Academic Fee Waiver

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park charges an entrance fee. An academic fee waiver can be used to offset the cost of the park entrance fee for eligible groups. Academic fee waivers can be granted to bona fide educational or scientific institutions that are using the park for educational purposes. Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Applicant groups must submit a request in advance of their visit and show that they qualify for the waiver.

How to Apply

Please email us to receive an academic fee waiver request form. This form is included in the field trip request packet. Submit your completed forms at least three weeks prior to the date of your visit. It may be possible to process requests in a shorter time period, but it is not guaranteed. After we have received your application, we will review your information and send you a confirmation when your request is finalized. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.

Academic fee waivers cannot be granted at the entrance station or visitor center. Groups that arrive at the park without an approved academic fee waiver will be charged the park entrance fee.

Criteria

To be approved for an academic fee waiver, applicant groups will need to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:

Criteria #1: Academic Purpose

• Applicant groups must explain the educational purpose of their visit to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Criteria #2: Relevance of Park Resources

• Applicant groups must identify relevant park resources or facilities that will support the educational purpose of their visit.

Criteria #3: Eligibility

• Applicant groups must provide a copy of one of the following documents that attests to their educational status:
  • A statement of accreditation or recognition as an educational institution from a legitimate national, state, or local authority.
  • An educational or scientific tax exemption certificate from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other tax authority.
  • A letter from a bona fide academic institution confirming that your visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered.

Student to Adult Ratios

An approved academic fee waiver will cover the cost of the park entrance fee for all students in your group. The number of adults covered by an academic fee waiver depends on the grade level of the students in the group. Adults include teachers, administrators, parents, and other chaperones who are responsible for supervising the students while visiting the park. If your group is traveling in commercial vehicles, bus drivers are admitted to the park free of entry and are not included in the student to adult ratios.

The approved student to adult ratios by grade level are:

• Pre-K – 4th Grade: 1 adult to 3 students
• 5th – 8th Grade: 1 adult to 5 students
• 9th – 12th Grade: 1 adult to 10 students
• College/University: 1 adult to 10 students

If your group includes more adults than the approved ratios listed above, each additional adult will be charged the $10.00 per person park entrance fee.