Education

Every Kid in a Park students attend lessons at Pecos NHP in 2018.

NPS Photo/Stan Ford

Field Trip Request Process:

Whether you are requesting ranger-led activities, or just exploring the park on your own, we ask that you contact us in advance to confirm your visit. Please call 505-757-7213 to discuss when you wish to come to the park, how many students there will be, and what to expect when you arrive.

Ranger-Led Activities - Currently Unavailable

Please note: There is no availability for ranger-led education programs for the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 seasons. Please call 505-757-7213 to discuss potential future program options. Some examples of future ranger-led education programs may include:

• An Ancestral Sites Tour through Pecos Pueblo and the Spanish Mission Church. This hour-long tour explores how people have lived and thrived in this environment for millennia. This easy hike is about a mile long.
• A Civil War Battlefield Tour, which focuses on the Battle of Glorieta Pass in 1862. This moderately strenuous, 1.5-mile hike usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Note: this activity is not ADA-accessible.
• A visit to Kozlowski's Trading Post, which served as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail, a Civil War hospital, and a ranch headquarters. Students explore the museum exhibits, and then participate in a ranger-led activity focused on these histories.

• Curriculum-based activities focused on the natural environment for elementary-age (1st-grade through 5th-grade) students.
  
  Please note: All school groups that seek ranger-guided tours must have at least one active, responsible chaperone per 8 students; the preferred chaperone-to-student ratio is 1:6.

Self-Guided Activities

School groups are also welcome to explore the park on their own. (Remember, though, that we still ask that you call in advance to discuss your visit!) Self-guided tour booklets are available for the Ancestral Sites Trail and Glorieta Battlefield. Groups may also explore the museum exhibits in the visitor center, and complete the Junior Ranger program.

Field Trip Expectations:

It is the mission of the National Park Service to preserve and protect Pecos National Historical Park for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Please share these guidelines with your group before your visit to the park:

• Pecos National Historical Park is a unique, ancient place. Pecos NHP needs to the treated with care to preserve its history and to allow future generations to enjoy its history.
• Stay on the trail. Remember that the ranger or teacher goes first, and students follow. Watch for dangers such as snakes and cactus spines. In addition to being hazardous, wandering off trail can result in damage to park resources. Do not climb on any walls. They are fragile.
• Always think safety for yourself and for others. Do not push or hit other students. Keep a safe distance from the edge of exposed kivas. Be careful when climbing ladders.
• Respect and care for all things. Nothing may be removed from the park; always leave what you see for others to enjoy. Likewise, take all your belongings home and take care of trash in the proper place.
• Keep actions and sounds from disturbing others. Allow others to enjoy the trail and walk without obstruction. Park wildlife should also remain undisturbed, including everything from lizards and birds...to coyotes and elk!
• Dress for the weather and elevation. Pecos NHP is at 7,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains: bring water bottles, sun protection, and dress appropriately for the weather.
• Be cooperative and stay with the group leader. Listen to teachers, chaperones, or the ranger. Pay attention and participate in discussions. Please raise your hand if there is a question or comment.
• Don't forget this one: have fun!