For Teachers

Parks As Classrooms

Fort Point National Historic Site provides Parks as Classroom programs designed to engage students in historic inquiry and environmental science.

Educational Opportunities at Golden Gate National Recreations Area's Parks As Classrooms uses the Understanding by Design framework, and incorporates California Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. Our inquiry-based park programs can be timed to introduce concepts, reinforce understanding, or stimulate culminating projects within a teaching unit. Programs are typically structured in three parts: a classroom preparation, a national park field session, and classroom assessments in which students demonstrate what they have learned. Teachers are provided with resources, including program curriculum and supporting materials.

The first step is to choose the program best suited for your class and follow the guidance below to submit an Education Reservation Request Form application.


How to Request a Field Trip

Applications for 2023-2024 school year are now live, please visit each program page for more information.

Ranger-led field trips for the 2023-2024 school year will be accepting program Education Reservation Request Forms as of August 25, 2023. Teachers will be informed if their class was accepted to a program by September 26, 2023. Field trips to the park will resume in mid-October 2023 – end of May 2024.

To be considered for a program, please select a program from below and complete an Education Reservation Request Form found on each program website. Please e-mail us if you have any questions.

  • Education Programs are only offered Tuesday-Friday.
  • Due to limited staffing at each park site, we ask that classes only apply to one of the program offerings throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Muir Woods, Marin Headlands, Alcatraz, Fort Point, and Crissy Field. Program locations can ONLY accommodate 1 class per day.

  • Ranger-led programs generally last 2-4 hours, not including driving or lunch time. Expect total time of field trips (travel to site, program, lunch) to be approximately 3-6 hours (see program website for approximate duration).

  • Chaperones are expected to attend and support each program – 1 per 10 student ratio.

  • New teachers are expected to attend a Teacher Workshop to be considered for a program – workshop dates will be announced on each program website.

 
  • Students stand in front of a brick wall inside Fort Point while holding journals
    Grade 4
    Point of Inquiry

    How can buildings and artifacts help me to see the history of a place? Students take on the role of history detectives at Fort Point.

  • View across Fort Point Parade Ground with Golden Gate Bridge above.
    Grade 8
    Faces of Fort Point

    How can historical inquiry reveal lost narratives? Students use historical sources to uncover hidden stories of Civil War-era Fort Point.

Last updated: February 10, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Fort Point National Historic Site
Building 201, Fort Mason

San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone:

415-561-4959
United States Park Police Dispatch: Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505 Emergency: 415-561-5656

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