Education

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  John Muir Documentary

  Documentary: A Glorious Journey

  Can't make it to the park? Watch the official park film, shown in our digital theater, about the life of John Muir.

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  Learn more about John Muir

  History and Culture

  History and Culture information

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  Learn more about John Muir

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Here you can access the answers to the most frequently asked questions about John Muir

 

 

Education Programs at John Muir National Historic Site

Unique Learning Opportunities for School Groups

Explore the life and legacy of John Muir with a ranger-led educational experience tailored to the needs of your students. Our programs align with California state standards and engage students through open-ended questions, interactive activities, and historical exploration.

Program Details

We can accommodate up to 70 students per day, ensuring that each group enjoys a personal and interactive experience. School group tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are specifically designed for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Homeschool groups are also welcome to join our daily house tours, watch the educational film, and complete the Jr. Ranger activity book, available on-site.

• Capacity: Up to 70 students per day to ensure an interactive and personal experience.
• Schedule: School group tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Grade Levels: Our educational programs are designed for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
• Homeschool Groups: Homeschool groups are welcome to join the daily house tours, view the educational film, and complete the Jr. Ranger activity book (available on-site).

Program Highlights

Your students will explore the life of John Muir through exciting activities such as:

• A small group National Parks activity that encourages appreciation and understanding of our national treasures.
• A tour of the Victorian mansion where Muir lived for the last 24 years of his life.
• A visit to the towering Giant Sequoia that Muir planted over 130 years ago.

Additional Subjects Covered

The program also provides a variety of subjects relevant to California and U.S. history, including:

• California History: Explore the state’s rich past.
• Indigenous History and Heritage: Discover the stories of California’s native peoples.
• Ecology: Compare native and invasive species, including the difference between sequoias and redwoods.
• Multicultural History: Learn about the Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese influences on the area as you walk toward the Adobe.
• National Parks Geography: Engage in a fun exploration of National Parks.

Making a Reservation

• Online Booking: Use our online form to reserve your visit. Currently, we offer "Park Visit" reservation options, with future plans to add more ranger interactions.
• Confirmation: A confirmation email will be sent upon booking. If requesting multiple-day visits, please complete an additional reservation form.
• No Programs in May: Please note that there are no school programs offered during May.

Important Notes

• Special Rules & Bus Parking: Be sure to review these sections before submitting your reservation.
• Homeschool Group Options: In addition to school programs, homeschool groups can do a self-guided house tour, view the film, and enjoy Jr. Ranger activities.

 

Education Reservation Inquiry Form

Reservation Process

Once you submit your reservation form, our staff at John Muir National Historic Site will review your request and reach out to schedule your visit. We aim to accommodate all requests, but due to staff availability and existing reservations, we may not always be able to honor your preferred date. If your requested date is unavailable, we will work with you to find an alternative that fits your schedule.

If you haven’t heard back from us within a week of submitting your request, feel free to reach out via email at [e-mail].

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Next Step

Academic Fee Waiver

Visitors 16 years of age or older (including students, chaperones, and teachers) must pay an entrance fee at this site. Academic institutions (including schools) may apply for an academic fee waiver to cover the cost of these visitors. The number of teachers/chaperones that are covered with a waiver varies depending on the size of the group.

Would you like to request an academic fee waiver for your group?

Yes. I need to complete the fee waiver application. No I do not need a fee waiver.

For this section, all of the criteria fields and the acknowledgement checkbox are required for the waiver.

Certification

Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Applicant groups must show they qualify for the waiver. There are three criteria the group must meet to qualify for an academic fee waiver: eligibility, relevance of park resources or facilities to academic program, and academic purpose. Details of these qualifications are listed below. If your institution and purpose meet these criteria, submit this form.

Criterion One - Eligibility

Describe and/or attach current official recognition or accreditation as an educational institution by a federal, state, or local government or other documentation attesting to educational status, such as an accreditation letter, educational tax-exempt letter.

Attach Supporting Document for Eligibility (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, and Google Doc

Criterion Two - Educational Purpose

Verify how this visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. For example, attach a course syllabus/description, course catalog, lesson plan, letter detailing the educational purpose, etc., and/or describe.

Attach Supporting Document for Educational Purpose (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Criterion Three - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Identify the pertinent park resources and/or facilities and detail how they are relevant to support the educational purpose of the visit (attach letter or describe).

Attach Supporting Document for Relevance (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Authorized School / Organization Contact Name (required)

Title / Position

Acknowledgement (required)

The Recreation Fee Authority (16 USC 6802 Sections 3 a and b) allows for fee waivers only for bona fide educational and/or scientific institutions that are using the park for educational purposes. I hereby certify that the above detailed trip meets these requirements and therefore request that fees be waived.

Current official documentation of recognition of 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, educational tax-exempt letter). It is insufficient to merely state or imply this on official letterhead.

By checking this box I acknowledge that I have read the Acknowledgement.

Date of Acknowledgement (required)
format mmddyyyy

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

 

Special Rules for Your Classroom Visit

Teachers and chaperones are responsible for ensuring student attention and discipline.

No Smoking: Smoking is prohibited.

Recreational Equipment: Only authorized equipment is permitted.

Environmental Guidelines: Please take only pictures and leave only footprints.

 

Bus Parking Directions: John Muir NHS Visitor Center

After exiting Hwy 4, proceed northbound on Alhambra Ave. toward downtown Martinez.

Please do NOT turn into the Visitor Center parking lot. Instead, make a left turn onto K Street at the traffic signal. Then, make a series of right turns: onto Raap Ave., then J Street, and finally back onto Alhambra Ave. Turn around and continue south on Alhambra Ave. to the bus parking area directly outside the John Muir NHS Visitor Center. You may park the bus and unload students and teachers here.

Parking for cars in our lot is limited: Please use the additional parking on Walnut Avenue across Alhambra from the Visitor Center.