Academic Fee Waivers

Junior Ranger in an exhibit learning about caving with a Park Ranger.

Bradley Block

National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver for tour fees, provided that the visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities the group proposes to use support those purposes.

Fee waivers may be granted to educational institutions whose curriculum relates specifically to the resources at Jewel Cave National Monument. See below for how to apply. All applications must be received 30 days prior to anticipated trip. Please be aware:

• Academic fee waivers cannot be granted for hardship factors.

• Service, civic, or fraternal organizations, such as Scouting, Rotary, and Elks, do not quality for an academic fee waiver unless the group meets the criteria below.

• "Blanket" academic fee waivers for all national parks are not issued or accepted. Groups must submit separate requests to individual parks for approval.

Academic Fee Waiver Criteria

Criteria #1 - Eligibility

Applicants must prove they are an academic institution by submitting one of the following:

• A statement confirming educational or scientific tax-exemption from the IRS or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority.

• A statement, from a bona fide academic institution, confirming that the group is visiting for the purpose of providing transferable educational credit based on a curriculum.

• A statement of accreditation, or recognition as an academic institution, from a recognized national, regional, state, or local authority.

Criteria #2 – Educational Purpose

Applicants must provide a written statement confirming that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. This requirement can be met by submitting the course number and description and/or a copy of the catalog description for college courses or an outline of student work required for grades K-12.

Criteria #3 – Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Applicants must provide a written statement describing how specific park resources and facilities are relevant to the educational purpose of the visit. Course outlines, lesson plans, or a copy of the curriculum meet this requirement.

Submitting an Academic Fee Waiver Application

You may submit your completed application and required supporting documentation by email: e-mail us

Download the Application for Academic Fee Waiver here

Application packets must be received by Jewel Cave National Monument at least 30 days prior to the start date of your anticipated trip. Academic Fee Waivers will not be issued on-site.

Feel free to call us at [phone] or email us here if you have further questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can an Educational Fee Waiver cover?

An Academic Fee Waiver will always cover the tour fees for all drivers and students, but the number of chaperones covered depends on the grade level.

K-5th = 1 adult to 5 students

6th-12th = 1 adult to 10 students

College/University = 1 adult to 20 students

Any additional chaperones will be charged the corresponding tour fee on arrival.

What tours are available for Academic Fee Waivers?

The Scenic Tour and Discovery Tour are the only tours Jewel Cave National Monument offers for Academic Fee Waivers.

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 requirements for home schools. A copy of your state's department of education requirements may be requested.