Academic Fee Waivers

Not Your First Waiver?

We highly recommend you read this page over before submitting your form, but... if you've successfully submitted requests before and simply need the form, you can find it here: Education Reservation Request Form.

 

 

Academic fee waivers help students explore and discover their national parks.

NPS Photo by Auriza Ugalino

What is an Academic Fee Waiver?

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), Public Law 108-447, provides the National Park Service statutory authority to allow outings conducted for non-commercial educational purposes by accredited academic institutions to obtain a waiver of park entrance fees. Commercial enterprises are not eligible for fee waivers, but school groups using a commercial vehicle for transportation only may apply for a fee waiver.Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically nor instantaneously. Eligible groups must submit a completed Education Reservation Request Form at least two weeks prior to their visit.

Did you Know?

• Fee waivers are not available at entrance stations.
• Academic fee waivers do not include camping or other activity fees.
• Academic fee waivers cannot be granted for hardship factors.
• Service, civic, or fraternal organizations, such as Scouting, Rotary, and Elks, do not qualify for an academic fee waiver unless the group meets the criteria listed below.
• “Blanket” academic fee waivers for all national parks are not issued or accepted. Groups must submit separate requests to individual parks for approval.

Who Needs an Academic Fee Waiver?

No group needs a fee waiver, however, eligible groups may want an academic fee waiver to offset the cost of their visit. Academic fee waivers may be granted to eligible groups visiting the park, regardless of whether they receive a ranger-led educational program. The waiver application is a part of the overall Education Reservation Request Form – you only need to fill out one form!

An approved academic fee waiver covers all students and one (1) adult chaperone per every:

• 5 Elementary School students,
• 10 High School students, and/or
• 20 College students

Please see the criteria below to determine if you/your group may qualify for an academic fee waiver.

 

Academic Fee Waiver Criteria

National Park Service (NPS) regulations allow school groups and other bona fide national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver for park entrance fees, provided that the visit is for educational credit or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities the group proposes to use support those purposes.

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, educational purpose, and relevance of park resources or facilities. These criteria are detailed below:

1. Eligibility

Applicants must prove they are a bona fide academic institution by submitting one of the following:

• A statement confirming educational or scientific tax-exemption from the IRS or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority; or
• A statement, from a bona fide academic institution, confirming that the group is visiting for the purpose of providing transferable educational credit based on a curriculum; or
• A statement of accreditation, or recognition as an academic institution, from a recognized national, regional, state, or local authority at the applicant's location.

2. Educational Purpose of the Visit

Applicants must provide a written statement confirming that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. Commercial enterprises are not eligible for fee waivers, but groups using a commercial vehicle for transportation only may apply.

3. Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Applicants must provide a written statement identifying the park resources and/or facilities that will be used to support the educational purpose of the visit, and how they are relevant to that purpose.

 

How to Apply for an Academic Fee Waiver

If you meet the above criteria AND you are requesting a waiver for your Self-Guided Field Trip, please follow the instructions below to apply. Please submit your request at least two weeks before your visit.

Important: If you are applying for an academic fee waiver as part of your ranger-led field trip request, please use the form/instructions on the Ranger-Led Field Trips webpage. You only need to submit one form!

1. Fill Out the Form and Gather Necessary Documentation

1. Download and open the Education Reservation Request Form.
2. Fill out all requested information in Section 1: Contact Information (you may skip the Accommodations and Describe Need questions).
3. Skip Sections 2, 3, and 4.
4. Fill out all requested information in Section 5: Academic Fee Waiver.
   1. Under Criteria One – Eligibility, enter what type of documentation you are submitting to prove eligibility (see Criteria for approved list of documentation).
   2. Under Criteria 2 – Educational Purpose, provide a written statement confirming that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. 3-5 sentences or bullet points describing how your school's visit to the park meets educational objectives for the classes will suffice. You may also attach related documents to your submission email, such as course syllabus, lesson plan, or course catalog.
   3. Under Criteria 3 – Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities, provide a written statement identifying the park resources and/or facilities that will be used to support the educational purpose of the visit, and how they are relevant to that purpose. 3-5 sentences or bullet points will suffice.
5. Read the acknowledgement and sign your name below to indicate you understand and agree.
6. Save the form with an original file name: EDUCATION REQUEST FORM - YOUR SCHOOL NAME – TODAY’S DATE.
7. On official letterhead for your institution, please include the following:
   1. School name and contact information (if not included in the letterhead),
   2. Your name and title,
   3. approximate date and time of arrival and departure,
   4. approximate number of vehicles,
   5. areas you plan to visit, and
   6. approximate number of students and chaperones, including faculty. (An approved academic fee waiver covers all students and one (1) adult chaperone per every 5 Elementary School students, 10 High School students, and/or 20 College students.)
8. Save letter with file name: LETTER – YOUR SCHOOL NAME – TODAY’S DATE.

2. Submit Your Request

e-mail us (lavo_fees @nps.gov) with subject line: Academic Fee Waiver Request – YOUR SCHOOL NAME and attach the following documents:

1. Your completed and signed Education Reservation Request Form
2. Your Eligibility Documentation
3. Your Letter with visit information
4. Any additional documentation needed for Educational Purpose.

What Happens Next?

• If more information or documentation is required, the park will attempt to contact and assist you.
• If your request is approved, you will receive an academic fee waiver. Each vehicle in your group must present a printed copy of the approved fee waiver at the park entrance station upon arrival.
• If your request is denied, you will receive a letter from the park explaining why your group does not qualify.
• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the park fee office at 530-595-6121 or e-mail us.

 

Using Your Approved Academic Fee Waiver

Please print and provide copies of your approved academic fee waiver to ALL vehicles in your group. Each vehicle must show the printed approved waiver at park entrance stations to avoid paying the park entrance fee.