Summer Visits FAQ
Review our frequently asked questions about our engagements.
Chaperone Policy
Due to the fragile nature of the works on view, all visitors must be 12 or older and all minors (ages 12–17) must be always accompanied by an adult during their Glenstone visit. This extends to any 18-year-old on a school visit.
Chaperones are expected to work with our guides to encourage youth engagement and manage any disruptions throughout the visit. Additional chaperone responsibilities include:
Chaperones must always be with their groups and are responsible for the safety of the students, the art, and nature they visit.
Chaperones are expected to work with our guides to encourage youth engagement and manage any disruptions throughout the visit.
Chaperones must keep their group from merging with others on the paths and in the galleries.
When are visits available?
Guided visits are available Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30–11:30 a.m. Self-led school visits are available at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.
How can I schedule a visit?
We offer two ways for groups to visit Glenstone: guided or self-led visits. Links to the booking pages can be found on our Summer Visits page. The booking pages will show a calendar with up-to-date availability for the semester.
What kind of special accommodation is available for school groups?
If your group requires special accommodation, please reach out to the Community Engagement team at youth@glenstone.org or 240-660-5155. We will work with you to accommodate the group as much as possible.
Please note accommodations must be requested at least one week before your visit.
Accessibility offerings:
Guided engagements include visual and tactile resources to engage diverse learners.
Our paths are designed to be firm and stable with accessible grades. Complimentary wheelchairs and gallery chairs are available upon request.
ASL interpretation can be coordinated for any visit.
We can provide auditory-sensible visitors noise-cancelling headphones as some of our spaces can get echo-y.
Our team is equipped to work with non-English learners. Please note: Language interpreters must be requested at least two weeks before your visit.
What do I do if I need to cancel my visit?
To cancel the visit, please reach out to the Community Engagement Team at youth@glenstone.org or 240-660-5155.
We have limited visit availability, and we would like to accommodate as many groups as we can.
What if I have not received my confirmation email?
You can reach the Community Engagement team at youth@glenstone.org or 240-660-5155 to ask questions about your visit.
Our email confirmations can sometimes be identified as spam, we also suggest checking your junk or spam email folders. The email confirmation will come from youth@glenstone.org.
The date I want to book is not available, what can I do to secure our desired date?
If your desired date is not available, you can sign up for our waitlist and when a date becomes available you'll receive a notification.
Can I extend the visit past 11:30 am?
Guided engagements end at 11:30 a.m. but all groups are welcome to stay and explore the rest of Glenstone at their own pace in the same small groups of up to 10 students.
Please share your plans to extend your visit with the Community Engagement team in advance.
How many participants may I bring?
Our visits can accommodate up to 40 visitors ages 12 and older. This allows us to provide a slow and contemplative Glenstone experience with all.
Why do I need 4 chaperones and who counts as chaperone?
We require at least 4 chaperones because on arrival we break up the students into smaller groups of up to 10 students with 1 school chaperone.
We recommend coordinating an adult. While parents can be great volunteer chaperones, we find a successful trip is best led by a chaperone who is familiar with larger groups.
Where should our group arrive?
If arriving in a personal vehicle, you will enter Glenstone at 12100 Glen Road in Potomac, Maryland, check in with the security guard, then park at the Red Oak Parking Grove – first parking lot on your right. There are restrooms and a water station nearby if needed upon arrival.
If arriving by bus or shuttle, you will enter Glenstone at 12180 Glen Road in Potomac, Maryland. The bus or shuttle will park at the Environmental Center for the duration of the visit. There are restrooms and a water station at the Environmental Center if needed upon arrival.
Can my group have lunch at Glenstone?
We can provide a lunch space for any visiting school group at the Environmental Center. Lunches must be coordinated by the group.
Can my group eat at Café and Patio?
We are unable to provide lunch or accommodate dining at our Café and Patio, and do not carry to-go options.
Cabin John Village, located at 7919 Tuckerman Ln, Potomac, MD 20854, is a shopping center nearby with dining options that can also accommodate bus parking after your visit.
The weather forecast is not looking good. Will Glenstone cancel our visit?
Visits take place rain or shine. All visits include a 20-minute outdoor walk to and from one of our art buildings.
If the heat index value exceeds 105 degrees or if the wind chill temperature falls below 0 degrees, some trails and outdoor sculptures will be closed. We will coordinate with Security to park the bus closer to our art buildings and minimize outdoor travel time.
Ultimately, we follow your decision. If your organization closes for the day or issues a delayed start, the visit will be canceled. Please reach out to the Community Engagement team at youth@glenstone.org or 240-660-5155 to let us know.
I have a very well-behaved group of under 12 year old visitors! Can I schedule a visit with my group?
Due to the fragile nature of the artwork, all visitors must be at least 12 years old.
Our visits are open to youth in 6th to 12th grade. Eleven-year-old 6th graders on a group visit are the only exception to this policy.
Questions? Contact the Community Engagement team at youth@glenstone.org.