For Teachers

Parks As Classrooms

Muir Woods National Monument provides Parks as Classroom programs designed to engage students in historic inquiry and environmental science.

Educational Opportunities at Golden Gate National Recreations Area's Parks As Classrooms uses the Understanding by Design framework, and incorporates California Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. Our inquiry-based park programs can be timed to introduce concepts, reinforce understanding, or stimulate culminating projects within a teaching unit. Programs are typically structured in three parts: a classroom preparation, a national park field session, and classroom assessments in which students demonstrate what they have learned. Teachers are provided with resources, including program curriculum and supporting materials.

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How to Request a Field Trip

Currently not accepting applications for "Into the Redwood Forest" and "Forests for the Future" for the 2025-2026 school year.

 

 

Ranger Led Programs

To apply, please click on the program pages below for more information.

 

Ranger-Led

• 

  Grades 3-4

  Into the Redwood Forest

  How can nature teach us about community? As naturalists, students explore Muir Woods, a rare sanctuary for ancient redwoods.

• 

  Grade 11-12

  Forests for the Future

  Explore how redwoods and communities can mitigate environmental changes through a blend of inquiry science and cultural history.

 

Self-Guided Program

Rings, Ripples and Echoes

The program is teacher-led, using materials and activities curated and provided by the park's education team.
 

 

 

Non Curriculum Application Below

For Academic Fee Waivers please fill out application below.

 

Education Reservation Request Form – In-Person Park Visit  Use this form

Academic Fee Waiver – In-person Park Visit 

Use this form to apply for an Academic Fee Waiver. 

1. Complete and review the Education Reservation Request Form 

2. Complete Section 1, 2, and 5 of Fee Waiver Application using the following instructions. Please leave Section 3 and 4 blank. 

Section 1: Complete every box in this section and follow these instructions: 

Under the “Does anyone in your classroom need any accommodations?” and "Describe need” box, please let us know if anyone in your classroom needs any special help, such as accessibility, language, or special needs. 

Section 2: Complete every box in this section and follow these instructions: 

1.Under the “Program or Subject Requested/Self-Guided” box, please let us know if you want a self guided program (short introductions may be available for your group, but tours are not available). 

2.Under the “Mode of Transportation” box, please let us know how you will get to the park, such as by bus or car. Please let us know the size of your vehicle (in feet). 

* Please note: Only buses under 30ft may take Muir Woods Road between Panoramic Highway and the Muir Woods National Monument entrance. Buses over 30ft but smaller than 35ft are allowed into the park only via Highway 1 by taking Muir Woods Road (also known as Frank Valley Road) from the west. No vehicles longer than 35ft are allowed according to the regulation of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) 

Section 5: Complete every box in this section and make sure to attach requested documents when you submit your application.: 

1.Leave the Academic Fee Waiver blank if students are under 15. 
Muir Woods collects entrance fees for visitors that are 16 years of age and older. Children 15 years of age and under may enter for free. 
 
2.Please complete Section 5 to request an academic fee waiver only if your group contains students 16 years of age and older. 

3.We will only request your group to fill out the fee waiver section 5, if you expect a ratio exceeding 1 adult per 5 students for your class. For example if you have a class of 20 students and you have more than 4 chaperones, we expect you to complete section 5. 

CERTIFICATION: Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Applicant groups must show they qualify for the waiver. There are three criteria the group must meet to qualify for an academic fee waiver: 

1. Eligibility: Your institution must be officially recognized or accredited as an educational institution by a federal, state, or local government, or you must provide other documentation attesting to your educational status, such as an accreditation letter or educational tax-exempt letter. 

2. Educational Purpose: You must verify how this visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. For example, you can attach a course syllabus/description, course catalog, lesson plan, letter detailing the educational purpose, etc., and/or describe below. 

3. Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities: You must identify the pertinent park resources and/or facilities and detail how they are relevant to support the educational purpose of the visit (attach letter or description. 
  

