reason, you may transfer their enrollment to another person.
If a member of your group has tested positive for COVID and you do not transfer their enrollment to another person, the person who has tested positive will receive a family pass to visit the EcoTarium at a later date.
Group leaders should share all of this information with participants before arriving for their Night Journey.
When: September through June on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.
Required Group Size: Night Journey programs can only run with a minimum attendance of 35 guests (youth and adults) or more. Groups of 60 or more guests are guaranteed a private Night Journey program if they choose. Groups smaller than 35 guests are welcome and encouraged to register, however program delivery is dependent on additional enrollment from other groups. Groups will be notified at least one month in advance of their program if there is insufficient enrollment. All Night Journey programs are co-ed except for requested private events and Girls Night Out.
Age requirement and ratio: 5 years of age or older. Minimum required ratio for all group Night Journey programs is one adult for every five youth.
Family Night Events, each family group must have a min of one youth and one adult.
Schedule:
- 5:15 p.m. – Arrival and check-in begins
- 6:30 p.m. – Programming begins
- 10:00 p.m. – Bedtime
- 7:00 a.m. – Wake up and breakfast
- 8:00 a.m. – Morning programming
- 9:30 a.m. – Check out
Sleeping Accommodations: Overnight guests will be sleeping on the floor among the museum exhibits – please plan accordingly.
$60 per person. Prices apply to youth and adults.
$1.50 each - Optional Night Journey Experience Patches (paid in advance with reservation).
$5 per person - Same Day or Morning After Museum Admission. Guests may choose to come before their Night Journey or stay for the following day to further explore the EcoTarium (paid in advance at time of reservation or next morning for next day passes only).
Estimate your group size and consider some possible dates on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
Email us at reservations@ecotarium.org or call 508.929.2703 to reserve your date at least 45 days in advance. A $150 non-refundable deposit is required at booking. Many dates fill quickly, so reserve early.
Final number of youth and adults for your program and the remaining balance is due no later than 4 weeks prior to your overnight. Please note, your request for a group size change may not be accommodated if the maximum capacity for the night has been reached or if numbers go below the minimum of 35 participants required to run the event.
Family Nights - Bring the kids, your curiosity, and your sleeping gear! Our Family Night events are designed to give small groups of 6 or fewer and their caregivers a chance to enjoy a Night Journey experience. Meet new friends, explore, and sleep among the exhibits!
Family Night Out Dates:
Nov 11, 2022
Feb 18, 2023
April 15, 2023
Nov 04, 2023
Girls and Boys Night Outs - Does your Troop or Pack have a smaller number of members? Are they excited about spending the night at the EcoTarium? Girls Night Out and Boys Night Out Events are just for you! These events are specifically designed for either Girl Scout Troops or Boys Scout groups to attend as a small group.
Your Troop or Pack will enjoy a Night Journey with other Troops or Packs from the area. It's all the fun of our typical Night Journeys without the need for your group to meet the guest minimum!
Girls Night Out Events are for Girl Scouts only.
Boys Night Out Events are co-ed since packs may be boys only, girls only, or co-ed.
Girls Night Out Dates
Nov 5, 2022
Dec 09, 2022
Jan 6, 2023
March 11, 2023
Nov 18, 2023
Boys Night Out Dates
Nov 18, 2022
Jan 14, 2023
March 17, 2023
Nov 4, 2023
Night Journey groups will be able to enjoy one of the following themes during their program. Group leaders are welcome to share their theme preferences with us before their final payment is due.
Crimes, Codes, & Clues
A night of plot twists and intrigue! Solve an animal-centered mystery using logic, fingerprints, DNA, and codes!
Stars & Space
Zip around the solar system in our planetarium, explore Mars, and land your own spacecraft on the red planet! Observe the constellations and, weather permitting, take a look through a telescope!
Science for Wizards
Explore the scientific method and use science to feel like a wizard as you attend 'classes' in some of your favorite magical subjects, such as potions and astronomy! Non-magic folk are welcome. Wands and robes are encouraged but not required.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Night Journeys stand out in several ways! 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. The museum and grounds will be there for you to explore another time. Guests who want more time to explore can easily do so with our Museum Day Add-On option, and all guests under 18 receive a return admissions pass to come back for free another day!
We limit our overnights to around 80 guests per night.
Any group of 35 people or more is welcome to attend a Night Journey! Night Journeys are co-ed, all-ages (5+) events! Girl’s Night Out is our only event that is specific to Girl Scouts only.
Groups smaller than 35 guests are welcome and encouraged to register, however, program delivery is dependent on additional enrollment from other groups.
School and youth groups of fewer than 35 are encouraged to reach out to other similar groups in their community to reach a combined total of 35 guests for their reservation. Alternatively, a group may choose to pay for 35 guests, despite knowing that fewer will attend the overnight, in order to qualify for a reservation.
Boy Scout or Girl Scout groups of fewer than 35 are invited to make a reservation for one of our Night Out events.
Groups will be notified at least one month in advance of the program if there is insufficient enrollment and we will find a different night that works for your group.
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 with to our Reservations Department (508.929.2703 or reservations@ecotarium.org) at time of reservation.
Troops who wish to attend a Girl Scouts Only overnight are encouraged to register for one of our Girls’ Night Out events, which are specifically offered for Girl Scouts and have no minimum group size for registration.
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 be sending you a chaperone guide to share with all adults attending the overnight.
A $150 non-refundable deposit is required at time of reservation. The next payment (50% of final total) is due the Friday 6 weeks prior to your event. The final payment (remaining balance) is due the Friday 4 weeks prior to your event. No changes may be made to your reservation after this time.
Please do not arrive before 5:15 pm for your overnight stay. After 5:15, you are welcome to start exploring the museum 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 for $5 a person but must be reserved ahead of time. 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 a person either before their overnight or the morning of the program.
Guests will sleep inside among the exhibits on the museum floor. For safety, youth must sleep within sight of their caregivers and a few lights will be left on at all times. For groups that are part of single sex programs and want to sleep in a designated area please let our reservation team know when making your reservation.
As part of your confirmation packet once registered you will receive more comprehensive FAQs and additional information about the event. If you have any additional questions or are ready to book your Night Journey, please email reservations@ecotarium.org or call 508-929-2700.