GENERAL PROVISIONS
The security and safety of the Cook Museum of Natural Science’s (CMNS) guests, live animals, Volunteers, Employees, Collections, and Exhibits are of the highest importance. CMNS has adopted and will enforce rules and regulations that may be necessary and appropriate to provide a safe and secure environment.
CMNS may amend, modify, or withdraw any of the Museum’s rules and regulations at any time if the organization deems it is in its best interest to do so. As a private institution, CMNS may exercise the foregoing rights at any time without notice and without explanation.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The following rules and regulations are deemed necessary to ensure the orderly and safe operation of CMNS property.
ACCESS TO CMNS GALLERIES
The guest ticket is good for one (1) general admission ticket to the Exhibits of CMNS. In buying ticket(s) from CMNS, the guest understands and agrees to the following:
1. The ticket(s) is/are valid only for the number of person(s) and the date listed
2. During the visit, the guest must retain the issued admission wristband on display for CMNS associate(s),
3. The ticket(s) cannot be refunded or exchanged,
4. Unauthorized resale of this ticket is prohibited,
5. The wristband entitles same-day re-entry until Exhibits closure by the original guest.
6. Children and minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult (age 15+) at all times.
ACCESS TO OTHER PARTS OF CMNS
Access to administrative facilities or other restricted areas (such as Collections and Animal Care) is limited to authorized CMNS staff only. Access to Classrooms and Events spaces are restricted to registered guests. CMNS reserves the right to limit access to any of its public facilities and guest areas as it deems fit. CMNS reserves the right to limit, on an as-needed basis, the length of time guests can spend on its property. CMNS reserves the right to close any or all its public spaces due to severe weather or other causes, as needed, and without advanced notice. In the event of circumstances that require an early closing of the Museum, a non-cash voucher will be granted to guests upon request the day of the event to be used toward a future admission ticket.
TRESPASSING
Trespassing, entering, or remaining in or upon CMNS property not open to the public, except with the express consent of CMNS staff, is prohibited. This includes outdoor patio, sidewalks, and Courtyard. Any access onto or within any adjacent area under construction or closed to the public is also prohibited.
PERSONAL ITEMS
CMNS guests may leave umbrellas at the main entrance vestibule. Any item left must be retrieved no later than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the closing of the Museum. Unattended bags or belongings found anywhere on CMNS property will be subject to search and removal by CMNS staff. CMNS is not responsible for unattended bags or belongings. Unclaimed items will be subject to disposal at the discretion of CMNS.
PUBLIC RESTROOM ACCESS
Access to public restrooms inside CMNS is intended for CMNS visitors only. Restroom access for others may be granted at the sole discretion of CMNS staff.
RE-ENTRY INTO CMNS
Guests with tickets are welcome to leave the Museum and re-enter within the same day of their visit. Upon re-entry, guests with a wristband may bypass the Guest Services Desk ticket line and proceed directly to the Exhibits entrance by showing their wristband to staff as they pass the Desk.
CONFORMITY WITH OFFICIAL SIGNAGE
While on CMNS property, guests shall comply with all official posted signs and regulations.
INTERFERING WITH CMNS STAFF FUNCTIONS
Violating the directive of or preventing the execution of duties by CMNS staff in any capacity is prohibited.
Threatening, resisting, intimidating, or intentionally interfering with CMNS staff is prohibited.
Failure to obey a directive to leave CMNS property, or to re-enter CMNS property after being removed, is prohibited and could result in engagement of CMNS staff or local law enforcement services.
TOURS
CMNS does not permit any unauthorized individual or group of individuals to gather, conduct, or sell paid tours inside of the Museum.
Groups, who schedule in advance through CMNS and meet the Museum’s terms, may conduct tours for participants of their group. These tours must adhere to, and are subject to, all other CMNS guidelines.
CMNS does not sanction the content or accuracy of any information provided on any tour that is not conducted by CMNS staff.
