Options for Scouts:
Museum Visit
Schedule a museum visit to explore over 250 live animal and plant species, native to Virginia, in their natural settings. Your scouts can experience hands-on learning in our discovery centers and interactive galleries.
A minimum of 10 paid guests is required to receive the group rates that follow.
Pricing
- Adult (13+ years): $19.00
- Child (3-12 years): $14.00
- Child (2 years & under): Free
Call 757-534-7410 for information or to register or complete our on-line request form.
Funded in part by Wason Realty
Girl Scouts Explorer Patch
STEP 1: Download in-museum and at home requirements now.
> Download Explorer Patch Requirements
STEP 2: Complete the requirements during your visit to earn the Explore the Virginia Living Museum patch.
STEP 3: Purchase your patch at the Wild Things Museum Store for only $3.99 ($4.23 with tax).
Scout Camp Ins
Thank you for your interest in our 2026 Scout Camp-ins! Our 2026 offerings are available for registration, and more information can be found by clicking the tabs. In order to register for a camp-in, please call or email our reservations office at 757-534-7410, [email protected]. If you have any questions about the registration process, or if you are interested in booking a private camp-in, please email [email protected].
Thanks to Sentara for supporting our K-12 educational programs!
Scouts BSA: Reptiles and Amphibians
2026 Date: March 7-8
7pm-9am
Come slither on over to the Virginia Living Museum for an overnight camp-in experience, where
scouts will have the opportunity to work on badge requirements for the Reptile and Amphibian
Study merit badge, then roll out their sleeping bags to enjoy a night in the museum. Activities
will include meeting several of our ambassador reptiles and amphibians, learning about their
lifestyles, and testing your reptile/amphibian facts! An evening snack and morning continental
breakfast will be provided.
Girl Scouts/American Heritage Girls: Starry Night
2026 Dates: January 9th-10th, January 24th-25th, February 27th-28th
7pm-9am
Join us for a fun night of adventure as we explore the night sky up above! Scouts will get to
experience a guided planetarium show that explores our current night sky, learn about the stars
while crafting a constellation, and take a walk around the solar system. Then, they will set up
their sleeping bags to enjoy a night at the museum. An animal meet-and-greet, evening snack,
and morning continental breakfast will also be included!
Camp-in activities can be counted towards some of the requirements of these badges: Daisy
Space Science Explorer 1, Brownie Space Science Adventurer 1, Junior Space Science
Investigator 1, Junior Space Science Investigator 3, AHG Astronomy Tenderheart 2, AHG
Astronomy Explorer 4, and AHG Astronomy Explorer 7
Cub Scouts: Mystery at the Museum
2026 Dates: January 16th-17th, January 30th-31st, February 21st-22nd
7pm-9am
Oh no! There has been a break-in at the museum, and we need your help to solve it! In this
overnight adventure, scouts will get the opportunity to practice their sleuthing skills to help solve
our mystery, then will unroll their sleeping bags to enjoy a night in the museum. A planetarium
show, animal meet-and-greet, evening snack, and morning continental breakfast will also be
included!
Camp-in activities can be counted towards some of the requirements of these Cub Scout
Adventures: Curiosity, intrigue, and magical mysteries 3, Code of the wolf 1, Forensics, and
Earth rocks 3.
Outreach Programs
Have the Virginia Living Museum Visit You!
Outreach programs are fun and engaging presentations for classrooms, libraries, organizations, church groups, and retirement centers. A Virginia Living Museum educator will introduce your group to a variety of science topics through the use of live ambassador animals, museum artifacts, and active participation in an exciting ‘hands-on’ format. Programs are specifically designed to function as both an introduction to SOL topics and as reinforcement of previously taught science concepts.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm or complete the reservation request form.
Length of Program: PreK – 20 minutes; K – 30 minutes; Grade 1 and up – 45 minutes
Program Fee: $250 first program; $220 consecutive programs
Travel fee may apply.
Funded in part by TowneBank.
Outreach Classroom Based Programming (K-12)
Curious Critters (PreK-5th; max 30 participants)
Building Blocks 1, 5; Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Meet a variety of animal critters and discover their role in the ecosystem.
