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 upon 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 a blue card, workshop materials, and admission to the museum for the participants prior to or after the workshop.

Registration and Group Size

All Merit Badge workshops require a minimum of 10 students with a maximum of 50 scouts. All Scouts must register in advance. One week prior to the event, workshops with less than ten students may be canceled at the discretion of museum staff. 

Transportation

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

Prerequisites

Badge workshops may require prerequisites before the workshop. Please check for any prerequisites under the class description, along with the resources to complete them. All prerequisites must be brought with students the day of programming and are at the discretion of badge counselors.

Failure to complete or submit the required prerequisites may result in not receiving a blue card.

Day of Program

Check-in begins 30 minutes before your workshop begins. If you are attending both the morning and afternoon sessions, you do not need to check in a second time.

Workshops last for three (3) hours with a one (1) hour break between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Please note the Nebraska History Museum does not have a cafeteria. The museum does not allow outside food and drink in the building. There are a variety of quick restaurants located around the museum. Students who pack a lunch may eat outside on Centennial Mall. In case of inclement weather, contact Museum Education staff for indoor alternatives.

Chaperones and Families

Parents are not required to stay on-site with their students but are highly encouraged to. Students must be accompanied by either a parent or troop leader. 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 proper behavior of the students during the workshop program

If the maximum number of registrations has not been met, 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 their workbook
• a notebook
• a reusable water bottle (snacks are not permitted.)

Behavior

Scouts, troop leaders, and chaperones 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).