PARKING
CMNS has several parking options from which guests can choose. SEE PARKING MAP
REPORT OF INJURY OR DAMAGE
All persons suffering bodily injury on CMNS property, or having knowledge of damage to CMNS property, are required to report the occurrence(s) to CMNS staff immediately following the incident. Providing a false report to CMNS staff is prohibited.All persons suffering bodily injury on CMNS property, or having knowledge of damage to CMNS property, are required to report the occurrence(s) to CMNS staff immediately following the incident. Providing a false report to CMNS staff is prohibited.
PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Dismissal from CMNS is warranted upon CMNS staff determination that a guest has engaged in disorderly or prohibited conduct. Disorderly conduct may include, but is not limited to, any of the following prohibited acts by guests occurring anywhere on
CMNS property:
1. Any conduct or behavior deemed inappropriate by CMNS staff
2. CMNS does not permit any unauthorized individual or group of individuals to gather, conduct, or sell paid tours inside of the Museum. See Tours section above for more information
3. Engaging in sporting and recreational activities, including skateboarding
4. Making noise that is unreasonable, or behaving in a way that is inappropriate (loud, offensive, abusive, or otherwise improper language or performing or engaging in obscene or indecent acts)
5. Engaging in fighting, violent, or threatening behavior
6. Indecent exposure, sexual acts, or related behavior
7. Engaging in commercial activities, soliciting, leafleting, hand billing, and/or vending
8. Loitering or sleeping (including on any of the benches inside the building)
9. Bathing
10. For safety and health reasons, appropriate attire and shoes must be worn at all times
11. Masks are not permitted inside the Museum, except when worn for medical or religious reasons.
12. CMNS reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or attire that could detract from the experience of other guests. This includes clothing with objectionable material, including obscene language or graphics.
13. Obstructing the use of public areas such as entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, concourses, offices, elevators, stairways, roadways, driveways, hallways, or walkways
14. Throwing or dropping any items from or at buildings or persons, or from or at any of the CMNS overlook levels
15. Interfering with or obstructing authorized vehicular traffic
16. Impeding or threatening the security of persons or property
17. Willfully defacing, destroying, damaging, or removing CMNS property
18. The use of all tobacco products, including smoking (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapors) and dipping/chewing tobacco, is prohibited inside CMNS, the patio, the Courtyard, and within twenty-five (25) feet of Museum entrances.
19. Gambling
20. Use of lighters, matches, and candles
21. Tampering with, damaging, and/or removing any CMNS property including, but not limited to, exhibit and/or artifact elements
22. Demonstrations, protests, or rallies (or display and/or carry placards, signs, banners, barriers, or balloons)
23. Littering
24. Eating and/or drinking inside CMNS Exhibits
25. Spitting
26. Use of tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, and audio equipment without advance permission from CMNS staff
SECURITY SCREENING AND PROHIBITED ITEMS
All guests and baggage are subject to security screening. Please consider leaving any prohibited or oversized items at home, in a vehicle, or at the hotel to speed entry.
Guests are prohibited from bringing the following items onto CMNS property:
1. Any item deemed inappropriate by CMNS staff and/or any items specifically prohibited to possess as per law in Decatur, Alabama
2. Marking instruments including spray paint, liquid paint, glass cutters, and/or other items that could be used to mark, dye/color, scratch, gouge, or otherwise deface property by mechanical or chemical means
3. Hazardous materials of any kind
4. Weapons and tools including open carry of firearms, realistic replicas of firearms (to include toy guns), ammunition, stun guns, large cutting devices, razor blade tools, knives or scissors (with pointed tips) with a blade that is larger than 2.5 inches, brass knuckles (to include belt buckles resembling brass knuckles), any martial arts weapon(s), slapjacks
5. Disabling chemicals, including mace, pepper spray, tear gas, chlorine, liquid bleach, or compressed gasses
6. Explosives, including fireworks
7. Noise making or amplification devices, including but not limited to, radios, bull horns, and musical instruments
8. Alcoholic beverages
9. Controlled substances or narcotics which use is strictly prohibited by governmental regulation
10. Powdered substances, liquid soaps, and bubbles
11. Glass bottles
12. Placards, signs, posters, banners, barriers, balloons, rope, wire of any kind, tape or any device used to attach or hang posters onto any structure
13. Any flags on poles or sticks that cannot be stored in a backpack
14. Animals/pets (Except for service animals)
15. Chewing gum
16. Food and/or drink (except for water and food in a sealed container, not to be consumed in the Exhibits)
17. Bicycles, skateboards, or recreational scooters (baby wagons, strollers, and wheelchairs are allowed)
18. Coolers of any size
PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY, AND AUDIO RECORDINGS
The use of flash photography is prohibited in all CMNS areas.
