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Oregon Caves National MonumentVisit Oregon Caves with your class.
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Oregon Caves National Monument
Plan A Field Trip
Enjoying the forest on a CBE field trip.
Enjoying the forest on a CBE field trip.
 

Visit Your National Monument with Your Class

Oregon Caves has excellent opportunities for classes to experience a cave environment, hike on old growth forest trails and tour the historic Oregon Caves lodge. 

Contact Oregon Caves as soon as possible to reserve a date for your class visit.  Rangers are available for you class visit late March to June and September through November.

Group Size is Limited for Cave Tours

To protect the natural features inside the caves, a maximum of 16 people may join the ranger for each tour. Oregon Caves National Monument requires that at least two adults. The remaining 14 slots are for students, and other adults as space permits.

If the group size is exceeded by additional adults, they will be informed that they may not go on the tour. A larger group is acceptable for forest activities, although we recommend a similar group size to enhance the students' learning experience.

Teachers, Let us Know...

  1. What is your expected school departure and cave arrival times?
  2. What is the transportation to be used - bus or cars?
  3. What is the total number of students and grade level(s)?
  4. What is the total number of adults?
  5. What is the total number of cave tour groups (16 per group - 2 adults and 14 students)?
  6. Are you bringing lunches to eat at the caves?
  7. Do you want to include a nature walk or ranger activity with your visit?
  8. What are your students currently studying?
 

Responsibilities and Requirements of Parent Volunteers

Parents who volunteer for a field trip to visit Oregon Caves will be responsible for helping teachers and rangers in whatever way necessary. There are some requirements and requests that we have for parents attending the outing.  The most important things to be aware of.

  • Remember that the field trip is for the students. Parents should not view the field trip as a recreational opportunity for themselves. It is possible that a situation may arise in which a parent cannot enter the cave.
  • Only 16 people per group. We allow a maximum of 16 people per tour group in order to minimize impact on the cave. If there are too many people, parents may be asked to wait outside.
  • The tour is moderately strenuous.  Please consider your choice to go in the cave. This does not mean that you should not volunteer. Once groups go inside the cave you are welcome to relax outside or in the historic lodge.
  • Listen up! When the tour guide stops to talk about the cave, she or he will ask for the students' attention. Please be courteous. Even if the information is something you already know, please refrain from talking until the guide is finished.
  • I know the answer! On the cave tour, the guide will ask many questions which are aimed at the students and are an important part of their learning experience. Please let the students give it a shot first. Feel free to ask your own questions at appropriate times!
  • Say cheese! Parent volunteers should feel free to bring cameras. However, the groups are typically following a tight schedule, and lagging behind the tour to take pictures may slow the group.
  • How long is the field trip? Most classes spend about 3½ hours at the Monument. 
  • Please remember the National Park Service Rules. Littering, flower picking, feeding animals, collecting, and smoking on trails are not allowed. If there is time, the teacher may approve visits to the gift shop. If approved, a maximum of four students with an adult may enter at one time.
 

When You Arrive at Oregon Caves

Please keep your student on the bus until directed by a ranger. This is for the children's safety because the bus parking area is part a public area.

A ranger will come aboard the bus and give students, teachers, and parent volunteers a brief orientation.

While on the Monument

  • To avoid injuries: do not throw sticks, rocks, snow, etc., at any time.
    All natural features are protected: please do not collect rocks, flowers, feathers, etc. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
  • Always stay behind the leader.
  • Always stay with the group.
  • Do not feed the wildlife such as birds, chipmunks, etc. Human food can make them sick and cause them to forget to find their own food. They can bite you, and feeding them results in their becoming pests for other people.

When You Depart from Oregon Caves

The field trip does not include time for visiting the gift shop. If your school has allotted extra time or after the ranger activities are completed, your students may visit the gift shop. There must be at least one adult accompanying each group of four children, with a maximum of 8 students at a time in the gift shop.
From the vista on the Cliff Nature trail you can see the nation's largest serpentine rock outcrops in the distance.  

Did You Know?
The mountains surrounding Oregon Caves are composed of ocean crust including rocks uplifted directly from the mantle. These mantle rocks make up one of the largest serpentine rock outcrops in the nation.

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Last Updated: October 31, 2007 at 15:32 EST