Researching Your Group Visit | Requesting Your Group Visit | Preparing Your Group | Helping the Day Go Smoothly | After Your Visit | Helpful Resources

Check out our age-level offerings on the Group Visit chart.

If you want to know more programming details or special events per day, visit our calendar.

Remember that you are signing your group up for an ImaginOn experience, not a single program. If there is a program you want to attend, be sure to choose a visit time when that program is happening. Patrons in groups are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis for most programs. If there is a pre-registration option (for a Terrific Tuesday performances, Studio i Project Time or a Loft Movie) you will be able to indicate that on your request form. Choose three possible dates and 90-minute timeslots.

Requesting Your Group Visit

• Click on the appropriate request form link on the chart below.


• Fill out and submit the form at least three weeks in advance of the earliest date you request. (If you do not have e-mail access, you may call (704) 416-4605 to request a reservation, but this will slow down your request process.)


• Receive an e-mail confirmation acknowledging your request.


• Receive a confirmation letter via e-mail outlining your visit OR receive a phone call to try and arrange an alternate date and time.

Preparing Your Group Back to Top

• Confirm your chaperones and share the ImaginOn Chaperone Guidelines with them.



• Find out from your youth who has visited ImaginOn already. Share the website with young people and families unfamiliar.



• Visit ImaginOn yourself ahead of time, if you can. The best leader is an informed leader.



• Encourage young people to bring (or get) a library card, so they can use the facility and check out materials to the fullest extent.


• Remind everyone that ImaginOn has a Gift Shop. Make sure you have a 5:1 ratio of youth to adults for this portion of your visit. Items range in price from 5 cents to a few hundred dollars with lots of reasonably-priced items.


• Review our group visit policy, available on-line.



• Chaperones should wear an identifiable nametag, linking them to your organization.



• Group leaders should have official ID cards from your camp or school or group.



• Provide a nametag (first-name only) for all the young people in your group.



• Pre-set your groups of 8 youth with one chaperone. Provide each chaperone with a list of student names, the cell phone number of the group leader, for both clarity and emergency.



• Be sure to bring along emergency contact information, including the office number for your organization.



• If you are bringing picnic lunches, make a plan for how you will store and transport them.

Helping the Day Go Smoothly Back to Top

• Check in at the Welcome Desk.



• Pick up a Bus Parking Permit / Bus Parking Map, if needed, at the Welcome Desk.


(NOTE: Free bus parking is over five blocks from ImaginOn, so plan accordingly if your bus driver is also a chaperone.) Permits can also be downloaded (Adobe Reader Required).


• Establish a pick-up time with your bus driver and exchange cell phone numbers, if needed.



• Establish a time and place for groups to meet for departure.



• There are some areas where your group could eat lunch outside at ImaginOn, but there are no formal reservation procedures. During the summer months, we cannot accommodate indoor lunch space. We recommend eating your lunch before or after you visit ImaginOn.
  Check out the county parks that may be along your route if you want to have a park picnic.



• Lunches can be stored at the entrance. All other belongings must be carried with you.

After Your Visit Back to Top

• Please take a moment to fill-out your e-mail survey to let us know how your visit went and what you’d hope to see in future visits.


• If you want your young people to write to us, we’d love to hear from them! Send their letters and pictures to:
  
  Group Visit Letters
  Attn: Education Coordinator
  ImaginOn
  300 East 7th Street
  Charlotte, NC 28202
  

Helpful Resources Back to Top

• ImaginOn Group Visit Chaperone Guidelines (Adobe Reader Required)


• Library Card Information (Remember, ImaginOn is part of the Public Library System.)


• Bus Parking Permit (Adobe Reader Required)


• Bus Parking Map (Adobe Reader Required)


• ImaginOn Group Visit Policy


• Frequently Asked Group Visit Questions

Group Visit Request Option Chart Back to Top