Educational Fee Waivers

Fee Waiver Disclaimer

FEE WAIVERS MUST BE COMPLETED TWO (2) WEEKS IN ADVANCE PRIOR TO VISITING; IF THEY ARE NOT COMPLETED BEFORE YOU ARRIVE YOU WILL BE CHARGED THE TEN ($10) DOLLARS PER ADULT ENTRANCE FEE. IF APPLYING FOR A FEE WAIVER DURING SPRING BREAK, PLEASE SEE TITLED SECTION BELOW.

 

Fee Waivers During Spring Break

During the last week of February through the first week of May, the park shifts to Spring Break Operations. During this very busy time, parking is extremely limited and lines to enter the park stretch to the parking lot. Due to this high volume of visitation and to ensure staff and visitor safety, the parking lot will be closed to all large vehicles (including RVs, trailers, and buses) between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Due this closure, the park will ONLY be granting Fee Waivers for visits between the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. through 4:45 p.m. Groups that visit the park outside the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. are expected to exit the park by 10 a.m. / 5:00 p.m.; respectively. This closure is in effect for Montezuma Well as well. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions.

 

What is an Educational Fee Waiver?

National Park Service policy permits entrance fees to be waived for national and international academic institutions visiting parks for non-commercial educational purposes. However, Educational Fee Waivers are not issued automatically. Educational groups must apply and meet the criteria to receive a fee waiver. Schools or other bona fide educational institutions (accredited, officially recognized, or tax exempt for educational purposes) may request an educational fee waiver. The fee waiver will allow qualifying groups free entry into the park for educational or scientific purposes.

Qualifying for an Educational Fee Waiver

There are three criteria an academic institution must meet in order to qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver—eligibility, educational purpose, and relevance of park resources or facilities.

Criteria #1 - Eligibility

Applicants must prove they are an academic institution by submitting a photocopy of one of the following types of documentation along with their application:

• Educational or scientific tax exemption from a national, state, or local authority

• A bona fide academic institution that offers transferable academic credit for a course

• Accredited or recognized as a legitimate educational institution

Criteria #2 - Educational Purpose

Applicants must provide a written statement verifying that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. This requirement can be met by submitting the course number and description and/or a copy of the catalog description for college courses or an outline of student work required for grades K-12.

Criteria #3 - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Applicants must provide a written statement describing how specific park resources and facilities are relevant to the educational purpose of the visit. Course outlines, lesson plans, or a copy of the curriculum meet this requirement.

Submitting an Educational Fee Waiver Application

Download the Application for Fee Waiver for Educational Study

Application packets must be received by Montezuma Castle National Monument at least 2 weeks prior to the start date of your anticipated trip; if you are requesting a guided tour, those applications must be submitted at least 30 days in advance.

Please complete Section 1 (Contact Info), Section 2 (Group Details- Park Visit/Field Trip) and Section 5 (Academic Fee Waiver). Section 5 will be requesting information and a photocopy of documentation.

We will attempt to accommodate requests for ranger talks or ranger-led walks, but due to staffing issues/shortages it is not guaranteed. Specialized talks or visits may not be available.

You may submit your completed application and required supporting documentation by emailing [e-mail]

Educational Fee Waivers will not be issued at entrance stations.

Responses can be expected by email. Copies of approved Educational Fee Waiver applications must be present with the group leader upon park entry.

Feel free to email us if you have further questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in an Educational Fee Waiver?

Only entrance fees to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments are waived by an approved Educational Fee Waiver.

How many people can an Educational Fee Waiver cover?

An Educational Fee Waiver will always cover the entrance fees for all drivers, students and chaperones; but the required number of chaperones per students depends on the grade level.

1. K-5th = 1 adult to 5 students
2. 6th-12th = 1 adult to 10 students
3. College/University = 1 adult to 20 students

All accompanying adults listed on the fee waiver will be covered.

Does my scout group qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver?

Not-for-profit groups such as service, civic, fraternal organizations, scouts, 4-H, Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) etc. frequently do not qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver.

Will a fee waiver for our Montezuma Castle National Monument visit cover entrance fees for other parks?

It will cover the entrance fees for Tuzigoot National Monument.

Unfortunately, groups will need to apply for an Educational Fee Waiver through other parks separately. Although applications may include identical documentation, other information, such as the dates of the anticipated visit, will need to be adjusted for each park.

Plan Ahead

Prior to your field trip, preparing your students and chaperones for your visit will help to set everyone up for success. Please consider:

Altitude – Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments are located above 3,100-3,400 feet above sea level. Staying hydrated can help with the effects of altitude.
Weather - the weather at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments changes throughout the year, bring appropriate supplies to keep yourself safe and comfortable.
Be prepared - bring plenty of water and light snacks. We do not sell pre-bottled drinks; we do have a water bottle filler on site. Snacks are sold in the visitor center by Western National Parks Association.
Preservation - as a national park site all cultural and natural features within the park are protected. To protect these resources, visitors must stay on designated trails. All resources within the park must be left where they are, and not disturbed.