Plan A Field Trip

Contact the Park for information about future field trip opportunities,

Teachers may bring students to the park for field trips. Regardless of the time of year or weather conditions, everyone will have a more enjoyable and productive visit if they are well-prepared for the day. Check out this field trip orientation letter to help you plan your visit.

Academic Fee Waivers

The Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR § 71.13) allows the National Park Service to issue entrance fee waivers for bona fide educational and/or scientific institutions that use the park for educational purposes. Approved academic fee waivers cover entrance fees for all students and the required number of chaperones. See the Academic Fee Waivers page for more information.

A typical field trip to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument for K-12:

Activities are dependent on staff availability, number of students attending, and time of year. Some activities can be lengthened and curriculum changed based on the grades of the students.

Field trips typically occur in the spring, April-May, and in the fall, September-November. Most field trips are scheduled Monday – Friday 10 AM to 1PM and must be prearranged & scheduled through the park. Please e-mail us or call 719-748-3253. Please contact the park at least two weeks in advance of your proposed field trip date.

 

Ranger leading students during a hike

NPS Photo

Self Guided Hikes

Take students on a hike along the 1-mile Petrified Forest Loop. Guide them through an ancient petrified redwood forest, showcasing the iconic fossilized redwood stumps in the park. Signage along the trail discusses how the trees became fossils, ancient Lake Florissant, early homesteaders, and the park’s early history.

The ½ mile Ponderosa Loop is another option for a self-guided walk through a modern Ponderosa forest, look for park wildlife like Abert's squirrels and Steller's Jays!

 

Student interacting with display

NPS Photo

Exploration of Visitor Center
Self-guided exploration of the visitor center exhibit area inside the visitor center. Students can read exhibit panels on climate change and paleontology & look up close at delicate leaf and insect fossils from 34 million years ago. A 15 minute film is also available for up to 25 students at a time.

 

Students investigating fossils in Fossil Lab

NPS Photo

Fossil Learning Lab (seasonal)
Join a ranger at the Fossil Learning Lab (in the yurt). Students can look at fossils under microscopes, dig in outdoor sand pits, and play with other interactive fossil learning stations.

 

 

Students visiting Hornbek Homestead

NPS Photo

Historic Homestead Tour

Several times during the summer months the 1878 Hornbek Homestead is open to the public. Students can walk through the old homestead, tour a carriage house, barn, and root cellar to gain a glimpse of what life was like over 100 years ago living in the Florissant valley.

 

Student exploring in sand pits

NPS Photo

Other Activities

Other activities and curriculum may be offered based on conversations and planning that occurs between teachers and the park’s education coordinator. More information on self guided trips can be found here.

 

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