After being closed to the public since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate has started to implement their phased re-opening plans with summer camps. They announced today that they will be open to the public starting on July 7, 2020. But they have new rules that guests will be required to follow in the interest of public health.
Adults Need to Wear Face Masks
All TCMU employees in both locations – Greenville and Spartanburg – will be required to wear face masks. But the museum is also requiring masks for adults.
“Adult guests will be asked to wear masks—children will not be required to wear masks. Masks will be available for purchase, as available,” TCMU said in an email.
Members Only Dates
If you’re a TCMU member, you’ll be able to go the museum ahead of the general public.
TCMU-Greenville will be open for members only on Saturday, June 27 from 10 am – 2 pm and TCMU-Spartanburg will be open for members the same day from Noon – 4 pm.
Both locations will be open for members only on July 1, 2, and 3 from 10 am – 3 pm.
TCMU is also extending memberships that have been active as of March 16, 2020 for four months to make up for the time the museums have been closed.
Modified Hours
Both TCMU locations are opening with modified hours:
- Tuesday-Friday: 10 am – 3 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
TCMU-Spartanburg will be timed ticketing only and tickets can be reserved in advance here.
Summer Camps
Summer camps at both TCMU in Greenville and Spartanburg are operating at reduced capacities but still have openings available.
Modifications to camps include individualized materials, social distancing, temperature checks, and constant sanitization.
Sanitizing Procedures
As any parent who has visited TCMU knows, kids touch everything – that’s what the exhibits are there for. The museum has come up with a list of new procedures for cleaning the museum and exhibits, which are listed below.
- Additional hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout TCMU
- Sanitizing wipe stations will be set up for adults who wish to clean exhibition props
- All staff members will have personal disinfecting materials for cleaning surfaces
- Routinely scheduled cleaning will take place throughout the day and after museum hours
- Props, toys, and other exhibition related materials will be reduced, cleaned and rotated by staff throughout the day
- Revised museum flow to encourage social distancing will be clearly marked
- Multi-stall restrooms will have capacity limits
- All food and beverage consumption will be prohibited in the museum gallery spaces
And like any other public place, TCMU is asking any visitor who is sick to please stay home and come back when they are healthy.