Teacher Pre-Visit Planning Guide

Lassen Volcanic National Park rangers are pleased to share our wild classroom with your class.

NPS photo

For Current & Future Generations

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a special place. The National Park Service has been entrusted to protect and preserve this park and the 450+ other NPS units for the benefit of current and future generations. Your students are the next generation of stewards, conservators, and perhaps even park rangers. We’re excited to help you share the wonder of Lassen with them. Thank you for visiting.

This page is meant to help you plan, prepare, and enjoy a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park with your class, whether you partake in a ranger-led program or choose to self-guide your own adventure. Please feel free to reach out to us with any additional questions or concerns you may have: [e-mail] or 530-595-4480.

 

 

Checklists

Use these checklists as a handy reference for what you need to accomplish in each stage.

Planning Checklist

• Choose Visit Type
• Submit an Education Reservation Request Form
• Organize Group to required chaperone/student ratio and group size limits
• Address Accessibility Concerns and/or Request Accommodations

Preparing Checklist

• Print copies of approved Academic Fee Waiver for each vehicle in group
• Inform students and chaperones what they should bring on the trip
• Go over park regulations and guidelines with your students
• Use the suggested links below to check weather forecasts, plan your route to and through the park, and verify what facilities and services are available

On the Day (Before You Leave School)

• Each vehicle in your group has a printed copy of your approved Academic Fee Waiver
• You know where and when to meet the education rangers (if applicable)
• Students (and chaperones!) are appropriately dressed and have their lunch and water
• Review Guidelines for a Safe and Respectful Visit
• Ensure you have split your class into appropriately-sized groups with the proper chaperone-student ratio

 

Planning

Ranger-Led or Self-Guided?

What type of experience are you hoping to give your class? This guide pertains to in-park visits (either Ranger-Led or Self-Guided). We also offer in-school Ranger-in-Classroom Programs. Explore all three options using the links below.

 

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  Self-Guided Field Trips

  Explore Lassen's wild classroom on your own - see suggested itineraries, requirements, and more!

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  Ranger-Led Field Trips

  Explore Lassen's wild classroom with a ranger - see program offerings, expectations, and submit a reservation request.

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  Bring the park to you!

  Ranger-in-Classroom Programs

  Learn about and request a reservation for Lassen's in-school outreach programs.

 

Reservations and Academic Fee Waivers

Now that you’ve decided what type of visit you’re interested in, you may need to submit an Education Reservation Request Form. You may need to review the rest of this section before submitting your request.

Ranger-Led Field Trips: Follow the instructions on the Ranger-Led Field Trips webpage

Self-Guided Field Trips: Request an Academic Fee Waiver

Group Logistics

Teachers

• A licensed teacher is required to attend for ranger-led field trips AND self-guided field trips requesting an academic fee waiver.
• Teachers are ultimately responsible for supervision and rule adherence during their visit.

Chaperones

We recommend you provide one adult chaperone per every 8-10 students.

• Ranger-led field trips require a 1:5 ratio of chaperones to students.
• Academic fee waivers cover 1 adult per every 5 Elementary School students, 10 High School students, and/or 20 College students.
• Chaperones must know and enforce park rules and regulations during your visit.

Group Size and Limit

If necessary, please divide your class into smaller groups prior to your visit.

Trail Use Size Limit
For Ranger-Led AND Self-Guided Field Trips: Groups are limited to 20 people (students, teachers, chaperones) hiking together on the same trail. Larger groups must split into groups of 20 and either stagger their use on the same trail (10-15 minutes between each group) or disperse over multiple trails.

Ranger-Led Field Trips: Size limit is 30 students per group, 2 group maximum for programs that do not involve hiking on park trails.

Accessibility

The Education Reservation Request Form includes a space to enter any accessibility concerns or accommodations requests. You may also want to review our Accessibility webpage. Feel free to e-mail us with questions or concerns as well.

 

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Preparing

Ensure you’ve completed the Planning Checklist before moving to the Preparing stage. In between planning and preparing, park staff will reach out regarding your Education Reservation Request Form. This stage assumes that you have coordinated with education staff to finalize field trip details AND/OR received an approved Academic Fee Waiver.

