Plan a Field Trip

 

Park ranger speaking at an overlook with clouds and ocean in the background.

NPS Photo

Overview

• Find out how to plan and prepare for a Haleakalā National Park field trip below!
  • Haleakalā National Park offers ranger-led field trips for grades K - 8
  • All field trips are curriculum-based and free
  • Reservations for field trips are required
  • Field trip programs are limited to 50 students
  • For every field trip, we have required chaperone to student ratios
  • Ranger-led field trips last 3 ½ hours
• Pre-visit and post-visit activities can be used in the classroom before and after the field trip
• Field trip themes and itineraries are outlined below and are designed to help teachers meet Hawaiʻi Department of Education Subject Matter Standards and Next Generation Science Standards

Scheduling a Field Trip

Effective on September 6, 2024, ranger-led field trips are not available due to shortage of education staff. Classroom visits and distance learning are still available.

Follow these steps to successfully schedule a ranger-led field trip:

• Make a Reservation (required): Program reservations are required at least one month in advance and group size is limited to a maximum of 50 students per day. Program availability is first-come, first-served. To request a reservation and an academic fee waiver, please complete and submit the Education Request Form to the Education team at [e-mail].
• Academic Fee Waivers: Academic fee waivers must be submitted in a PDF file at least two weeks in advance and are not granted automatically. A signature is required in section 5 of the Education Request Form. 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
  2. Relevance of park resources or facilities to academic program
  3. Academic purpose
• Self-Guided Field Trips: If schools are not able to participate in a ranger-led field trip and would like to lead an independent field trip, please submit an Education Request Form to [e-mail].
• Service Learning: Any field trip or education program to Haleakalā that involve service learning require at least two months in advance request and are subject to project availability. Service learning that involve outplanting native species require at least six months in advance request and dependent on plant availability. To request service learning, contact the Haleakalā Volunteer Coordinator at [e-mail].
• Travel Grants: Not available at this time.
• Booking Transportation Services: School groups may hire transportation services of their choice and do not need to apply for a permit with us. Transportation services does not need to be one of the park's authorized commercial service companies. Vehicles cannot be a coach sized bus. The maximum size transportation vehicle is a regulation school bus. School groups need to apply for the Educational Fee Waiver and drivers must have a copy of the fee waiver at time of entry.

Preparing for Your Trip

If you are a teacher enrolled in a ranger-led field trip, please review and distribute the information below. Planning ahead and preparing your group will help make the park visit a memorable and fun learning experience for you and your students.

Teacher Information

Parent/Student Information

Chaperone Information

Evaluation and Feedback

After your visit to Haleakalā, please complete our evaluation form and return it via email to the [e-mail]. Your feedback is very important to us and will help us improve education experiences for future teachers and students.