Field Trips

Yosemite National Park features an amazing array of learning opportunities. Here, you will find several options and planning resources to help you coordinate a field trip to Yosemite, whether you plan on attending a Parks as Classrooms program, designing a self-guided visit, or are looking for information on other educational possibilities such as virtual programs.

If you have any questions, email us or call us at 209/375-9503.

Visit Yosemite: Parks as Classrooms Programs (One-Day Visits)

After a hiatus, our Education Team is excited to start offering guided ranger programs for school groups visiting Yosemite Valley beginning Fall 2023. Since we have a new team, our offerings will be limited and will expand slowly. Our guided ranger programs are catered to K-12 classes and our meet and greet sessions with a ranger are geared for college age students who are looking to learn more about professional development. We also offer specialized bilingual Spanish programming by request. Due to limited staffing, we are unable to accommodate field trip requests for spring 2024. Please stay tuned for program offerings in summer 2024. Fall 2024 field trip requests will be accepted starting in August 2024.

Fall 2024 Programs

 

Geology Rocks: Cook's Meadow in Yosemite Valley

Grade Levels: 3-6

Times: 9:00-10:30am or 12:30-2:00pm

Join a ranger on an easy, flat 2-mile guided walk around Cook's Meadow. Students will learn about the rock cycle, the unique types of granite in Yosemite, and the many forces that shaped Yosemite Valley and continue to today.

Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in fall 2024. Fall 2024 field trip requests will be accepted starting in August 2024.

 

Hydrology: Lower Yosemite Falls Trail in Yosemite Valley

Grade Levels: 3-6

Times: 9:00-10:30am or 12:30-2:00pm

Join a ranger on an easy, flat 2-mile guided walk on the Lower Yosemite Falls trail. Students will learn about the water cycle, the park's watersheds, and witness firsthand the incredible power of our tallest waterfall.

Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in fall 2024. Fall 2024 field trip requests will be accepted starting in August 2024.

 

Sequoias and Fire: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Grade Levels: 4-6

Times: 9:00-10:30am or 12:30-2:00pm

Join a ranger on an moderate, slightly uphill 2-mile guided walk to the Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Students will learn about the importance of fire in our park's many different ecosystems, Giant Sequoias' adaptations to fire, and our efforts to address climate change.

Available on Wednesdays in fall 2024. Fall 2024 field trip requests will be accepted starting in August 2024.

 

Class Size

There is a maximum class size of 30 students, with one chaperone required per every six students (36 people maximum/group). A field trip for multiple classes that requires more than two rangers will require a date in which the school group will be the only visiting group on that day. Please have multiple dates in mind to give the best chance of us being able to schedule your group.

Fees

The Parks as Classrooms programs are free of cost. The only National Park Service fee to take care of is the entrance fee. For entrance fees, we have an Educational Fee Waiver for schools planning on doing field trips to the park. School groups only submit one waiver per trip. We require at least 2 weeks to process the form so plan accordingly.

To schedule a program, contact the Education Office at 209/375-9503 or email us. Include your date(s) of choice and which programs you are interested in.

Explore Yosemite with our education partner: NatureBridge programs (Overnight Educational Visits)

NatureBridge environmental science programs in Yosemite National Park offer students in grades K-12 the opportunity to learn hands-on science in one of the world’s most stunning geologic wonders. Two- to five-night residential outdoor science programs are led by experienced educators and customized to enhance your school’s curriculum. Students hike through the dramatic landscapes of Yosemite, explore ancient groves of giant sequoias, ski across snowy meadows, and challenge themselves to reach the tops of waterfalls. Focused on inquiry-based learning, students engage in field research projects and discover how humans and the environment are connected, from past to present.

For more information, email NatureBridge, or call 209/379-9511 ext 25.