Academic Fee Waivers

Academic fee waivers are granted to educational institutions whose curriculum relates specifically to the resources at Big Bend National Park.

NPS

 

Applying for a Fee Waiver

National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to apply so that they do not have to pay the park entrance fee. The National Park Service considers applications and may approve a request if the visit is for educational or scientific purposes and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use support those purposes.The National Park Service does not grant academic fee waivers automatically. Applicants must show that they qualify for a fee waiver. There are three requirements (listed below) to qualify for an academic fee waiver:

Criteria #1 - Eligibility

• Applicants must prove they are an academic or scientific institution by presenting one of the following types of documentation:
  • A statement confirming educational or scientific tax exemption from the IRS or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority; or
  • A statement from an academic institution that meets one of these eligibility standards confirming that the group is visiting for the purpose of providing transferable academic credit based on a curriculum; or,
  • A statement confirming accreditation or recognition as an educational institution from a qualified national, regional, state, or local authority.

Criteria #2 - Educational purpose

• Verify how this visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. For example, attach a course syllabus/description, course catalog, lesson plan, letter detailing the educational purpose, etc., and/or describe below.
  • A course syllabus, copy of the course catalog, or a handbook may satisfy this requirement.

Criteria #3 - Relevance of park resources or facilities

• Identify the pertinent park resources and/or facilities and detail how they are relevant to support the educational purpose of the visit (attach letter or describe below).
  • You must demonstrate what the academic purpose entails and how it relates to park resources.

If your group does not meet the three requirements your group may be considered as a Non-Commercial Organized Group. Youth 15 years of age and younger would be exempt from fees. See the fees and passes page for more information.

Groups that do not qualify for an academic fee waiver will be charged the appropriate entrance fee. The entrance fee for non-commercial organized groups is $15.00 per person for all individuals 16 years of age and older. Big Bend Annual Pass, Interagency Annual, Interagency Senior, Interagency Access, and Golden Access Passport holders and their immediate family members (parents, spouse, and children) do not have to pay the per person entrance fee.

 

Read These Requirements Before You Apply for an Academic Fee Waiver

Entrance Fees and Camping Fees

If we issue a fee waiver, the person who submitted the application and every driver in your group needs to have a copy before you get to Big Bend. If any driver or a part of your group does not have a copy of the fee waiver, they will pay the non-commercial fee of $15 per person for each person who is 16 years or older.

• We will accept the same interagency passes on the same terms we accept them for visitors everyday if a group participant presents one. These passes admit everyone in a single, non-commercial vehicle to the park.

• Rangers in fee stations cannot issue fee waivers. You need to complete and submit your application at least 30 days before your planned trip.

Camping Fees are not included in fee waivers

Big Bend National Park has a variety of campgrounds, including group campsites. Reservations are required. Academic Fee Waivers do not cover the cost of camping. 

Learn more about camping at Big Bend National Park. 

Group Size Limits

Maximum Group Size

The maximum group size is limited to 50 participants in the park on one (specified) day, with a maximum of one bus per day. 

Hiking Group Size

Trails in Big Bend have a limit on the number of people a single group may have on trails at any given time (30 PEOPLE MAX).
If your group is larger than 30, you will need to split the group up and visit different trails with each sub-group. Breaking the group up and hiking in smaller sub-groups on the same trail is not permitted. Please plan your itinerary accordingly!

Day Hiking
To protect the solitude and serenity of Big Bend's trails, groups larger than 30 persons must split up and hike different trails.

Overnight Backpacking & Off-Trail Hiking
An organized group or individual party may not exceed a 15 person limit.
 

• In the Chisos Mountains: There is only one Chisos backpacking campsite that can accommodate a group of 15: it may be necessary to split the group to other campsites. Groups may split into separate campsites - however the 15 person size limit per group cannot be exceeded.
• In the desert: Groups over 15 people will also need to split up and backpack into separate, non-adjacent zones. 

Buses and Motorcoaches. NEED TO KNOW

If you plan on visiting Big Bend with a motorcoach or large school bus, there are some limitations that you must plan for. 

You must familiarize your group leader(s) and tour guide/bus driver with the “Summary of Rules for Motorcoaches and Buses.”

Chisos Basin Parking Restrictions:
ONE bus may park behind the visitor center. Do not block emergency access. Overnight parking will require Superintendent’s approval and MUST be submitted in writing and in advance.
NO “on demand” requests will be granted.

Please refer to Summary of Rules for Motorcoaches and Buses for:

• Maximum group size
• Motorcoach/bus per day limits
• Authorized locations
• Parking restrictions
• Pre-approval for overnight parking in the Chisos Basin
• Step-on guide service

Home School Students

Home school students may be granted fee waivers based on the course of study following the procedures above, as long as they meet your state requirements for home schools. Please share a copy of your state's department of education requirements when you apply for the fee waiver.

If your group does not meet the three criteria above, your group may be considered as a Non-Commercial Organized Group. Youth 15 years of age and younger would be exempt from fees.

Special Use Permits

In addition, organized groups, including educational and non-profit organizations, may need a Special Use Permit for conducting activities in the park. This is not included in the academic fee waiver. 

See the section on our website on Special Use Permits.

 

Submitting an Academic Fee Waiver Request for a Field Trip

Before you send the form, read the requirements above so that:

• You submit all of the required documentation to show that your group is eligible for a fee waiver.
• You have a plan to comply with park requirements regarding bus or vehicle parking and group size limits on trails.
• You are aware of the requirement for Special Use Permits.

At least 30 days before your trip, fill out our fee waiver form and email submit with the appropriate supporting documentation.to [e-mail]

 

Form Guidance

Big Bend uses a Department of the Interior standard form for field trip academic fee waivers as well as for other purposes. Learn which parts of the form you need to fill out if you are applying for us to waive the park entrance fee for a field trip.

Section 1: Contact Information

• Required: Every applicant must share contact information.
  • In the box labeled "Describe Need," please include your group's proposed itinerary.

Section 2: Group Details

• Required: Every applicant must share your group details.
  • Read above for requirements, and be especially mindful of your group size.
  • Provide details on number and type of vehicles (car, van, coach, etc.)

Sections 3 and 4

• Not for field trip academic fee waivers.

Section 5: Academic Fee Waiver

• Required: You must fill this section of the form out and share documentation to demonstrate your qualification for a fee waiver.

 

Academic Fee Waiver Form

Official standard form to be used for NPS Academic Fee Waiver Requests

Get the Form Here

 

Email Us Completed Forms

Submit at least 30 days before your planned visit.
We will send you an email when we receive your form and after we review it to confirm group details.

[e-mail]