Academic Fee Waiver

Welcome!

There are two options available when planning a group visit. Whether you prefer to hire a local guide or tour on your own as a teacher-led group with a fee waiver, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

A few important details before you get started…

• You can make reservations on Recreation.gov for a Teacher-Led Tour or skip the reservation process by hiring a professional guide for a Guided Tour.
• The maximum capacity for each school group tour is 38 total people (children and adults). Each one-hour tour will consist of 30 minutes exploring the exterior and 30 minutes exploring the interior.
• For Teacher-Led Tours, review the criteria for Academic Fee Waivers below. Academic Fee Waiver requests must meet eligibility, education, and relevance requirements before they are approved by the park. Academic Fee Waivers only cover a certain number of chaperones per group.

Step 1 (Required):

You must begin your adventure by visiting Recreation.gov to book the appropriate kind of tour, date, and time for your group’s visit. Be sure to read all the materials provided to make sure your group’s experience is a safe and enjoyable one for all.

Step 2 (optional):

If you are seeking an Academic Fee Waiver for your group, you must submit an Education Reservation Request Form three weeks prior to your visit. Complete all of sections 1, 2, and 5 before returning the form and proof of eligibility to [e-mail]. Most public schools qualify, therefore, you will only be contacted by us if your request has been denied.

The number of chaperones covered by the Academic Fee Waiver is limited to:

• K-12 School groups: 1 chaperone for every 6 students, with a maximum of 5 chaperones per tour group.
• Post Secondary/College Groups: 1 chaperone per tour group.

Additional chaperones are welcome as long as the entire group does not exceed 38 people, but they will be required to pay the regular entrance fee.

Step 3 (Required):

Before your visit, please train all chaperones using the Teacher-Led Tour. Visiting teacher-led means students will tour the fort under your direction, not with a tour guide or ranger.

On the day of your visit, leaders of each group will need to provide the confirmation number from Recreation.gov along with the number of adults/children to the park ranger at the Group Check-In podium. Teacher-led groups will receive a safety talk prior to entry.

We look forward to your visit!