Educational Fee Waiver

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. Only groups of students 16 years of age or older visiting Saguaro National Park require an Educational Fee Waiver.

Qualifying for an Educational Fee Waiver

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

Criteria #1: 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 curriculum.
  • A statement of accreditation or recognition as an academic institution from a legitimate international, national, regional, state or local authority.

Criteria #2: Educational Purpose

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

Criteria #3: 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

You may submit your completed application and required supporting documentation by

  • The form below
  • Email: NPS_SAGU_Fees@nps.gov
  • Postal Mail:

Saguaro National Park
ATTN: Fee Office
3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ 85730


Application packets must be received by Saguaro National Park at least 30 days prior to the start date of your anticipated trip. Educational Fee Waivers will not be issued at the Rincon Mountain District Fee Kiosk or the Tucson Mountain District Red Hills Visitor Center Fee Desk.

Responses can be expected by email. Copies of approved Educational Fee Waiver applications must be present in all vehicles on park entry.

If you have any further questions, call (520) 733-5121 or email us.

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.


NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

Last updated: September 30, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

3693 S Old Spanish Trail
Tucson, AZ 85730

Phone:

520 733-5153
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