Certified teachers are admitted to COSI free of charge with an acceptable form of verification and photo ID. Free admission applies to the individual certified teacher only. Open to certified public/private PreK-12th grade teachers, college/university faculty, and homeschool educators. (excludes Type A and Type B homes)

Acceptable forms of verification include Faculty ID stating faculty or teacher on the card, OEA card, NEA card, OCCRRA/OPR profile, current teaching license/certificate, or a letter from your school district indicating intent to home school.

Payment is due upon arrival (with the exception of Box Lunch orders, which must be paid two weeks in advance). Payments are required to be made in one lump sum payment. Only those persons listed on the group reservation are eligible for the discounted group rate. Individuals not included on the reservation will be charged full general admission. Purchase Orders will also be accepted as long as a copy of the PO is provided at check-in.

Groups wishing to pay in advance may call COSI at 614.228.2674 Monday – Friday to pay over the phone with a credit card, or mail their payment to:

COSI Accounts Receivable
333 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Click here to view the Group Visit Guide & Directions

COSI’s Guest Relations Team is ready to assist with any needs during your visit to COSI. The Guest Services desk is located in the Atrium on Level 1 (main entrance) of the building.

Guests with Special Needs

COSI strives to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Should a specific need require an assisting companion, we will gladly admit the assisting companion to our facility free of charge. For more information please view COSI’s Accessibility and Inclusion Statement for People with Disabilities.

Chaperone Resources

COSI is a participatory hands on environment for all ages. We invite you to use the exhibits actively but with respect. Disruptive behavior, vandalism, and misuse of exhibits or the building is not welcome and will not be tolerated. Guests who present a danger to other guests and to COSI will be promptly removed from the building without warning or refund.

Guidelines to make your field trip to COSI an awesome one:

1) COSI strongly recommends groups no larger than five (i.e., five students per one adult chaperone); little kidspace®, and Gadgets Café require a 1:5 chaperone to student ratio.

2) Please refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in COSI’s exhibition areas or Big Science Park. There is a designated smoking area in the North Courtyard on Level 1.

3) Talk to your teacher about the purpose and goals of the trip. You may be asked to lead the students through a scavenger hunt or activity, so it is good to become familiar with the materials you’ll be using.

4) Get to know the members of your group. Learn their names and interests so that you can assist them in doing what they want to do at COSI.

5) Have fun! Learn something! It’s important that the students see adults participating in and having fun with science. Use COSI Team members as a resource to help you.

6) Ask questions! Some helpful things to ask your students are:
Why do you think it does that?
What do you think is happening?
What could you change to make the outcome different?
How do you think this works?

7) Follow your schedule. Clocks are located throughout the hallways. Be sure to stay on schedule and arrive at shows and movies about 10 minutes early.

8) Take frequent head counts to be sure you haven’t left anyone behind. If you do misplace someone, let a COSI Team member know or notify Guest Services in the Atrium on Level 1 or little kidspace® on Level 2.

9) Use your teacher as a resource. Do not hesitate to find him or her if you need help interacting with your group or are having behavior issues with a member of your group. Write down the name and cell phone or pager number of your group leader in case of emergencies.

10) If you misplace or lose a personal belonging, contact Guest Services in the Atrium or any COSI Team member. COSI’s Lost & Found is also located at the Guest Services Desk in the Atrium on Level 1.

Lunch orders must be finalized and paid in full at least two weeks prior to your arrival date. No cancellations or changes can be accepted after that point. Refunds are not available for box lunch orders.

Please make COSI’s Call Center Representative aware of your choice when you make your field trip reservation.

Option A: Packed Lunches

The majority of field trip groups bring packed lunches with them. Please ask students to bring a sack lunch with his/her name written on it. Before you leave your school, put all of the lunches into large cardboard boxes or plastic bags with the school name and date written on them. Upon arrival, the COSI Team will help store your lunches in the group lunchroom on the Mezzanine Level. Refrigerators and microwaves are not available. You will be provided with a scheduled 25-minute time slot in the lunchroom for your group.

Option B: Lunch in COSI’s Atomic Café Restaurant

Small groups or chaperones may choose to buy a hot lunch in the Atomic Café on Level One. A variety of food is available from main dishes to pizza. Please let the Call Center know if your group will be eating in the Café because seating is only available to those who purchase food there. Lines may be lengthy around lunchtime, so you may want to stagger your arrival time in the café.

Option C: Box Lunches

SSA (COSI’s in house food service provider) will deliver box lunches to your group in the Group Lunch Room. Lunch orders must be reserved and paid in full 2 weeks prior to your visit date.

Lunch options: provided in individual paper bags

Shaved Turkey & Cheddar Cheese with lettuce on Wheat Bread
Shaved Turkey with lettuce on Wheat Bread (DF)
Ham and Swiss Cheese with lettuce on Wheat Bread
Ham with lettuce on Wheat Bread (DF)
Seasonal Vegetable Wrap (DF)
Sun Butter and Jelly Sandwich on Wheat Bread (DF, PF, TNF)

*All options come with bottled water, cookie, carrots, and condiment packs*

DF=Dairy Free PF=Peanut Free TNF=Tree Nut Free

Please inquire about additional allergen friendly options, if necessary.

Payment

Checks, money orders, and credit cards are accepted for payment. Please include the invoice number, name of the school or group, visit date, and group leader’s name with payments. Make check out to “COSI.”

Revisions

You may make changes to your guaranteed reservation up to 2 weeks prior to your visit date. Please call the COSI Call Center at 614.228.COSI(2674) if you need to change your box lunch reservation numbers.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

In the event of a cancellation of box lunches, you must notify the COSI Call Center at least 2 weeks prior to your visit. No refunds are issued for cancellations less than 2 weeks in advance.