Bayou Bend School Tours
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Make the world your classroom with a free visit to Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Visits to Bayou Bend can help your students learn about American history, art, science and more. We will gladly help you plan a visit that will meet your learning objectives and your student’s needs; school programs are designed to support TEKS and best practices in informal learning.
Deciding to Visit
How do we make a reservation?
Call us at 713.639.7750 or e-mail bayoubend@mfah.orgto begin the reservation process. We request reservations for self-guided groups as sometimes the house is closed for special programs or maintenance.
When can we visit?
Guided programs are offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings except during August. Self-guided visits to the historic house are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and every day during August.
Who can visit?
Students of all ages are invited to visit the Kilroy Visitor Center and the Bayou Bend gardens. Guided programs at the historic house are appropriate for students ages 10 and up.
How many students can participate?
The field trip is most appropriate for groups of up to 72 people.
What is the cost?
School visits to Bayou Bend are FREE. Limited bus scholarship funds are available—contact staff for application details.
How long does the visit last?
Most school visits last about 2 hours, from 9:30-11:30 a.m., including a tour of the house and an activity at the Kilroy Center.
What will we do when we visit?
Choose among--
Guided programs:
- Students will spend about an hour visiting the American history collection in groups of about six with trained volunteers. They will learn and talk about how the objects in the collection reflect life in the past.
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The other half of the program takes place in the Kilroy Visitor Center classrooms. Subject to availability, teachers may select between:
- Costume Presentation: Volunteers in colonial costume talk about what people wore in the mid-1700s and how it reflected daily life. (Most appropriate for 5th graders)
- Two Ways of Living: Docents lead an interactive conversation with audiovisual and tactile materials about the differences and similarities between life in Massachusetts and life in Virginia in the years of early settlement. (Supports 8th grade TEKS)
Custom Programs:
- Bayou Bend can provide a tour that reflects your class’s special interests, from advanced American history to architecture to paintings. Call us at 713.639.7762 to discuss a customized program.
Self-Guided Tours:
- Bayou Bend welcomes your class for a self-guided visit to Bayou Bend. The gardens are available for self-touring Tuesday through Sunday, and the house is open for self-guided tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. (Please note—house tours are most appropriate for students over age 10.)
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On a self-guided visit, you might
- Sketch or paint in the gardens
- Browse the children’s book collection (request at the time of your reservation).
- Visit the gift shop
- Use Bayou Bend as a site for nature study
- Practice outdoor photography
How does this visit support the TEKS?
TEKS:
In 5th Grade, the Bayou Bend Field Trip can support:
History 1.A, B; 2.A ; 4.A, F, G; Geography 7.A, 8.A; Economics 10.B, 11.B; 14 A-E; Citizenship 18.A;
Culture 22.A, B, 23 A-C; Science 24.A-C
In 8th grade, the Bayou Bend Field Trip can support:
History 1.A, B, C; 2.B; 4.A, B; 5.A; 8.5; 8.6; 8.7; 8.9; Geography 8.11.A, B, C; 8.12 A,B,C; Economics 8.13
A, C; 8.14.B; 8.15.A,B; Citizenship 8.21.A, B; 8.23.A, B; Culture 8.24.A-E; 8.27.A-C; 8.28.A-C; 8.29.A-C
During the Visit
Can we bring our lunches?
There are a few picnic tables and a large lawn space near the Kilroy Visitor Center and parking lot where groups are welcome to eat brown-bag lunches. Outside food and drink is not allowed in the historic gardens due to the lack of trash containers. We ask that students not chew gum at Bayou Bend.
Can we take photographs?
You are welcome to take photographs anywhere on the property except inside the house.
Is there parking for busses and carpools?
Yes, there is a large parking lot with free parking for busses and cars.
Is Bayou Bend accessible to children of all abilities?
Yes! But please let us know in advance if your group includes visitors with mobility impairments so that we can direct you to the accessible entrance.
Will students be able to work on an assignment during the visit?
We would be happy to work with your students to complete assignments. Please provide us with a copy of the assignment at least a week before your visit so that the volunteers can be ready to help your students.
If I have questions before my visit, who can I ask?
Call us at 713.639.7750 or e-mail bayoubend@mfah.org and we will be happy to help!
What if I need to cancel my visit?
Call us at 713.639.7750 or e-mail bayoubend@mfah.org to cancel the visit.
What happens if our group is late?
Please let us know as soon as possible that you are running late by calling 713.639.7750. In general, tours end on schedule, and the volunteers and staff will shorten the presentation to accommodate your arrival time.
Where do we enter and check-in?
Your bus should proceed to the lower parking lot, where you will be met by Bayou Bend volunteers. Your group will be divided as necessary, and then escorted to the beginning point of your program.
We recommend that backpacks, heavy coats, and umbrellas remain on the bus. All bags and cameras must be locked up in the provided lockers before entering the house. If your group plans to have lunch on the Visitor Center lawn, please leave the lunches on the bus until your scheduled lunch time.
How many chaperones should I bring?
The number of recommended chaperones varies based on the age of the students, school policy, and the activities planned for the visit. We will help you work out the right number of chaperones for your group when you call for a reservation.