For Teachers

What is an Educational Fee Waiver

National Park Service policy permits entrance fees to be waived for national and international academic institutions visiting parks for non-commercial educational purposes. However, Educational Fee Waivers are not issued automatically. Educational groups must apply and meet the criteria to receive a fee waiver.

Qualifying for an Educational Fee Waiver

There are three criteria an academic institution must meet in order to qualify for and Educational Fee Waiver - eligibility, educational purpose, and relevance of park resources or facilities.

Eligibility

Applicants must prove they are an academic institution by submitting one of the following types of documentation.

• A statement confirming educational or scientific tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority.
• A statement from an 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 cirriculum.
• A statement of accreditation or recognition as an academic institution from a legitimate international, national, regional, state, or local authority.

Educational Purpose

Applicants must provide a written statement verifying that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which the 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.

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 Educational Fee Waiver

Educational Fee Waivers can be downloaded here. You may submit your completed application and required supporting documentation via:

• Email:

[e-mail]

• Postal Mail:

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
ATTN: Fee Office
10 Organ Pipe Drive
Ajo, AZ 85321

Completed packets must be received by Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at least 30 days prior to the start date of your anticipated trip. Responses can be expected by email. Copies of approved Educational Fee Waiver applications must be present in all vehicles on park entry.

If there are further questions, contact Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at [phone].