Plan A Field Trip

 

We are glad that you have decided to visit Great Basin National Park! As guardians of your park, we want to make sure that you and your students enjoy your visit and have a successful educational experience. Our nonprofit partner, Great Basin National Park Foundation, offers education programs including field trips, virtual programs, and in-classroom programs.

 

Learn and play in Great Basin National Park on a field trip!

Great Basin National Park Foundation photo

Scheduling Your Trip

Field trips to the park often center around Lehman Cave Tours. Tours are 45-60 minutes for elementary and middle school groups, and 60-90 minutes for high school and college groups. Tours are limited to groups of 20 - if your group is larger than 20, including teachers and chaperones, you will need to schedule more than one tour. School groups are required to have a minimum of one chaperone/teacher per five students for grades K-3, and one chaperon/teacher per seven students for grades 4 through 12. (Note that extra chaperones over the 1:5 or 1:7 ratio will need to pay for their cave tour)

If you are a K-12 teacher, please contact Great Basin National Park Foundation's education coordinator by e-mail or phone at 775-983-6171.

If you are a college or university professor, please contact Great Basin National Park by e-mail.

Please contact us to schedule your visit at least one month in advance; earlier is preferable. Have alternative dates for your trip in mind. We will try our best to accomodate your group on your preferred date, but it is not always possible.

Academic Fee Waviers

While Great Basin National Park has no entrance fee, cave tours do have associated costs. Accredited educational institutions may obtain fee waivers for Lehman Cave tours to waive these costs. Fee waiver applications require information on how the field trip aligns with your curriculum, written on your institution's letterhead, along with proof of accreditation. Information on academic fee waivers will be provided to you when scheduling your trip, from either park staff or Great Basin National Park Foundation coordinators.

Helpful Hints

Allow Extra Time: Please plan your trip to allow for extra traveling time and restroom breaks. Time for students to release energy is also helpful. During the busy season, the tour schedule is tight. If you miss your start time, you may have to wait quite a while before your group can go into the cave! Also keep in mind that Great Basin National Park is in the Pacific Time Zone.

Plan for a Snack: A picnic area near the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is open mid-spring through fall. Plan to arrive with plenty of time before your scheduled activities to allow for a snack or lunch at the picnic area. (This is also a good place for students to run around and release some energy before their cave tour.)

Divide Groups Ahead of Time: If you have more than 20 people (including teachers and chaperones), you will need to divide into groups. It is best to do this ahead of time. Give each group a name or better yet, let them pick their own! Names of cave formations or animals found in the park work well.

Dress Appropriately: Lehman Caves is 52ºF and near 99% humidity. Please ensure that all students bring jackets and wear closed shoes with good traction.

Every Kid Outdoors Pass: 4th graders (students who are 10 years old) are eligible for an Every Kid Outdoors pass. This pass can be used to cover entrance fees to Federal Public Lands. Find more information on the Every Kid Outdoors pass.

Safety, Responsibilities, and Park Regulations

Discipline is Your Responsibility: The behavior and discipline of your students is the responsibility of teachers and their chaperones. While in the park, there must be one chaperone for every seven children in grades 4th through 12th and one chaperone for every 5 students Kindergarten through 3rd grade at all times, including when you are in the Lehman Caves Cafe & Gift Shop. If rangers have any difficulty ensuring the protection of the cave or safety of the group, the program will end and the group will be asked to leave the park.

Everything in Great Basin National Park is protected! Do not pick flowers, collect rocks, take pine cones, or touch cave formations. While hiking, stay on the designated trails. Instructors and chaperones can be held legally and financially responsible for the actions of the group or individuals in the group. To minimize any potential problems, please review the rules and regulations with your students before your visit.

Lehman Caves: While in the cave, the group must stay with the ranger at all times. The ranger will turn off the lights behind the group as they go, so it is important for the safety of your students that they do not lag behind or try to leave the group! No food, drinks (including water), gum, candy, or bags of any kind are allowed in the cave. Cameras are permitted in the cave, but students will be instructed as to when and where they may take photographs in the cave. Any behavior that compromises the protection of the cave or safety of the group will result in a prompt end to the tour.

Camping: All campgrounds in Great Basin National Park require a reservation, which can be made on Recreation.gov. Group sites are located in the Grey Cliffs campground. Visit our camping page to learn more. Note that academic fee waivers do not waive or provide a discount to camping fees.

 

Learn More

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Learn all about the night sky, cave formations, wildlife, and ecosystems while earning a Jr Ranger badge or Dark Jr Ranger patch!

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Great Basin National Park Foundation

The Great Basin National Park Foundation is an essential supporter of park projects, including the new Great Basin Observatory.

Accessibility

Great Basin has many accessible facilities, campsites, and programs. Learn how to make your experience the best here.