Before Your Visit
Send Proof of Insurance
All field trip groups must provide evidence of insurance in advance of the tour. Please talk directly to your school administrator to obtain proper evidence. If you have questions, or if your group does not have proper insurance coverage, please let the museum know and we will try to assist.
More information on required coverage»
Coordinate Chaperones
The de Saisset Museum requires one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones must remain with the group for the duration of the tour and are responsible for monitoring the group's behavior.
Prepare Nametags
Please provide each student, chaperone, and teacher with a visible nametag. Nametags will assist our docents with interactive conversation throughout the tour and help ensure your group's safety while they are on SCU's campus.
Organize Subgroups
Please divide your group into 3 subgroups and distribute chaperones as evenly as possible. Each group will be assigned a docent upon arrival. You may wish to consider designating groups with a number, symbol, or color on their nametags.
Upon Arrival
- If possible, please leave all personal belongings on the bus or in personal vehicles. Santa Clara University is not responsible for the loss or damage of personal property belonging to your group's members.
- All vehicles should arrive through the University's main entrance. Please stop at the Campus Safety kiosk for information on where to park and to obtain a temporary parking permit. A small fee will be charged for cars to park on campus. We encourage you to allow at least 15 minutes to walk from parking to the museum.
- Please plan to arrive at the museum's front entrance promptly at 10 a.m., unless scheduled otherwise. Our docents provide very full tours and need to utilize the full 1.5 hour time allotted in order to cover everything.
- Please encourage students to use restrooms before arriving for the tour as the museum's restroom facilities are limited.
- Please encourage students to have a snack before arriving to the museum so they are ready to actively engage with the tour.
During the Tour
- Please remember that Santa Clara is an active campus and classes are in session. Kindly encourage your group to maintain a reasonable and respectful volume while at SCU.
- Food, drinks, and gum are prohibited while in the museum and Mission Church.
- Photography without a flash is permissible in the museum's California Stories exhibition and in the Mission Church. However, we ask that your group refrain from taking pictures during the tour as it can be distracting to the other participants.
- Please refrain from touching the artwork and artifacts in the museum and Mission, unless instructed to do so by a docent.
- The Mission Church is an active place of worship and there may be individuals present during your tour. Please be respectful of their time for prayer or reflection.
Staying for Lunch
- Your group is welcome to stay on SCU's campus for lunch.
- There are limited picnic areas available on campus due to the proximity of classrooms. Your docent can assist you with locating the designated picnic areas.
- On nice days, groups may lunch on the steps to the old boy's chapel, located on the far side of the old Mission cemetery.
- During inclement weather, groups may utilize the covered walkway near the Adobe Wall for lunch.
- We ask that you please dispose of all picnic trash responsibly.