Spring field trip dates are completely booked! Thank you all so much for your interest. Please enjoy exploring your public lands safely and responsibly.
Colorado National Monument offers ranger-led field trips Tuesdays through Thursdays during the schoolyear (external link to Microsoft Bookings). Field trip experiences typically start at 10am and conclude by 2pm Mountain Time. In order to help quell any anxieties about the field trip from your students, you may like to schedule an in-classroom pre-visit with a ranger. Alternatively, you can use the same Bookings link to reserve an hour for a virtual pre-visit and post-visit on Mondays or Fridays.
Transportation Assistance Available
Our non-profit cooperating association partner, Colorado National Monument Association, received a $5,000 grant from National Park Trust, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, to connect our community's elementary school-aged learners with local parks, public lands, and waters through the Every Kid Outdoors Small Grants Program in 2024. If your elementary classroom needs funding assistance to pay for transportation to the monument for a field trip, please send us a message and ask about bus funding. We're so grateful to our partners for this opportunity to more equitably serve the Grand Valley's learners!
New in 2024
We've opened up virtual pre- and post-visits on Mondays or Fridays. Pre-visits prepare learners for what to expect on the field trip and get to know one of the rangers who will be leading them in the monument. Post-visits review the field trip experience to reinforce the learning and apply skills to one final capstone challenge! Please note that virtual pre- and post-visits will be hosted on Microsoft Teams due to government software agreements.
Scroll down for a list of options for your field trips. We're piloting three new programs in 2024!
- The "Five-in-One" program addresses 4th grade standards in physical, life, and earth sciences through wildlife, geology, plants, water, and people, all in the same field trip.
- "All About Animals" adresses elementary life science standards for 2nd-5th grades.
- "At Your Service" answers all your questions about the NPS and gets you and your students involved.
If you have a topic that isn't yet represented in these options, reach out to us and we'll do our best to work with you to get a field trip that better meets your curriculum needs.
At the bottom of this page is a two-minute video you can show your learners about what to bring to prepare them for the adventure!
Heads up: Programs may be canceled due to inclement weather. In the case of a weather cancellation, we will contact you to discuss rescheduling options. If you are concerned about the weather conditions, please call us at 970-858-2835. Programs may be rescheduled to a later date; however, we cannot guarantee a reschedule date.
Planning a Ranger-Led Field Trip to the Monument
- Choose a program (below) that will fit your classroom's needs.
- Use our Microsoft Bookings calendar form (external link) to see available dates and request a time. Use the same link to request a virtual pre-visit (before your field trip) and virtual post-visit (after your field trip).
- Complete our Education Reservation Request Form (Pages one and three, which includes Sections 1, 2, and 5) and email it to us at COLM_Education@nps.gov. Section 5 will allow us to provide your group an academic fee waiver if approved! Additionally, complete Section 3 if you'd like a pre- or post-visit.
- We prefer one classroom at a time in order to engage small-group and individualized learning opportunities.
- Groups larger than 30 students will be offered programs in a station-rotation format. These occur in Devils Kitchen Picnic Area or Saddlehorn Picnic Area.
- Please maintain a ratio of close to 10:1 students to adults, including chaperones and teachers.
- Accommodations may be available for any students or adults in your group with accessibility needs. Please let us know so that we can prepare and try to provide for you.
