• Photo of the steep natural entrance of Carlsbad Caverns

    Carlsbad Caverns

    National Park New Mexico

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  • Elevator Renovations

    Allow more time to visit and expect lines for small elevators while large elevator system is renovated. Walking exit is steep.

For Teachers

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A Carlsbad 4th grade class learns about the park on a school fieldtrip.
NPS Photo

Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers numerous educational opportunities and materials. Recently the park unveiled a new lineup of ranger-conducted school programs for all grades. These include both onsite presentations at the park and offsite presentations in school classrooms. School fee waivers are available if a field trip to the cave correlates with a specific topic of study in class. A list of available programs as well as fee waiver information can be viewed through the Plan a Field Trip links on this page.

The park also offers curriculum-based materials for students of all ages. For high school students, the Chihuahuan Desert Lab offers hands-on participation in resource monitoring and stewardship activities at the park. Also available is a high school geology curriculum guide, as well as three curriculum guides for middle school classes on geology, ecology and biology. About Bats, Caves, and Deserts is a curriculum guide designed for elementary school classes.

Available on request is an introductory ParKids video. The park also has a Junior Ranger program for visiting children.

Did You Know?

Soda straws in Carlsbad Cavern.

Most of the formations—or speleothems—found inside Carlsbad Cavern today were active and growing during the last ice age when instead of having a desert above the cave, there were pine forests.