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de Saisset Museum

Tour Prep

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. 
  • Please note that Santa Clara University does charge for cars to park on campus. You will scan a QR code to pay through an app (learn more). 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 by 10 a.m. 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. Our contemporary exhibitions may vary. 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.
  • The focus of your tour will be on Ohlone heritage, Mission history, and the interactions between cultures. We also briefly introduce students to one of our contemporary art exhibitions so they can see the range of what a museum can offer -- and when applicable, our docents help students draw thematic connections between this exhibition and the remainder of your tour.

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.

Staying for Other Activities

  • If you are planning to stay on campus for other activities after your tour please let us know --- we cannot coordinate tours or visits beyond our own docent-led tour, however, it is helpful to know your plans and we can help direct you to the right colleague if there are other spaces you are hoping to see while you are one campus.