Make Our Museum Your Classroom

School Tours

Explore our renowned American Art collection and make solid connections to other disciplines, including history, language arts, and social sciences.
General or specific theme tours can be arranged with museum-trained docents as guides.
Focus on the “changing American landscape” (with our pilot program, The Changing Urban Landscape: American Artists React) or on the Mohawk Valley (with our pilot program, In Our Own Backyard: Mohawk Valley Views).
Teachers may also arrange a self-guided or creative writing experience in the galleries.

Photo by Jonathan Hillyer

Docent guided tours are available by appointment only.
Please call (518) 673-2314, x109 at least three weeks in advance.
Tours are generally 45 minutes to an hour in length, but may be altered to suit a school’s needs; all tours must take place during the Museum’s regular operating hours, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Large groups (of 25+) necessitate scheduling multiple docents; extended advanced notice is appreciated.
Chaperones for guided tours are required at the following ratios: one for every five preschoolers, 10 elementary or 12-15 high school students. Twice as many chaperones are required for self-guided tours.
All students must adhere to the Museum’s rules, and adult supervision is required at all times.

Self-guided tours are free for all students ages 11 and under and free for local* students of all ages.
One-hour guided tours are $2 per student; a pre-arranged art activity may be scheduled for an additional $1 per student.
All fees must be paid prior to or on date of visit.

* local = zip codes 12166, 13317, 13339, 13410, 13428, and 13459.

Our large parking lot provides ample room for school buses.
All Museum galleries are wheelchair-accessible.
The education classroom may be used for small groups to enjoy lunch; the Memorial Garden and the Great Lawn provide room for larger groups to picnic during warmer months.
Chaperone guidelines and Museum rules must be followed.

Teachers interested in bringing students to the Arkell Museum may visit prior to their trip free of charge with the approval of the Curator of Education. Please call two weeks prior to your pre-visit trip to make arrangements.
Groups of teachers interested in future school visits are encouraged to contact the Curator of Education for a special enhanced tour of the Museum.
The Canajoharie Library features an impressive collection of lending and reference books on American artists, as well as studio art technique for your planning. Visit the digital catalog at http://pac.sals.edu/polaris/Search/).

Please have the following information available when you call or write regarding a visit:

Photo by Jonathan Hillyer