CMNS may photograph or videotape guests for educational and promotional purposes. Attendance on Museum property is implied consent for the use of guests’ likenesses for marketing purposes.
CMNS uses guest photos in various marketing and promotional materials that include, but are not limited to, print materials, websites, blogs, video-sharing sites, and social media.
CMNS staff reserves the right to refuse access and/or photo, video, or audio recording rights to any guest or group, at anytime, anywhere on CMNS property.
Personal photos, video, and/or audio recordings are permitted for private, noncommercial use only, provided the activity does not impede pedestrian traffic and the experience of other guests.
Professional photography must be prearranged with CMNS management and conducted without disruption to CMNS operations or limitation to the accessibility of exhibitions, entrances/exits, doorways, pathways, staircases, and high traffic areas.
Professional videography, commercial filming, or the use of professional recording equipment is prohibited without prior authorization from the Marketing Department. Approved Event rentals with prearranged media permissions are exempt from this policy.use only, and in all cases so long as the activity does not impede pedestrian traffic. The use of flash is prohibited in all CMNS areas.
Photographing Minors:
1. At no point may a minor’s name be visible in a photograph or video.
2. Minors cannot be identified by name in marketing materials and/or publications without parent/guardian permission.
3. For external partners, marketers, and press: if a parent or guardian is not available to grant additional permissions, the only allowed identifiers for minors are their first name and age.
ANIMALS AND PETS ACCESS
Guest’s animals and pets are not allowed on, or inside, CMNS property.
Service animals are allowed on property. Service animals must be under the control of their handler. If the animal and handler are not meeting ADA guidelines and the handler does not take effective action to control the animal, CMNS requires the removal of the animal from the premise.
https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/
SANITATION AND TRASH
All guests on CMNS property must dispose of personal refuse and items for recycling in designated receptacles only. Removing objects from trash receptacles is prohibited.
SMOKE-FREE CAMPUS
Smoking is not allowed on CMNS property at any time. “Smoking” includes the use of any tobacco products, including tobacco chew and vapor devices, electronic smoking devices, and e-cigarettes containing nicotine cartridges. Guests must smoke at least twenty-five (25) feet from Museum entrances.
CMNS ARTIFACTS AND EXHIBITIONS
Touching taxidermy inside CMNS is prohibited, unless expressly authorized by CMNS staff, or as posted.
Climbing or placing children into scenic areas or on tops of cases and tanks is not permitted.
It is illegal to remove, deface, damage, mutilate, or destroy CMNS property, artifacts, exhibits, or equipment including altering or tampering with computers or software.
WILLFUL VIOLATION
Any person who violates any provision of the CMNS Guest Policy is subject to dismissal from CMNS property. In such cases where warranted, local law enforcement will be contacted for assistance and criminal charges may be filed.
CMNS reserves the right to refuse or revoke and/or deny admission without refund for non-compliance with applicable rules and regulations of the Museum’s guest policy or for other inappropriate conduct.
EMERGENCIES
To report an emergency or suspicious item or activity (See Something, Say Something), immediately inform the nearest security officer or staff member.