For Teachers

Students help raise the U.S. Flag at Fort Sumter

NPS Photo

Parks as Classrooms

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, which preserves significant cultural and historical resources, welcomes school groups to visit and take advantage of the many opportunities to learn about our nation's history.

Field trips, which enhance classroom learning and broaden students' experiences, are available throughout the school year. For more information about coordinating a field trip, please read below.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is comprised of two main sites: Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor and Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.

All student groups are required to have a minimum of one adult for every ten children. Students must stay with their designated adult at all times. Adults are responsible for their group's conduct.

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter sits in the middle of Charleston Harbor and is only accessible by boat. Tickets for Fort Sumter are required for ALL groups and must be purchased through our authorized concessioner Fort Sumter Tours.

Fort Moultrie

Fort Moultrie is located on Sullivan's Island and is an ideal location for many field trips. ALL groups must make a reservation, this includes educational and non-educational groups. Group reservations are limited to 2 buses and 110 people per day. An entrance fee is required for Fort Moultrie.

All group reservations should be sent to park at least 14 days prior to the visit day and may NOT be requested more than year in advance.

To make a group reservation, please download the group reservation form and email a completed copy to [e-mail].
Group Reservation Form

Some groups may be eligible for an academic fee waiver, please read the below information on the academic fee waiver process.

 

A national park service ranger speaks with a family including small children

NPS/ N. Boyd

Academic Fee Waivers

Academic Fee Waivers are only available to qualifying institutions for educational trips to Fort Moultrie. They are NOT available for trips to Fort Sumter.

Applications for waivers must be received by the park at least 30 days in advance of the field trip.

Apply for an academic fee waiver by completing the Academic Fee Waiver Application form submitting the form to [e-mail]

Applications must show eligibility. To be eligible for an academic fee waiver, the following criteria must be met:

1. National or international applicants must prove they are a bona fide academic institution by submitting one of the following types of documentation:

· Documentation of educational or scientific tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority; or

· Documentation from a bona fide academic institution meeting one of these eligibility standards, confirming that the group is visiting for the purpose of providing transferable academic credit based on a curriculum; or

· Documentation of accreditation or recognition as an educational institution from a legitimate international, national, regional, state, or local authority for the applicant's location. Suggestion of affiliation with a state or a local school system is not the same as providing proof of accreditation, and therefore will not be accepted as proof.

2. Provide a written statement (documentation) verifying that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered.

3. Provide a written statement identifying the park resources and facilities that will be used to support the educational purpose of the visit, and how they are relevant to that purpose.

Home Schools: Home schools may be granted fee waivers based on the course of study following the procedures above, as long as they meet your state's requirements for home schools. A copy of a home school verification record from your state department of education is required

Safety Information:

Do not climb on cannons, bricks and windowsills.
Leave all plants, rocks, shells and historic objects within park boundaries.
Do not run, watch your step. Most surfaces within the forts are uneven.
Do not cross safety barriers and chains.
Smoking is not permitted within park boundaries.
Please be respectful of other visitors and refrain from yelling and other boisterous behavior. All students should remain with their adult chaperones at all times.

In an emergency, call 911 and contact a ranger. First aid and AEDs are located at both Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie.