Plan A Field Trip

 
A smiling park ranger stands among students before a wall of petroglyphs.
Educators can schedule in-person field trips to Dinosaur National Monument.

NPS / Dan Johnson

Scheduling an in-person field trip is an excellent way to get hands-on learning experience out in nature. There are many different topics at Dinosaur National Monument that can complement your curriculum. When booking your trip, let us know which areas you want to focus on and rangers can direct you to the best locations. Topics include, but are not limited to, dinosaurs, fossils, paleontology, geology, canyons, rivers, and local human history. While the majority of in-person field trips occur at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, rangers may be able to lead activities in other areas as staffing allows. Learn about scheduling a field trip, academic fee waivers, teacher resources, and how to contact Dinosaur's education rangers.
 

Current In Person Field Trip Season

Spring 2025 Season
Dates: March 4, 2025 through May 23, 2025
Times: Morning Window (occurring between 9 am and Noon) or Afternoon Window (occurring between 1 pm and 5 pm)
 
An icon featuring an adult and young Camarasaurus beside a river and small crocodile.

How to Schedule an In Person Field Trip

  1. In-person Field Trips should be booked at least 4 weeks in advance, especially if you would like to request ranger-guided activities. Select your desired date and time using our online scheduling form. The calendar only shows dates and times that are within our Current Field Trip Season. If you plan to be at the Quarry Exhibit Hall between 9 am and noon, select the 9 am time slot. If you plan to be at the Quarry Exhibit Hall between 1 pm and 5 pm, select the 1 pm time slot.
  2. After booking through the online form, continue to monitor your inbox and spam folders for an email from DINO_education@nps.gov. The email will contain further instructions necessary for scheduling your trip and submitting an Academic Fee Waiver.
Please Note...
Using the online scheduling form helps to prevent multiple large groups from visiting the same place at the same time, especially inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall and along the Fossil Discovery Trail. It also allows us to distribute requests for ranger-led activities. If you are not able to book at least 4 weeks in advance, or if the date you need is not available, you are still welcome to bring your students to Dinosaur National Monument for a field trip. However, ranger-led activities may be limited and your visit may need to be entirely self-guided.
 

Contact Dinosaur's Education Rangers

Have a question? See if it's already answered in the Facts and Questions (FAQ) section below. If you need more information, call the Quarry Visitor Center during our operating hours at (435) 781-7700 (ext. 0) or email us.
 

Academic Fee Waivers

School groups and other approved academic institutions can apply for waiver of park entrance fees, provided the visit is for educational or scientific purposes and the resources or facilities the group intends to use support those purposes. Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. There are 3 requirements that the group must meet to qualify for an academic fee waiver:
  1. Eligibility
  2. Educational Purpose
  3. Relevancy of Park Resources or Facilities
After booking your in-person field trip with us, we will send you an Academic Fee Waiver Request form. Academic Fee Waivers must be completed and submitted to us at least 2 weeks prior to your field trip. See the Academic Fee Waivers page for more information.
 
A spread on a table that includes a green backpack, prehistoric animal toys, fossils, and a lesson plan binder.
Teacher Packs include a lesson plan binder and prop box that includes fossils and replicas of prehistoric animals.

NPS / Molly Swindle

Field Trip Resources

Teacher Backpacks
Use a Teacher Pack to hike the Fossil Discovery Trail with a self-led program. The teacher pack guides you and your class with an easy-to-follow lesson plan to learn about the different rock layers, the environments they represent, and the fossils you’ll see along the way. Ask to borrow a Teacher Pack at the Quarry Visitor Center. The pack includes a lesson plan, images in a binder, and a fossil kit. Many teachers find it helpful to download review the Fossil Discovery Trail lesson plan beforehand and print out Junior Ranger booklets for students to bring along. The lesson plan was made using Utah State Grade 4 education standards. Make sure you return the teacher pack to the Quarry Visitor Center before you leave.

Junior Ranger Program
The Junior Ranger Program is a great way to learn more about the park with a self-guided activity book. Anyone can become a Junior Ranger. We offer booklets for readers and pre-readers. Upon completing the booklet, you can turn it in to recieve a Junior Ranger badge. You can also scan or take photos of your completed booklet and submit it to us digitally. For more information about the program, visit our Junior Ranger webpage.
 
A picture of the face of the Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grade card pass. It features kids in nature pointing off the edge of a dock..
The Every Kid Outdoors 4th Grader pass card from 2022.  Click the card to get your pass.

NPS Photo

4th Grader Passes

The Every Kid Outdoors program offers 4th graders the opportunity to visit their National Parks and Monuments for free! As the name suggests, the 4th grader pass is only available to 4th graders. If you're in 4th grade and want to get your pass, visit the Every Kid Outdoors website to complete an activity and print out a paper voucher. Bring the paper voucher with you to Dinosaur National Monument and show it to the ranger to exchange it for a 4th grader card pass. We can't accept electronic or digital versions of the voucher, so make sure to bring a printed copy. Educators can also print vouchers for each of their 4th grade students. Visit the Every Kid Outdoors rules and regulations page for more details about the program.
 

Field Trip Facts and Questions (FAQ)

 
Students with backpacks on viewing exhibits and fossils on the Wall of Bones at the Quarry.
Education

Whether you're visiting us in person or online, Dinosaur offers many resources for students, educators, and community leaders.

A ranger holds a tablet up to a window to show the landscape to the students on screen.
Virtual Field Trips

Show your students and community members the wonders of Dinosaur! We offer Virtual Field Trips by appointment during the winter season.

Smiling kids hold golden Dinosaur junior ranger badges and plastic dinosaurs up to the camera.
Junior Ranger Program

Junior Rangers help everyone safely explore, learn, and protect National Park Service sites like Dinosaur. Anyone can be a Junior Ranger.

Last updated: August 21, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

4545 Hwy 40
Dinosaur, CO 81610

Phone:

435 781-7700

Contact Us