Field Trips

Harpers Ferry has a variety of on-site learning opportunities for students. Whether you are looking for a self-guided experience or would like to request an Education Ranger to engage your students in an immersive, experiential lesson, we hope this site helps you find what you need for your field trip planning.

Make a Reservation

We ask that all education groups, whether you are planning for a self-guided experience or are requesting a ranger-led lesson, make a reservation. This allows us to better serve you and your students! To make an education reservation, please email us. Educational groups should also make reservations a minimum of three weeks in advance. Unless the group has been granted an official fee waiver, all fees apply.

It may be possible to accommodate shorter request periods, but it is not guaranteed. If an education reservation is not made within the stated three week period of advance notice, the group will be subject to paying normal park entrance fees upon arrival.

Apply for a Fee Waiver

Entrance fees do not apply for K-10 groups that successfully make an education reservation. Groups 11th grade and up should request for entrance fees to be waived. See the Fee Waiver Checklist & Instructions for more information on how to request a fee waiver. Fee waiver requests should be completed a minimum of three weeks in advance of the visit.

It may be possible to accommodate shorter request periods, but it is not guaranteed. If an official fee waiver is not submitted within the stated three week period of advance notice, the group will be subject to paying normal park entrance fees upon arrival.

Please check our Education and Fees Frequently Asked Questions page, or email us if you have questions.

Request a Ranger-Led Education Program

When you make your reservation, you can request a ranger-led education program. We offer the following curriculum-based programs:

• Trek the Trails (K - 12^th grade) -- Students participate in ranger-led hikes to some of the less-traveled places of Harpers Ferry NHP. Hikes vary in difficulty and subject relevance. Explore the river environment, climb a mountain, walk a battlefield, or discover ruins. Emphasis is on fun, physical activity, and appreciation of the natural landscape! 1 - 2 hours
• Harpers Ferry: A Place in History (3rd -12^th grade) -- Students explore 250 years of the American history experience as told through the Harpers Ferry story. Teams compete to decipher truth or fiction in an interactive game format while visiting significant history sites. 1 hour (3-8), 1.5 hours (9-12)
• To Arms! Soldiers' Story (4th - 8th grade) -- What was life like for soldiers garrisoned at Harpers Ferry? What military action took place here? Why was Harpers Ferry so important? Students are “enlisted” into the infantry, issued a wooden gun, and taught drill. A soldiers' trivia competition determines what “company” will move ahead to capture the Confederate flag. 1 hour
• Reporting the Raid: John Brown’s Raid (3rd - 12th grade) -- It is October of 1859. The students just arrived in Harpers Ferry during the aftermath of the John Brown Raid. They will work as newspaper journalists, by interviewing witnesses, to determine what happened during the Raid. From the information they gather, students will write a short telegram and attempt to send it out on a telegraph machine. Students will explore why all perspectives in history are important. 1 hour

Request Self-Guided Activities

We strive to have a ranger available to meet each self-guided group and provide a brief orientation upon arrival to the park. You can request self-guided activities, including history searches and scavenger hunts, when you make your reservation. You can also check out our curriculum materials.

Get Questions Answered

If at any time you have questions, please email us. You may also want to see our Education and Fees Frequently Asked Questions page, which provides information about education groups, reservations, and fees.