Plan A Field Trip

Entrance Permits:

An entrance permit of $10 per vehicle is charged. There is no charge for children 16 and under. Schools officially sanctioned by a Federal, State, or local Government body may be exempt from paying the entrance permit by filling out the Fee Waiver form and having it approved by park officials.

Please use the new Fee Waiver Form found by following the link below.

Fee Waiver Form

Reservation Guidelines:

Many teachers like to combine two or more classes into one field trip to save transportation costs. However, we strongly encourage you to keep your groups as small as possible, preferably one class per field trip. Please remember that the park staff is trying to give your students the highest quality educational experience possible. More than one busload of students per field trip is difficult to manage; the field trip deteriorates into crowd control, and virtually nothing educational can be accomplished. Additionally, the primary role of the National Park Service is to protect and preserve the battlefield. Excessively large numbers of students can cause damage to the resource. Please consider these points before scheduling your field trip, and keep the number of your students limited to one busload, if possible. We recommend one adult chaperon for every 10 students.

Reservation Procedure:

Fill out the Fee Waiver form and return it, either by fax or mail, to Pea Ridge NMP with the required documentation at least two weeks before your desired date. Once the Fee Waiver has been received and approved by park officials, you will receive a confirmation e-mail confirming the date on your waiver. We cannot save a date for you without first having received your fee waiver.

Arrival:

Upon arriving at the park, your group will watch the movie (if you choose) after receiving a brief orientation about the visit. (If you arrive with a larger group, we may split your students into three or four smaller groups). After the movie, you can go through the museum. If you would like your students to do the museum scavenger hunt, it must be scheduled before your visit by checking YES on the Fee Waiver form. The same applies for the ranger programs. The ranger programs offered vary so check with the ranger who schedules your group for program availability. Ranger programs are dependent on the availabilty of staff. REMIND YOUR STUDENTS NOT TO CLIMB ON THE CANNONS—THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

Parking:

Bus parking is located south of the main parking lot at the Visitor Center.

Dress:

Teachers, chaperons and students should plan ahead and dress comfortably, taking into account weather conditions. Teachers should send home a note with students reminding parents to dress their children appropriately the day of the field trip. Some programs offered are outdoors.

Food:

Groups may bring their lunch and eat only in the picnic area. Please be sure to deposit all trash in the trash cans provided or carry it out of the park. NO FOOD OR DRINKS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE VISITOR CENTER.

Conduct:

In advance of the trip, the teacher should discuss the following park rules with his/her students and chaperons:

1. Do not climb on monuments, signs, markers, rocks, trees or cannons.

2. Do not remove any artifact, animal or plant life.

3. Do not play on or around vehicles.

4. Stay away from all construction/maintenance projects.

5. Do not litter.

6. Do not bring toys, radios, food, drink or gum into the visitor center.

7. The battlefield is NOT a playground.Please do not bring Frisbees, footballs or any type of playground equipment.

8. School groups will encounter other visitors in the park.Students should conduct themselves in such a way as to allow others to enjoy their visit.Students will not be permitted to wander unsupervised throughout the Visitor Center or park.Horseplay will not be permitted.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A FIELD TRIP TO PEA RIDGE NMP OR YOU NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT A SCHEDULED GROUP, PLEASE CONTACT RANGER VIRGINIA DYER AT 479-451-8122 EX 228.

 

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT, DUE TO BUDGET CUTS, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO SCHEDULE FIELD TRIPS ON MONDAYS. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

SCHEDULED GROUPS:

June

6 - Rogers Activity Center

11 - Rogers Activity Center

12 - Loyds Little Land Preschool

13 - Cassville R-VI School

18 - IWA- International Walkers Association

19 - Sunshine Montessori

20 - Webb City Jr High

25 - Bentonville Public School Child Care Enrichment Services Adventure Club

July

2 - Pine Crest Private School

24 - McPherson Middle School

August

8 - Military Order of the Purple Heart

September

7 - MTFCA National Hillbilly Tour 2013

19 - Mayflower Tours

October