Admission Fees and Facilities Rental at the EEC

Environmental Education Center Admission & Fees for Services, Facilities and Programs 

Non-DISD groups or individuals*                                   

Adults                                                                                                        $3.00

School age children (PK-12)                                                                  $2.00

Children under 4                                                                                        free       

Senior Citizens                                                                                          free

DISD Field Trip Groups                                                                            free

Adults                                                                                                        $2.00

School age children                                                                                $1.00

Children under 4                                                                                        free

Senior Citizens                                                                                          free

*Includes access to the EEC main museum building (excluding the laboratories), including the theater, exhibits, dining hall and Nature Nook store. Does not include a visit to the Live Animals Lab. Also includes a visit to the barn (but not necessarily a Petting Farm program) and any of the nature trails. (Self-guided) If a guided trail walk is desired, see fee for guided trail walk below (minimum 15 persons). Admission fee applies to regular hours of operation, Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm on all schooldays and Saturdays when the Center is open. Closed holidays.                   

The Environmental Center main building/museum is available for rental from 4:00pm – 10:00pm on regular DISD school days and from 8:00am – 10:00pm on Saturdays. The Center is not available for rental on Sundays.

Group                                                                                         Rental Fee*

Non-Dallas ISD groups/organizations                   Cost:      $50.00/hour

$75 security deposit required within 10 days of making reservation. $200 max/day.

Payment due upon arrival.

Dallas ISD groups/departments                              Cost:           Free

If use of the facility occurs after hours and necessitates custodial overtime, arrangements for partial or complete coverage of overtime costs is to be made with the visiting group/department. 

*Includes main building, including access to the theater and exhibit areas, nature trails, grounds & gardens, and one (1) classroom for meeting purposes. Additional classrooms are available at $20.00 each per day/event. 501(c)(3) Non-profit organizations may receive a 20% discount on museum rentals.

Room setup fee – tables, chairs, overhead, VCR, etc. (if requested by user)                   $25.00

SCIENCE/NATURAL HISTORY  PROGRAMS (Non- DISD)  $30.00/group/program

1.5 – 2 hours, minimum of 15 students, maximum of 25. Includes certain EEC staff taught grade level programs.  Some programs may also have a minimal charge for materials. Payment due upon arrival. Fees for instructional programs are in addition to general admission fees. Call to confirm date, time, group size, grade level, etc.

GUIDED TRAIL WALKS

Non-DISD group (any age)(minimum 15, maximum 25 persons)                     $1.00/person

DISD group (any age)(minimum 15, maximum 25 persons)                                        free

See programs.

Non-DISD group                     Cost:     $3.00/camper(any age)

$50.00 deposit to cover no shows and "Clean Camping". Deposit is due within 10 days of making reservation. Non-DISD camping groups provide their own tents, supplies, food & transportation to & from the Center. EEC provides covered camping pavilion w/restrooms and grill. Access to any of the EEC nature trails is included. If a guided trail walk or staff taught program is desired in connection with a campout, the applicable fee for that additional service will apply.

DISD group                             Cost:      free

$50.00 deposit to cover tent repair/replacement, no shows and "Clean Camping". Deposit is due within 10 days of making reservation. Environmental Center provides camping pavilion, restrooms, tents, grill(s) and water jugs. Camping group provides their own transportation, supplies and food. EEC tents can only accommodate a maximum of approximately 25 campers. If additional tents are necessary, they must be supplied by the group.

*Maximum group size for camping is 75 including adults. (DISD or non-DISD) Camping and nature trail rules and policies will be furnished and must be followed. Open fire ban may be imposed by local fire marshal, so campfires are not guaranteed. Canoeing/water safety rules must be strictly followed. Users assume all liability for water safety/canoe use. Guidelines for canoe use are available. Fishing is not permitted. For larger groups such as Scout Camporees, etc., the fee will be negotiated based on group size, and services requested.

Important Note On Camping

The EEC reserves the right to cancel campouts up until the afternoon the camping group is scheduled to arrive because of the potential for the development of severe weather. This is a judgment call that will be based on current information available from the National Weather Service. All camping groups are strongly urged to bring a good weather radio (one that sounds an alarm when a watch or warning is issued for a certain area) and a cell phone or phones. Camping groups will be allowed to come into the EEC main building for shelter in the event that a tornado warning (not a watch) is issued for Dallas or Ellis County. An adult campout supervisor must be responsible for monitoring the weather whenever conditions are favorable for the development of thunderstorms.

OTHER CHARGES

Parking                                                                                                         free

Nannie Hogan-Boyd Challenge Course (Ropes Course)              TBA

Birthday Parties, Weddings or other special events                       TBA

Definitions:

Non-DISD group/organization:   Any organization or group that is not directly/officially associated or affiliated with the Dallas School district. Non-profit groups are eligible for a 20% discount on some rental fees and services provided.

DISD group/organization:  Any DISD school, class, division, department, PTA, school faculty, or other groups of employees and/or students of the Dallas Schools, including the Board of Trustees.