NPS/Tim Ervin National Parks make for excellent outdoor classrooms and field trip groups are always welcome to visit Fort McHenry NM&HS. On this page you will find tools and resources to plan field trips for all grades and learning levels. Let Us Know You're Coming:Field trips can sign up using the park's Field Trip Form. This form will allow park staff to know ahead of time to expect your planned trip.PLEASE NOTE: Upon completing the form, groups will not receive a confirmation that the form was received, nor is any confirmation required to visit the park. Filling out the field trip form does not allow groups to have programs on demand or any other service that the park does not provide. The form simply allows park staff to know when to expect large crowds. Safety and Planning:Before arriving to the park, teachers must review all of the safety and planning information via the Self-guided Field Trips page. This page includes valuable safety, parking, lunch, and other importrant information when planning a field trip. In addition it features lesson plans to assist with your visit.Types of Education Groups Please select the tab below that best describes the group looking to plan a field trip to Fort McHenry NM&HS.
Bona fide academic institutions (acredited schools) with students under the age of 16 should take the following steps to plan their visit to the park:
Scheduling a Trip: Once you are ready to schedule your field trip, please complete park's online form. When scheduling, please have the following information ready:
Fees:School groups with students under the age of 16 do not need an Academic Fee Waiver to waive the entrance fees to the park historic zone. Teachers, chaperones, and drivers for these groups have their entrance fees covered on an adult to student ratio of one adult for every five students (1:5). Teachers should be prepared with a copy of the school's acredidation to show the group qualifies to have their fees waived in the event that park staff requests it.Any adults outside of the 1:5 ratio should prepare to pay entrance fees for the park. For example: a school group has 100 students and 25 adults. 20 adults will have their fees waived, 5 adults will have to pay the entrance fee. Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees. Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the field trip to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.
Bona fide academic institutions (acredited schools) with students age 16 and older should take the following steps to plan their visit to the park:
Scheduling a Trip:Once you are ready to schedule your field trip, please complete the park's online form. When scheduling, please have the following information ready:
PLEASE NOTE: Once the form has been submitted you will not receive a confirmation for your visit. A confirmation email is not necessary to visit the park. However, a park ranger might reach out to group contacts if there is a concern about your visit. Fees:Academic Fee Waiver:School groups with students under the age of 16 may apply for an Academic Fee Waiver to waive the entrance fees to the park historic zone. Teachers, chaperones, and drivers for groups with an approved Academic Fee Waiver have their entrance fees covered on an adult to student ratio of one adult for every five students (1:5). Teachers should be prepared with a copy of the approved fee waiver when arriving to the park.Any adults outside of the 1:5 ratio should prepare to pay entrance fees for the park. For example: a school group has 100 students and 25 adults. 20 adults will have their fees waived, 5 adults will have to pay the entrance fee. Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees. Fees and Passes:School groups are not required to apply for an Academic Fee Waiver to visit Fort McHenry NM&HS. However, if the group plans to enter the park's Historic Zone (where the historic star fort structure is located) they are subject the park's entrance fee of $15 per adult (age 16 and older). Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees.Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the field trip to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.
Organized groups of 4th grade students should take the following steps to plan their visit to the park:
Scheduling a Trip:Once you are ready to schedule your field trip, please complete the park's online form. When scheduling, please have the following information ready:
Fees:School groups with students under the age of 16 do not need an Academic Fee Waiver to waive the entrance fees to the park historic zone. Teachers, chaperones, and drivers for these groups have their entrance fees covered on an adult to student ratio of one adult for every five students (1:5). Teachers should be prepared with a copy of the school's acredidation to show the group qualifies to have their fees waived in the event that park staff requests it.Any adults outside of the 1:5 ratio should prepare to pay entrance fees for the park. For example: a school group has 100 students and 25 adults. 20 adults will have their fees waived, 5 adults will have to pay the entrance fee. Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees. Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. Every Kid Outdoors Pass:All 4th grade students qualify for the free Every Kid Outdoors (EKO) Pass. EKO passes cover the entrance fees for national parks for a full calendar school year. At Fort McHenry NM&HS, EKO passes cover the entrance fees for the passholder (the 4th grader) plus 3 adults. Teachers may use EKO passes to cover the entrances for their 4th grade group if desired. To do so, teachers should take the following steps:
When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the field trip to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.
Organized groups of youth not affiliated with a school such as scout groups, summer camps, youth leadership groups, etc. are welcome to visit Fort McHenry NM&HS and should follow the steps of most organized groups when doing so.
Scheduling a Trip: There is no need to schedule a trip ahead of time. If a group is exceptionally large and they feel the park should be notified ahead of time, they can e-mail the park with their group information. Fees:If the group plans to enter the park's Historic Zone (where the historic star fort structure is located) they are subject the park's entrance fee of $15 per adult (age 16 and older). Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees.Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the field trip to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.
Lesson plans, need to know information, and scheduling self guided trips to Fort McHenry.
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Last updated: October 15, 2026