Fee Waiver Information
Educational fee waivers are granted to academic institutions whose curriculum relates specifically to the resources in Acadia National Park.
National Park Service regulations allow academic institutions to obtain a waiver of park entrance fees, provided the visit is for academic or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use support those purposes.
A school group does not automatically qualify for a fee-waiver just because the visit is educational. Academic groups must demonstrate that they qualify for the waiver by meeting each of the three requirements listed below:
- Eligibility: Applicants must prove they are an academic or scientific institution.
- Educational Purpose: Applicants must provide a written statement confirming that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered.
-
Relevance: Applicants must provide a written explanation identifying the park resources and/or facilities that will be used to support the educational purpose of the visit, and how they are relevant to that purpose.
Entrance fee waivers are granted only if each of the above three criteria are met.
NOTE: Any non-commercial group from an academic institution in which all students are under the age of 16 are eligible for fee exemption. Please fill out the the entire top portion of the Fee Waiver Application below then sign the bottom, disregarding the criteria. An approved confirmation letter is still necessary and must be displayed when inside the park.
If the group is on a commercial tour, the applicant must state how the tour supports the curriculum. Groups that do not qualify for an educational fee waiver will be charged the appropriate entrance fee and may be considered as a Non-Commercial Organized Group. Click here for more information.