Food Chain Connections (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Let’s start at the bottom of the food chain. Together we’ll work to make a food web and discuss why different animals eat different things.
Let’s Be A Scientist (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.5, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Develop science skills like observing, predicting, classifying, interpreting, and measuring to better understand the natural world.
Wild Adaptations (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1
Uncover how wild animals survive through hands-on activities that demonstrate their physical and behavioral adaptations.
Resources at Risk (5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: 5.1, 5.9
Explore renewable and non-renewable energy sources and discover why conserving energy is important.
Amazing Animals (Grade 3-12; max 90 participants)
Science SOLs: 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, LS.6, LS.7, LS.11, BIO.6
Meet a variety of live animals and explore biofacts to learn how animals locate food, escape predators, and survive in the wild.
Assembly Program Fee: $350 first program; $295 consecutive programs
Mini Museum for Events & Festivals
Now you can bring the Virginia Living Museum to your next event. Well, maybe not the whole Museum, but a VLM educator, a table full of engaging hands-on Museum specimens, and even a live ambassador animal is certainly the next best thing! Tell us about your event and we’ll be happy to design an amazing “mini museum” just for you and your group.
Fee: $250 first hour; $200 consecutive hour. Add on a 20-minute live ambassador animal encounter during the mini museum – up to three animals, $50 per animal.
Mother Nature’s Road Show
Enhance your activities for children, families, scouts, and senior citizens with a visit from the Virginia Living Museum. We will come to your library, day care facility, retirement community, church, or camp to add live animals and involve your clients in an educational and fun program.
Length of Program: 40 minutes; 20 minutes for PreK
Fee: $250 first program; $220 consecutive programs
Available until June 7th, 2026
Wild Moves (For Toddlers and Preschoolers)
Let your little explorers move like their favorite animals! They’ll hop, slither, and stomp while exploring fun rhythms and animal movements all while building coordination and creativity. Participants can then show off their moves to some of our wonderful ambassador animals!
Nature’s Palettes (School-aged and up)
Explore the vibrant world of animals and the colors they inhabit. Discover how different species use color for survival, communication, and camouflage, and learn about the fascinating ways nature and colors come together while meeting a few of our amazing ambassador animals!
Available starting June 8th, 2026
Hungry Critters (For Toddlers and Preschoolers)
Learn about the fun ways that hungry animals find their dinner! Young explorers will discover the
different dietary habits of different animal friends that swim, slither, hop, and crawl around our
planet. Meet some of our animal ambassadors and learn about the delicious dishes they enjoy!
Dinosaur Discovery (School-aged and up)
Explore the past and examine dinosaur fossils to learn how they lived their lives millions of
years ago. Discover the cool ways animals of the past survived and see how animals of the
present do the same. Meet some modern day animal ambassadors to see these awesome
adaptations in action!
Telescope Rentals
Telescope Rentals
Interested in renting a telescope for a camping trip, to test one out before you buy one, just for fun, or for a special celestial event/party? Reserve your scope today, call 595-1900 x256.
Your rental will include:
- a 2-6 inch telescope (either reflecting or refracting)
- at least one medium range eyepiece
- an appropriate mount
- a finder scope
- a solar filter is available with some kits
- set-up instruction sheet and parts list
Important Information:
- The cost is $10 per night.
- No refund in case of inclement weather
- Reservations are required and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Telescopes are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Payment is due in advance. If you wish to keep the telescope longer than planned, please contact the Museum to check for availability and to update payment.
- A brief primer on the use of the telescope will be given/required at pick up.
- All individuals renting a telescope must be over the age of 18 and sign a statement releasing the Virginia Living Museum from responsibility for damages to persons or property incurred through the use or misuse of the telescope and its accessories.
- Renters must have a valid credit card on file.
- In the event that the telescope is not returned or returned with missing/ broken pieces, replacement items/parts will be charged to the renter’s credit card.
Safaris
Journey out into the field for an unforgettable hands-on learning experience.
Length of Session: 6 to 12+ hours (varies with topic)
Number of Students: Varies depending on program type
Fee: $35 per student ($700 minimum per program)
Fuel surcharge may apply. ALL safari bookings will be required to provide their own transportation to the site.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations office at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm or complete the online request form.
Funded in part by BayPort Credit Union.