4. After completing the Education Reservation Request Form, please be sure to: 

• Specify Self-Guided. 

• Submit your school's accreditation (Tax exempt form) if your students are over 15 years old. 

• Self-guided programs are available Monday through Friday for educational groups that qualify for the Academic Fee Waiver. 

Please note the following:  
 
Important Note About Application Submissions: Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email after submitting your application. Once you click "Submit," a thank-you message will appear in a popup at the bottom of the page. However, this message may not be immediately visible—you may need to scroll all the way down to see it. 

 

Transportation Guidelines 

To ensure a smooth and sustainable visit experience, we ask all groups to plan transportation carefully. Our site has limited parking and aims to reduce environmental impact, so we encourage carpooling and consolidated travel whenever possible. 

Vehicle Limit Policy 

• Maximum of 20 vehicles per group 

• Plan to carpool with 2-3 people per vehicle at a minimum  

• Example: A group of 25 people should arrive in 8–12 vehicles, not 25 separate cars 

• Requests to exceed the 20-vehicle limit must include a written justification and receive prior approval 

Chaperone-to-Student Ratio Guidelines 

Academic fee waivers include two complimentary chaperones per group. Additional chaperones must meet the following ratio guidelines based on student grade level: 

Grade Level	Minimum Ratio	Maximum Ratio
College	1:30	1:20
9th–12th Grade	1:15	1:10
6th–8th Grade	1:10	1:5
K–5th Grade	1:7	1:3

We understand that some groups may have unique needs. If your group requires additional chaperones beyond the standard ratio, please provide a written explanation with your booking request. 

Chaperones exceeding the allowed limit may be required to pay applicable park entry fees.  

Chaperones 

Chaperones play a key role in making park programs successful and safe. Here’s what to expect on your park visit: 

• Support student safety—your primary role throughout the day. 

• Guide learning – help students stay focused on the lesson or speaker. 

• Assist with materials – help distribute and collect as needed. 

• Supervise lunch and clean-up – provide guidance during breaks. 

• Stay curious and flexible – your attitude sets the tone for students!
   

Homeschool Groups 

• We welcome homeschool groups and recognize the variety of academic formats. In lieu of institutional accreditation, homeschool groups must submit a signed statement confirming that the visit is part of a legitimate academic curriculum. This helps us ensure that all educational visits align with our mission and program goals. 

• Please include this statement with your booking request. If you have questions about what qualifies, we’re happy to help clarify. 

• Homeschool groups are expected to adhere to the chaperone guidelines outlined in our policy. 
  
   

Self-guided Visit Guidelines 

• Minimum Group Size: 12 students 

• Maximum Group Size: 50 students 

• Groups larger than 50 must stagger their visit times. 

• Times for self guided programs: M-F 9am-2:30pm 

Program Availability & Application Process 

Each visiting group may participate in one program per day. 

If your requested program is already scheduled on your preferred date, and a self-guided option is available, you may either choose the self-guided program or select a different day for your visit. 

Curriculum-Based Programs 

These programs are only available through an application process at the beginning of the school year. 

For the 2025–2026 school year, the application window is closed at the moment, we will update teachers with a new timeline soon. (TBD)

After the application closes, you may still apply for a self-guided program, which qualifies for an academic fee waiver—covering both admission and parking. 

Ranger Introductions:  

Available when we have capacity 

Make sure you check in with the Ranger through email before requesting one on demand. We do not cater to requests on the spot.  

Limit: No more than 30 people and there from Monday to Friday in between times of 10am-1pm.  

Help Preserve Muir Woods 

Everything in a national monument is protected, from the rocks to the plants and animals. To ensure the protection of Muir Woods and a make this trip a memorable experience, please follow these guidelines. 

• Choose the Right Trail – Choose a trail that is best suited for the size, age, and ability of your group. 

• Stay On Established Trails – Walking off established trails causes damage to the park, such as trampled plants and excessive erosion. 

