Scout Workshops Policies

Registration

Cost

Merit Badge workshops are $10 per Scout and a $5 regular admission fee per adult. Troop leaders are admitted at no charge. Payment is due at check-in for both scouts and adults. Payments can be made via cash, card, Apple Pay, etc. Please note that the Museum does not accept American Express.

Program fees include workshop materials, and admission to the museum for participants after the workshop.

Registration and Group Size

All Scouts must register in advance. Please see each workshop page to know how far in advance is required, as it varies. Canceling workshops due to weather, staffing levels, or workshop registration is left to the discretion of museum staff. Merit Badge workshops with fewer than 10 registrants may be canceled. Scouts will be notified if the workshop is cancelled three (3) days in advance, when possible.

Transportation

There are no dedicated parking spots at the Nebraska History Museum. Metered parking and parking garages are available around downtown Lincoln.

Meter parking is $1.50 per hour. You can pay for meter parking with coins, and meters over a 2-hour time limit will accept card payments. You may also pay using the Passport app. Please note that while not a guarantee, our visitor services team can provide change up to $2.

City parking garages are free for the first hour, then $1.50/hour, but will not exceed $13.50. More information about parking options in downtown Lincoln can be found here.

Saturday bus services are available via StarTran. The closest two stops are “P and 11th Street” and “N and Centennial Mall.” Both of these stops will require you to walk a few blocks to the museum.

Workshop Programming

Pre-Work Policies

Badge workshops require pre-work that Scouts must complete if they wish to earn their blue card. You will find pre-work assignments under each workshop, along with the resources to complete them. All pre-work must be completed prior to the workshop unless otherwise arranged with the Education Team. All work is at the discretion of badge counselors.

Failure to complete the required pre-work may result in not receiving a blue card.

Day of Program

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Nebraska History Museum, located at 131 Centennial Mall. Workshops will take place at the Nebraska History Museum unless otherwise communicated when registering. Workshops will last three (3) hours from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Nebraska History Museum does not allow food, and any drinks must remain in the classroom spaces.

Chaperones and Families

Parents are not required to stay on-site with their students but are highly encouraged to. If parents do not stay on site, their child must be accompanied by their troop leader. The troop leader is responsible for ensuring the safety and behavior of the students during the workshop.

Non-Scout siblings 5 years old and older may stay for the workshop only if a parent remains at the museum for the duration of the workshop. Non-scout siblings are expected to pay the $5 admission. If siblings become a distraction to the program, they will be asked to leave with no refund provided.

Museum Policies

Materials

Uniforms are not required for Scouts but are encouraged. Scouts are also encouraged to bring the following:

• a pen or pencil to complete a workbook (optional)
• a notebook
• a reusable water bottle (snacks are not permitted.)

Behavior

Scouts, troop leaders, and family members are expected to act in a respectful manner. Groups that damage museum property, use disrespectful language or are not accurately supervised will be asked to leave the museum and will not be provided a refund.

Gift Shop

Students must be accompanied by an adult when shopping in the museum gift shop. If parents or troop leaders would like to restrict students from shopping in the gift shop museum, they are responsible for setting and enforcing the expectations with their student(s).