Student Tours and Programs
The Free Enterprise Institute at the Dr Pepper Museum offers a variety of tours and programs for students based in history, science, and math principles. Tours can last from an hour to all day. Based on the development of Dr Pepper, our tours and programs provide a look into the background of 2 American institutions - the soft drink industry and the free enterprise economic system. Each program includes a tour of the museum led by one of our professionally trained staff members as they guide students beginning with the invention of Dr Pepper in Waco, Texas in 1885, through to its international recognition today. Public and private schools, home-schools, churches, colleges, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other youth groups are welcome!
Waco: Home of Dr Pepper (WHDP) and Little Peppers (LP)
Our most popular tour, Waco: Home of Dr Pepper, tells the story of the invention of Dr Pepper and the growth of the soft drink industry. Student groups will meet a recreation of the inventor of Dr Pepper in the Old Corner Drug Store, explore the bottling room, enjoy new exhibit areas around the museum, and see the soda jerk “shoot a Waco” in the Soda Fountain. We welcome classes for students with special needs.
For our younger visitors (ages three to seven), we recommend the sensory-rich Little Peppers tour. They get to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste their way through the museum!
For both tours, the cost is $3.00 per student for groups of 10 to 35 students. Groups of more than 35 should plan on scheduling a split tour. School employees accompanying a student group receive free admission. Additional adults / parents are $3 each. Both tours are an hour long and include a sample Dr Pepper from the soda fountain.
Advertising & Marketing Kid Style (AMKS)
The Free Enterprise Institute (FEI) at the Dr Pepper Museum is pleased to offer the only program of its kind to teach the principles of free enterprise and entrepreneurship. AMKS introduces students to free enterprise economics through workbook materials and multi-media. The highlight of the day is creating a new soft drink, then launching its marketing campaign with a name, slogan, logo, label, and commercial! This very intensive hands-on program is suitable for students in the third grade and up, and is best for groups with 10 – 30 students. It is a 4 to 6 hour program, and is not available on weekends at this time.
Cost is $10.00 per student which includes admission to the museum, workbook and all supplies, and a Dr Pepper float from the Soda Fountain. Two school employees accompanying a group receive free admission. Additional adults / parents are $4.50 each. Students (and facilitators) need to bring a sack lunch and something to drink.
Create a Soft Drink (CASD)
Create a Soft Drink is our solution for groups who cannot stay all day for the AMKS program, but still want to participate in our Free Enterprise Institute. Working in teams, students get to use their imaginations as well as their team-building and measuring skills to create new soft drinks. A marketing strategy is developed by each team with a name, slogan, logo and label for their creations. CASD is designed for students in the 3rd grade and up. It works best with groups of 10 to 30 participants. This is a 2-hour program.
Cost is $6.00 per student participant. It includes admission to the museum, all supplies, and a Dr Pepper float from the Soda Fountain. Two school employees accompanying a group receive free admission. Additional adults / parents are $4.50 each. We welcome classes for students with special needs.
Authorized Peppers Only (APO)
Join our curatorial staff on a behind-the-scenes tour to look at some of the Dr Pepper and other soft drink memorabilia we have in our collections. This program is geared more towards science as we look at how museums choose exhibits and care for their artifacts. It is based on the William and Mary GT “What a Find!” curriculum on archaeology for 5th graders.
Cost is $6.00 per student participant. Two school employees accompanying a group receive free admission. Additional adults / parents are $4.50 each. It works best with a group of 10 to 30 students. Allow approximately two hours for this program which includes a Dr Pepper float. There is limited availability of APO programs, so we recommend calling as early as possible to book your tour.
Field trip tips:
Typically, museum visitation is lower in early fall and winter months, and on weekday afternoons. You are encouraged to take advantage of these times. Register as early in the school year as possible to ensure current prices, time, and date of your choice. Reservations need to be made in advance to book a guided tour. We look forward to serving you this year!
Making a Reservation
Please contact the Programs Department during normal business hours.
tours@drpeppermuseum.com
Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute
300 S. 5th St.
Waco TX 76701
254.757.1025 ext. 129
254.757.2221 (fax)
Please have the following information prepared when you contact the museum.
- Credit card number to hold a reservation. The card will not be charged unless the reservation violates the cancellation policy. We accept Mastercard, Visa, and Discover.
- 3 choices of dates and times
- Number of students in each class
- Age/ grade level
- Address of organization
- Your telephone number
PAYMENT POLICY
Special admission rates and program fees are for groups with advance reservations only. All tours and programs must be confirmed with a credit card or a deposit of 20% of the anticipated total bill. Groups who confirm with a credit card will only be charged for failing to show (20% of the anticipated total bill) or if that is how they choose to pay upon arrival.
Acceptable Forms of Payment:
· Check or Money Order
· Credit card
· Cash (upon arrival only-please do not mail cash!)
· Purchase Order (with prior approval of the Director of Interpretation; e-mail joy@drpeppermuseum.com or call 254-757-1025 ext. 130)
Cancellation Policy
Groups needing to cancel should make every effort to let us know within at least 48 hours' notice. No refunds of received deposits will be given to groups with less than 48 hours' notice; deposits or prepaid admissions may be re-applied to future visits.
Confirmation
A confirmation number will be given to you when you book your tour. When calling about your tour, please have it handy and bring it with you when you come for your tour.
Questions? Contact us at:
tours@drpeppermuseum.com
Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute
300 S. 5th St.
Waco TX 76701
254.757.1025 ext. 129
254.757.2221 (fax