Rules and Tour Information

We are very excited about your visit to the National Environmental Museum and Education Center!

• Museum rules
• Museum tours and in-person programs
• Information for group chaperones

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Museum Rules

Please share the following requests with your group before your arrival – for your protection and for the protection of the artifacts and exhibit:

• No eating, drinking, chewing gum, or eating candy in the museum.
• No running or rough playing when in the museum. The museum artifacts are irreplaceable!
• Do not lean on the exhibit cases or use the exhibit cases as writing surfaces.
• You are welcome to take photographs, but no flash photography! Bright lights will damage the artifacts.
• You are welcome to touch those objects where you are invited to do so.
• Keep your voices down so that other visitors can enjoy the museum.

Museum Tours and In-person Programs

NEMEC easily lends itself to self-guided tours for individuals or small groups.

Museum tours and in-person programs are currently available to school, community, and cultural groups Tuesday through Thursday with prior reservation. Groups must have a minimum of eight people and cannot exceed 30 people. Tour participants must be at least 10 years old or in the fifth grade. Tours and in-house programs are only available at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Weekend tours and programs are not available. The museum asks that groups planning to schedule a tour, or a program make a reservation at least one month in advance.

Please email NEMEC@epa.gov to schedule a museum tour or request a program.

Information for Group Chaperones

Please assign at least one chaperone (age 18 or older) for each group of 10 students. To make the most of your group’s visit to the National Environmental Museum and Education Center, please remind chaperones of their responsibilities:

1. Discuss student behavior and expectations before arriving at the museum.
2. Please leave backpacks and large bags in the buses or cars.
3. Encourage students to visit the public restrooms in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center prior to visiting the museum as there are no public restrooms located in the museum area.
4. Follow your group closely; keep them together and attentive.
5. Encourage the students to keep voices down so as not to disturb other visitors.
6. Be aware of any disruptive or unusual behavior and act upon it as soon as it occurs.
7. Do not allow eating, drinking, chewing gum, or eating candy in the museum.
8. Discourage students from leaning on exhibit cases and do not allow them to use exhibit cases as writing surfaces.
9. Discourage students from loitering in the lobby.
10. Please keep the students engaged during the visit.
11. Help promote or start discussions with your docent.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to your visit.