Health and Safety Policies

The health and safety of WonderLab’s visitors and staff is our highest priority. WonderLab is following guidelines and recommendations of the CDC, the Indiana State Department of Health, the City of Bloomington and the Monroe CountyHealth Department.

All persons entering the museum or museum property are required to follow the mask policy. Thank you for your cooperation!

Of the adults who visit, we can estimate that less than half have been vaccinated. This means that the vast majority (ca 75%) of all visitors are not vaccinated.

According to CDC guidelines, wearing masks protects health and safety for all persons including  children and adults who remain unvaccinated or immunocompromised. Adults need to be role models for the children in our museum and community.

Mask Policy: WonderLab has “masks required” days and “masks welcomed” days. Visitors are encouraged to visit on the day that best meets their needs.

Museum staff, volunteers and interns will follow the daily mask policy of required or recommended.

For General Admission Times and Ticket Information go to our Plan Your Visit page.

General Admission may be purchased at the door. Online reservations are not necessary.

Mask Policy

WonderLab has “masks required” days and “masks welcomed” days. Visitors are encouraged to visit on the day that best meets their needs.

Museum Staff, volunteers and interns will follow mask policy.

How can I purchase admission?

Science Sprouts Place, our special exhibit area for our youngest visitors age birth – 3 years, is open during all General Admission Times.

How do I move around WonderLab?

Is WonderLab wheelchair accessible? Yes. WonderLab is ADA wheelchair accessible.

Disclaimer 

The WonderLab Museum is taking enhanced health, safety and protective measures, but an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the CDC, individuals age 65 and over and visitors with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting WonderLab, I voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 for myself, my children and other family members, or members of my visitor group. I agree that my family or visitor group will adhere to all policies and procedures put in place by WonderLab, including but not limited to following physical distancing guidelines, wearing a mask (unless under 2 or medically unable) and not entering the museum if I or anyone in my visiting family or group is feeling ill for any reason. I acknowledge that WonderLab may share my contact information with the Monroe County Public Health Department if requested in order to assist with contact tracing COVID-19.

Mask Policy: WonderLab has “masks required” days and “masks welcomed” days. Visitors are encouraged to visit on the day that best meets their needs.

Why does WonderLab have days when face masks are still required? The first Tuesday of the each month is a day for Immunocompromised Accessibility. Masks are Required when entering the museum. We learned during the pandemic that families with immunocompromised individuals were finally able to join us because everyone was wearing masks in the museum. We decided to continue this standard requiring masks on the first Tuesday of the month.

According to CDC Guidelines, face masks help to protect both the wearer and others nearby from transmission of virus from aerosol droplets. For people who have received the COVID-19 vaccines, face masks still protect the wearer and others from transmission of the virus, including new, more easily-transmitted variants.

Masks are welcomed the rest of the month Tuesday – Sunday

What type of masks are allowed? Cloth or disposable face coverings that fully cover the mouth and nose.

What type of masks are NOT allowed?  The following types of face coverings do not comply with WonderLab’s safety standard and are not allowed:

• Mesh masks
• Transparent masks
• Face shields only
• Halloween or plastic masks
• Ski masks with holes for the nose or mouth
• Masks that have a one-way valve designed for easier breathing, such as some N95 masks (the valves are often a raised plastic disk about the size of a quarter, on the front or side of the mask). Holes or one-way valves allow droplets out of the mask, putting others nearby at risk

What if I don’t have a mask? Museum guests are encouraged to bring their own mask. WonderLab has disposable masks available.

What if I am unable to wear a mask? Some individuals may be exempt from the requirement to wear a face covering:

• Children under 2 years old should not wear a face covering.
• Individuals with a hearing impairment who use facial and mouth movements as part of communication should contact a Visitor Services staff member for assistance. The Visitor Services staff member may use a clear acrylic full-face shield to communicate.
• Other individuals who are not able to wear a mask for medical reasons may request a full-face clear acrylic shield available at the museum welcome desk.
• Fraudulent ADA Cards identifying users as ‘not able to wear a mask’ will not be accepted.

Read More: How to help children adjust to masks according to experts and parents, Washington Post, 8/10/2020

We can’t contain our excitement….we are ready to see you at WonderLab. Our goals? Your comfort and safety!

Physical Distancing

• Visitor groups are encouraged to stay together, move through the museum as a single unit and social distance from other Visitor Groups or individuals.  
• Adults, please keep your children with your group at all times during your entire visit. 
•  One Visitor Group at a time on the elevator (no change).

Hand Washing

Guests are encouraged to wash and/or sanitize their hands often throughout the day and between each exhibit use at one of 10 New Sanitation Stations located in the museum.

Sanitation Stations

Ten new Hand Sanitation Stations have been installed in the museum galleries – five on each floor. Guests are encouraged to wash and/or sanitize their hands often throughout the day and between each exhibit use.

Face Masks Required Days

All visitors age 2 years and over are required to wear masks at all times while on the museum grounds.

• Masks are required for all visitors age 2 years and over.
• Disposable masks are available for adults and children at the Visitor Services Welcome Desk.
• Cloth masks for adults and children are available for purchase in the museum gift store.
• Visitors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are also required to wear a mask, and follow physical distance guidelines.
• Visitors who refuse to wear an approved face mask will be asked to leave.

All WonderLab staff and volunteers are instructed to perform a daily health screening at home for COVID-19 symptoms, including a temperature check, before arriving at the museum.

Staff and service providers will enter the museum through a single point at the rear of the building.

Employees are instructed to wash hands (or use hand sanitizer if washing is not possible) frequently throughout the day following this procedure: Wet hands with running water, apply soap, lather back of hands, 2 inches above wrists, between fingers, under nails for at least 20 seconds. This will be done 1. Immediately upon entry to the building, 2. Whenever moving out of personal workspace into a shared area, 3. Before entering and after leaving breakroom, 4. After any of the following activities: using restroom, sneezing, eating, touching face, blowing nose, cleaning; 5. Whenever moving from museum gallery area into administrative or first floor support space, 6. Throughout the day as needed and 7. Immediately prior to departing the building.

Employees are instructed to not share personal equipment or tools, and if shared, must be disinfected between users. Disinfecting materials will be provided to each individual staff member with extra supplies located in the first-floor support space.

Hand sanitizer stations will be positioned in breakrooms, restrooms, shared spaces, lab rooms, café, museum galleries, first floor support spaces, and office areas. Each employee will receive a hand sanitizer dispenser that can be refilled from bulk supply.

WonderLab Employees agree to reduce exposure risk, self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, assess health status prior to entering the workplace, and report when ill or experiencing symptoms.

Employees are required to stay home if they feel ill, go home if they feel ill, and follow their healthcare provider’s directive for remaining home due to actual or possible COVID-19 infection or exposure.  If requested or needed, employees will get tested for COVID-19 to help slow the transmission and spread.

WonderLab employees whose work can be done remotely are encouraged to continue doing so for some to all of the workweek, especially employees who are in high-risk categories.

WonderLab has communicated this to each staff member and will make reasonable accommodations for remote work, as possible and upon request.

WonderLab has workspace accommodation procedures for employees with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions.

Employee workspaces, workdays and work times have been adjusted to minimize the number of people in the museum and maximize distance between staff working at the same time.

All employees have been trained in De-Escalation strategies and Implicit Bias.