Plan A Field Trip

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Visiting Wilson's Creek National Battlefield with Your Classroom

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield offers ranger-led field trips Monday through Friday for groups of 12 or more students.

Field trip experiences vary by season. Classroom and community ranger programs and self-guided visits are also available.

Additional information on offerings is available below.

If your school group is planning on visiting during a weekend or holiday, please contact the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Education Office first.

Advance reservations are free but required for all groups planning an educational field trip. Self-guided groups should submit a reservation as soon as possible before their visit. Ranger-led groups must submit their reservations at least four (4) weeks in advance.

Contact the Education Office at [phone] or via email for additional information.

Steps to Reserving a Ranger-Led Program
1. Choose a program (below) that fits your classroom's needs.

2. Complete an Education Reservation Request.

This is available as by going to the ranger program links below or as a fillable PDF (384k PDF, complete Sections 1 and 2 or 3 or 5 (depending on your program choice) and email it to us at e-mail us). Be sure to select multiple alternative dates in seasons of high demand (May and October) and low staff availability (December through February).

After you have sent in your information from a page, a ranger will contact you with a confirmation of your field trip and provide you with any pre-visit and post-visit materials.

Things to Consider:

• Minimum group size for station visits is twelve (12) students. Please contact us if your caravan or special presentation group is smaller than twelve (12) before making a reservation. Self-guided groups may be of any size.
• We prefer groups that can be divided into one classroom per station or into one classroom for caravan tours in order to engage small-group and individualized learning opportunities and ease management.
• Large classrooms (more than 25 students) may also be divided.
• Groups larger than 120 students (i.e. more than 30 students per regular station or two full buses for caravan tours) require additional staffing. Please contact the park via phone or email before making your reservation.
• Please maintain a ratio of close to 10:1 students to adults as possible. This ratio includes all teachers, paraprofessionals, drivers, parents, and other chaperones. Groups with a ratio of 20:1 students to adults cannot be scheduled.
• A maximum of eight (8) personal vehicles with school buses or ten (10) personal vehicles without school buses will be allowed entry per reservation. Please park additional vehicles in the visitor center parking lot and carpool. This ensures adequate parking for other visitors and school groups.
• Accommodations may be available for any students or adults in your group with accessibility needs. Please let us know so that we can prepare and try to provide for you and your learners.
• 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 particular reschedule date.

 

Program Offerings

All programs are dependent upon staff availability.

Click on links to learn more about a program or make a reservation.

December- February

• Battlefield visits are self-guided.
  • Self-guided tours still require a registration to ensure staff and volunteers are prepared for your visit.
  • Special program requests are welcome but depend upon staff availability and cannot be guaranteed.
    • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance by contacting the park directly.
• Ranger visits are available.
  • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly.
  • Due to limited winter staffing, please identify several alternative dates when requesting a visit to your classroom or group.

March - May

• Battlefield visits are available from March 1 to Memorial Day weekend.
  • Special program requests are welcome.
  • Reservations must be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly.
  • There is a daily limit on how many groups (6 classrooms) and students (150 students) may participate.
  • Schools should contact the park early to reserve a date. Reservations can be made after October 1 for the same school year. Select from:
    • Station Programs (4 hours - available mornings)
    • Caravan Tour (90 minutes - available afternoons)
    • Special Topic Presentation (60 minutes - available mornings and afternoons)
    • Self-Guided (Available at any time)
• Ranger visits are available early in the season.
  • Regular in-class or group visits are not available in April or May but special programs (career day, special presentations, and more) may be available upon request.
  • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the linked form or by contacting the park directly.
• Spring Homeschool Day - Spring 2027 (Date TBD) (Registration opens late winter)

Memorial Day to Mid-June

• Battlefield visits are only available if rescheduled to this period following a cancellation.
• Ranger visits may be available depending on staffing. Please contact the park directly before submitting a form.
• Education and youth programs are not generally available from Memorial Day to the end of the first full week of June due to seasonal kick-off and partner events.

Mid-June - August

• Battlefield visits for summer school groups or camps are available.
  • Ranger-led field trips are currently available between the second week of June and July 31 and self-guided programs and off-site visits are available at any time.
  • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly.
  • Only two groups (one morning and one afternoon) can be scheduled daily.
  • Schools, camps or other organized groups should contact the park early to reserve a date. Reservations can be made after April 1 for summer schools and camps. Select from:
    • Summer Station Programs (3.5-4 hours - available mornings)
    • Caravan Tour (90 minutes - available afternoons)
    • Special Topic Presentation (60 minutes - available mornings and afternoons)
    • Self-Guided (Available at any time, reservation recommended)
• Ranger visits are available.
  • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly.
• Note: Reservations are not generally available the week before Independence Day or the week before Wilson's Creek battle anniversary (August 10).

Mid-August - Mid-September

• Battlefield visits are available with limitations.
  • Special program requests are welcome but dependent upon staff availability. Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly. There is a daily limit on how many groups may participate. Schools should contact the park early to reserve a date. Reservations can be made after May 1 for the coming school year. Select from:
    • Station Field Trip (3.5-4 hours - available mornings)
    • Caravan Tour (90 minutes - available afternoons)
    • Special Topic Presentation (60 minutes - available mornings and afternoons)
    • Self-Guided (Available at any time)
• Ranger visits are available. Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the linked form or by contacting the park directly.

Mid-September - November (Tentative)

• Battlefield visits are available from September 13 to Veteran's Day weekend.
  • Special program requests are welcome.
  • Reservations must be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the form or by contacting the park directly.
  • There is a daily limit on how many groups (6 classrooms) and students (150 students) may participate.
  • Schools should contact the park early to reserve a date. Reservations can be made after July 1 for the same school year. Select from:
    • Station Programs (4 hours - available mornings)
    • Caravan Tour (90 minutes - available afternoons)
    • Special Topic Presentation (60 minutes - available mornings and afternoons)
    • Self-Guided (Available at any time)
• Ranger visits are available.
  • Regular in-class or group visits are available and special programs (career day, special presentations, and more) may be available upon request.
  • Reservations should be made at least 4 weeks in advance via the linked form or by contacting the park directly.
• Fall Homeschool Day - September 2027 (Date TBD) (Registration opens summer 2027)

Virtual Programs

Virtual programs are not currently part of our regularly scheduled offerings. Email us or call the Education Office at [phone] if you would like to discuss virtual and distance-learning education programs.

PARK ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
6424 W. Farm Road 182
Republic, MO 65738
Phone: [phone]