Field Trips

 

Helpful Tips

• Field Trip Planning and Logistics
• Educational Fee Waiver

Yosemite National Park features an amazing array of learning opportunities in park. You will find several options and planning resources to help you coordinate a ranger-led program during your field trip to Yosemite. If we do not have availability to accommodate your class you may consider a self-guided trip. If you want to learn about the park with your students from the comfort of your classroom, check out our virtual program offerings. If you have any questions, email us (preferred) or call 209/375-9503.

 

Visit Yosemite: Parks as Classrooms Ranger-Led Programs (One-Day Visits)

Our guided ranger programs are catered to K-12 classes and our meet and greet sessions with a ranger are geared for college age students who are looking to learn more about professional development. We also offer specialized bilingual Spanish programming and can adjust the programs to higher grade levels by request.

 

 

Spring 2027 Update

We are accepting spring requests through November 19, 2026. You will be notified of the status of your request by December 1, 2026. Thank you for your patience as we process a high volume of field trip requests with limited available spring 2027 dates. Check out our available resources to plan your own self-guided trip; email us if you have additional questions about logistics.

How to Book a Program

We are currently reviewing a high volume of requests for spring 2027 ranger-supported field trips. Ranger-supported field trips are generally scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In your request, please include:

• Grade Level
• Group Size (number of students and chaperones)
• Top 2 dates in March and April 2027

To submit your request, contact the Education Office email.

Programs

 

Geology Rocks: Cook's Meadow in Yosemite Valley

Grade Levels: 3–6

Times: 9 am – 10:30 am or 12:30 pm – 2 pm

Join a ranger on an easy, flat 2-mile guided walk around Cook's Meadow. Students will learn about the rock cycle, the unique types of granite in Yosemite, and the many forces that shaped Yosemite Valley and continue to today.

Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

 

Hydrology: Lower Yosemite Falls Trail in Yosemite Valley

Grade Levels: 3–6

Times: 9 am – 10:30 am or 12:30 pm – 2 pm

Join a ranger on an easy, flat 2-mile guided walk on the Lower Yosemite Falls trail. Students will learn about the water cycle, the park's watersheds, and witness firsthand the incredible power of our tallest waterfall.

Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

 

Sequoias and Fire: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Grade Levels: 4–6

Times: 9 am –10:30 am or 12:30 pm –2 pm

Join a ranger on an moderate, slightly uphill 2-mile guided walk to the Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Students will learn about the importance of fire in our park's many different ecosystems, Giant Sequoias' adaptations to fire, and our efforts to address climate change.

Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

 

Class Size

There is a maximum class size of 30 students, with one chaperone required per every six students (36 people maximum/group). A field trip for multiple classes that requires more than two rangers will require a date in which the school group will be the only visiting group on that day. Please have multiple dates in mind to give the best chance of us being able to schedule your group.

Fees

The Parks-as-Classrooms Ranger-Led Field Trip programs are free of cost. The only National Park Service fee to take care of is the entrance fee. For entrance fees, we have an Educational Fee Waiver for schools planning on doing field trips to the park. School groups only submit one waiver per trip. We require at least 2 weeks to process the form so plan accordingly.