• Do Not Feed Wildlife – Feeding wild animals is illegal and can cause injury or death to the animal or the human. Keep your distance. Keep wildlife WILD. 

• Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints – Enjoy rocks and flowers but leave them for others to enjoy too. Do not carve or write on trees. 

• Carry Out All Trash – Muir Woods is your park. Help keep it clean and beautiful. 

Safety at Muir Woods 

Field trips to Muir Woods are full of adventure—and safety is key to a great trip! 

• Admire poison oak from afar – leaves of three let them be. 

• Stay on the trail – no climbing or leaning on fences. 

• Stick together – groups should stay close and move as one. 

• Keep voices low – we do not want to startle the wildlife. 

Be Prepared 

Any visit to Muir Woods will include some outdoor walking and exploring. Students should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Layering is essential in the redwood forest—mornings can be chilly, afternoons warm, and conditions may change quickly. Each student should carry a water bottle. 

Restrooms 

Restrooms are located in the front plaza near the visitor center, as well as in the café area inside the park. Restrooms are not available along the trails. Please use the restrooms before hiking. 

Weather 

Programs may be canceled due to inclement weather. In the case of a weather cancellation, we will contact you to discuss rescheduling options. If you are concerned about the weather conditions, please call us at [phone]. Programs may be rescheduled to a later date; however, we cannot guarantee a reschedule date. 

Please contact [e-mail] if you have any questions. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Contact Mailing Address Country

I have a US mailing address

I have a mailing address outside the US

International Mailing Address (required)
Please include building number and street, city, state/province country and Postal Code

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Next Step

Academic Fee Waiver

Visitors 16 years of age or older (including students, chaperones, and teachers) must pay an entrance fee at this site. Academic institutions (including schools) may apply for an academic fee waiver to cover the cost of these visitors. The number of teachers/chaperones that are covered with a waiver varies depending on the size of the group.

Would you like to request an academic fee waiver for your group?

Yes. I need to complete the fee waiver application. No I do not need a fee waiver.

For this section, all of the criteria fields and the acknowledgement checkbox are required for the waiver.

Certification

Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Applicant groups must show they qualify for the waiver. There are three criteria the group must meet to qualify for an academic fee waiver: eligibility, relevance of park resources or facilities to academic program, and academic purpose. Details of these qualifications are listed below. If your institution and purpose meet these criteria, submit this form.

Criterion One - Eligibility

Describe and/or attach current official recognition or accreditation as an educational institution by a federal, state, or local government or other documentation attesting to educational status, such as an accreditation letter, educational tax-exempt letter.

Attach Supporting Document for Eligibility (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, and Google Doc

Criterion Two - Educational Purpose

Verify how this visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. For example, attach a course syllabus/description, course catalog, lesson plan, letter detailing the educational purpose, etc., and/or describe.

Attach Supporting Document for Educational Purpose (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Criterion Three - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Identify the pertinent park resources and/or facilities and detail how they are relevant to support the educational purpose of the visit (attach letter or describe).

Attach Supporting Document for Relevance (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Authorized School / Organization Contact Name (required)

Title / Position

Acknowledgement (required)

The Recreation Fee Authority (16 USC 6802 Sections 3 a and b) allows for fee waivers only for bona fide educational and/or scientific institutions that are using the park for educational purposes. I hereby certify that the above detailed trip meets these requirements and therefore request that fees be waived.

Current official documentation of recognition of affiliation as an educational institution by a Federal, State or local government entity, or other evidence attesting to educational status is attached (e.g. accreditation letter, educational tax-exempt letter). It is insufficient to merely state or imply this on official letterhead.

By checking this box I acknowledge that I have read the Acknowledgement.

Date of Acknowledgement (required)
format mmddyyyy

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 

Every Kid Outdoors

With Every Kid Outdoors gives U.S. fourth graders and family members free entry to national parks!

To get a pass, fourth grade students can visit the bilingual Every Kid Outdoors website. First, do a short educational activity. Then download a paper voucher to print and bring along when visiting a national park!