Guidelines for a Safe, Respectful Visit

Please go over the following guidelines with your group before arriving. We recommend going through these guidelines once in class and reviewing them again the morning of/on the way to your visit.

1. Stay with your group at all times.

2. Avoid horseplay, throwing rocks, running, etc. to avoid injuries, both to you and the park.

3. Walk slowly and look carefully. Respect and protect all parts of the park (wildlife, insects, trees, wildflowers, buildings, facilities, etc.)

4. Return all living organisms to their habitat after brief observation. Do not disturb cultural objects (artifacts, historical material, etc.).

5. Do not remove any objects from the park – it is against the law. This includes rocks, flowers, pinecones, and artifacts.

6. Stay on designated trails and boardwalks. When you take shortcuts on a trail, rains an dwind begin to erode the disturbed area, washing dirt and debris into streams and tearing down hillsides. If you see places where careless people have taken shortcuts, be sure that you stay on the established trail.

7. Do not feed any wildlife. They could carry diseases and they could bite you. Wildlife and their habitat are in balance. When we disturb the balance, we aren't leaving the park in its natural form for future generations.

8. Talk less, listen more. You will see and hear more wildlife and enjoy the sounds of nature!

9. Do not litter. Consider packing out any trash you see on trail (if safe to do so!).

What to Bring

Overall

• Each vehicle in your group must present an approved Academic Fee Waiver at a park entrance station. Please print at least one copy per vehicle and make sure each driver is informed.
• We highly recommend having a copy of your approved Education Reservation Request Form OR program details with you for reference.
• If picnicking, please bring a trash bag to help gather group refuse. We highly recommend and may require you to pack out all trash.
• Hand sanitizer. Many park restrooms do not have running water for handwashing.
• Extra water. Potable drinking water may not be available at the park, depending on season and trip location.
• A camera – although not required, we recommend a camera (or cellphone) to capture those magic moments with your class!

Individuals (Adults and Students)

• Proper outdoor clothing with layers and extra socks
• Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) highly recommended
• Good walking or hiking shoes; we recommend warm, waterproof boots for winter visits
• Water
• Lunch and snacks (remind students to bring extra food, as they will be more physically active than usual)
• Day pack

Other Considerations

• Cell service is extremely spotty in the park. Public wifi may be available at Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Plan to be offline during your visit.
• Consider downloading the NPS app and saving Lassen Volcanic National Park for offline use.
• Restrooms and water may not be available at all trailheads or stops. Available facilities are labeled on park maps (printed and digital versions).

 

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  To, through and around!

  Directions & Getting Around

  Get directions to the park, navigating through the park, and driving around the park when the road closes in winter.

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  We See Planning in the Forecast

  Weather

  Find specific forecast information for different parts of the park and related links.

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  Know Before You Go!

  Park Alerts & Conditions

  View current park conditions, including closures, alerts, and hazards.

 

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On the Day

Last Minute Cancellations

If you need to cancel your trip due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, please call us as soon as possible at 530-595-4480 and (if possible) e-mail us.

Before You Leave School Checklist

• Each vehicle in your group has a printed copy of your approved Academic Fee Waiver
• You know where and when to meet the education rangers (if applicable)
• Students (and chaperones!) are appropriately dressed and have their lunch and water
• Review Guidelines for a Safe and Respectful Visit
• Ensure you have split your class into appropriately-sized groups with the proper chaperone-student ratio

During Your Visit

• Arrive early so students can use restrooms and eat a snack before the lesson start time (if applicable).
• At the park entrance station, present your approved Academic Fee Waiver.
• Assign adults to monitor restrooms when students are using them.
• While in the park, follow all park rules and regulations.
• Enjoy exploring our wild classroom!

 

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Post-Visit

• Consider Requesting a Post-Visit Ranger-in-Classroom Program
• Use our curriculum materials and/or student resources to continue your learning journey.

Please provide us any feedback you have on your experiences: e-mail us