Docent led tours of the Mitchell Museum can be scheduled Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon to 3 p.m. Tours take about an hour. Groups may spend additional time on a craft project or visiting the Museum Shop. Youth and adult groups may also visit the Museum without a tour, but are asked to contact the Museum in advance so as not to conflict with other tours or programs.

School and youth groups are charged $1 per person for students and chaperones. Adult groups are charged $5.00 per person and seniors $2.50 per person.

Group tours may focus on any or all areas of the Museum. All tours can also be tailored to fit specific classroom needs or individual areas of interest and can be combined with hands-on activities, games, stories and crafts.

The Museum Shop features Native American art and craft items, books, music and videos, and includes a selection of moderately priced items suitable for children. Each child must be accompanied by an adult and the Museum reserves the right to limit the number of people in the Shop at any one time.

School Groups

We recommend a maximum of 40 students with at least one chaperone per 5 students. A volunteer docent will describe displays, demonstrate American Indian games and explain the objects on the Museum’s "touching tables". Reading aloud of a Native American story can also be included. Older students may wish to complete a teacher-made worksheet. Beaded key-chains, dreamcatchers and other crafts can be made for an additional $1 per person. Please allow a total time of 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete a tour and a craft project.

Scouts, "Y" Adventures Guides and Other Youth Groups

We recommend a maximum of 20 children with at least one chaperone per 4 children. A volunteer docent will describe displays, demonstrate American Indian games and explain the objects on the Museum’s "touching tables". Reading aloud of a Native American story or viewing a video can also be included. Beaded key-chains, dreamcatchers and other crafts can be made for an additional $1 per person. Please allow a total time of 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete a tour and a craft project.

Adult Groups

We recommend a maximum of 30 adults in each group. A volunteer docent will describe displays, demonstrate American Indian games and explain the objects on the Museum’s "touching tables". Viewing a video can also be included.

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Loan Boxes

Teachers from the Chicago area may borrow Loan Boxes from the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian for use in their classrooms.   Each participating school must complete a registration form and pay a yearly fee of $40.00    Loan Boxes may be reserved on a first-come first-served basis from September through July.   Boxes are available on Sunday of each week and must be returned by 5 p.m. on Friday.   For more information or to reserve a box call Penny Berlet, Curator of Education, at 847 475-1030 or e-mail pberlet@hotmail.com.

All boxes contain artifacts that may be handled by students (under the teacher’s supervision) and a Teacher’s Guide as well as a variety of books, videos, slides and audio tapes.
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian offers the following Loan Boxes:

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