Ranger Guided

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will not offer any Ranger-led field trips for the remainder of 2023. Please check back in spring 2024 for more information about field trip opportunities.

Taking your class on a field trip to Florissant Fossil Beds can greatly enhance the teaching of earth science as well as other subjects. National parks are Amerca's largest classrooms. You can also find Lesson Plans for Florissant Fossil Beds.

Scheduling a Field Trip

To schedule a field trip, please email us or call the park at [phone]. Please visit the Academic Fee Waiver page for information on the criteria for school groups to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees.

Field Trip Activities: The following is a list of possible activities on your field trip. The activities that your class will participate in depends upon your needs, the staffing levels at the Monument, the number of students you have, and the time you have for your field trip.

Orientation Activity: Either a game or ranger talk to introduce students to the basic geologic story of the area. (30 minutes)

Petrified Forest Hike: This is a 1.5 hour, 1 mile hike past petrified tree stumps, an historic excavation

Hornbek Homestead: Tour an 1878 historic homestead.

Visitor Center: See fossil displays and geologic exhibits.

Florissant Fossil Quarry: Some groups that visit the Monument also opt to go to a nearby, privately owned quarry where students can dig for fossils.

 

• Orientation Letter

Field Trip Orientation Letter

Please go over this information before coming to the Monument. The letter will make sure you have all the supplementary information needed before, during, and after your visit to the Monument.