Academic Fee Waiver

Due to an internal audit, we have made some changes to the Academic Fee Waiver process that better aligns with National Park Service policy. Please read through the following information carefully, as your fee waiver requests must contain all of the following.

1. Application

Applicants should submit a completed written or typed request form for an academic fee waiver four to six weeks prior to the event. This time frame allows us the time to process the number of requests we receive. Any application received less than four weeks might not be approved for your group. Please complete the entire application (at least sections 1 and 5) before sending it to the monument. Application form is available below.

2. Documentation

For a fee waiver request to be considered, current official documentation of recognition or affiliation as an educational institution by a Federal, State or local government entity, or other evidence attesting to educational status is attached (e.g. Accreditation Letter or an Educational Tax Exempt Letter). It is insufficient to merely state or imply this on official letterhead. Your fee waiver cannot be processed without one of these documents submitted with your application.

3. Educational Purpose of the Visit

There must be a direct relationship between the visit purpose and the use of the monument. The visit must be to study some aspect/resource specific to the Colorado National Monument (geology, botany, zoology, etc.). A general statement to the effect that the visit is for "educational purposes" is insufficient by itself. The fee waiver application provides a section for a written statement describing the educational purpose of the visit, park resources and/or facilities that will be used. Simply state “See Attached” and attach course outlines, lesson plans, or a copy of the curriculum to meet this requirement.

The fee waiver will include up to five chaperones not including teachers and the chaperones must have a copy of the fee waiver if driving a separate vehicle. If there are more than five chaperones accompanying the group and they are driving separate vehicles, they will be subject to the recreation fee.

If a fee waiver is not approved because the above criteria were not met, your group will be subject to the non-commercial recreation fee. The fee for non-commercial groups is five dollars per person for everyone that is 16 years or older. Depending on the vehicle(s) being used for transportation, the per-person fee cannot exceed $25 for sedans, $40 for vans/small buses and $100 for Motorcoaches/school buses.

Unless a valid course outline or class curriculum is provided, bringing students to hike in the monument will not be approved for a fee waiver. There must be an educational purpose to the visit.

The preferred methods for sending fee waiver applications and documentation is by e-mail ([e-mail]) or regular mail. Email is strongly preferred.

Please note that camping fees are not waived for educational groups.

Download our Academic Fee Waiver application (256 KB pdf) and complete pages one and three (sections 1, 2, and 5).

Mail (least preferred)
Fee Waiver Coordinator
Colorado National Monument
1750 Rim Rock Drive
Fruita, CO 81521
Phone: [phone] x331
Email: [e-mail]
Fax: [phone]