Another class excited go  explore the Lava Beds with their feet and their minds.

Entrance Fees and Waivers

We collect entrance fees all year, as mandated by Congress. Groups visiting for educational purposes may be entitled to have these fees waived. Request a fee waiver form at least one month in advance of your visit. Upon receipt of the form, fill it out and return it, along with a letter on school letterhead describing the educational nature of your visit. We will then return a signed copy of the fee waiver for you to show us when you arrive.

Visitor Center

A good place to begin your visit is the visitor center. Here you will find museum exhibits describing the Modoc War, and the early culture of the Modoc people. Rangers will answer questions and perhaps present a brief introduction to Lava Beds for your students. A small sales outlet offers educational materials, bump caps, postcards, bookmarks, and other items.

Sales Items

The Lava Beds Natural History Association operates a small book store in the visitor center. Books on geology, plant and animal life and local history can be purchased here. Large groups of students purchasing individual items can cause a traffic jam however. The most efficient way to purchase items is with one bulk purchase with money collected beforehand.

Feel free to call ahead to inquire about prices or to have an order set aside for your group. If your students must purchase individually, please remind them that California sales tax (currently 7.25%) does apply. (Perhaps an opportunity to practice math skills in the field?)
 

Lantern Loan & Caving

Caving is an exciting and primary activity for visiting educational groups. For safety, each individual should have sturdy footwear, a protective hat, and a light. Gloves are recommended to protect hands from rough rock surfaces. Remind students to take their time while caving. Most personal injuries occur when people rush carelessly through the caves. Cave formations, once broken, cannot be replaced. Effective adult supervision can prevent most problems.

Bump caps can be purchased at the visitor center for $3.25 each. If you are planning for each student to wear a bump cap, please plan to make a single bulk purchase. Field trip participants should also be encouraged to bring bump caps, hard hats, or bike helmets from home.

A limited number of lanterns are available, free, from the visitor center on a first-come, first-served basis. On busy days we may limit lantern checkout to one for every two or three students, so it would be a good idea to encourage students to bring flashlights from home. Battery-operated light sources only, please. Lantern checkout for large groups can be handled most efficiently by designating one or a few people to check out lights on behalf of the group, then distributing the lights outside the visitor center. Knowing the number of lights needed for your group before requesting them will also speed the process.

Interpretive Programs

Rangers are usually available for interpretive activities if they are scheduled far enough in advance. One of our most popular activities is a tour of Captain Jacks Stronghold. This discussion of the Modoc War generally takes about one and a half hours. Due to the narrow, enclosed nature of the Stronghold and its trails, groups of more than 40 are not recommended. Larger groups may split into smaller subgroups and request back to back tours. Generally, the smaller the group the more intimate and meaningful the educational experience.

A second program available is a 30-minute introductory slide program presented in Mushpot Cave, located underneath the visitor center parking lot. This amphitheater can accomodate groups of up to 60 students. The theme of this ranger-guided talk is lava tube caves and how to explore them safely. Call for more information about tours or to schedule an activity.

Curriculum materials are available to teachers that contain information and activities about either volcanic landforms or the history of the Modoc war. Teachers are encouraged to use these materials as much as possible in the classroom before they visit. Materials should be requested at least six weeks in advance of the field trip.
 

Camping

Some groups choose to extend their visits by camping in Indian Well Campground. We have one group site available. This fairly primitive site, offset from the main campground, can accommodate 11-40 people and offers a central meeting area, fire ring, and pit toilet. The group site is located behind a locked gate a short distance from Campground Loop B. The gate can be unlocked to allow one vehicle to unload gear at the site, but this vehicle and all others must be parked in Campground Loop A adjacent to the comfort station, about 1/8th of a mile away from the group site. The fee for the group site is $3/person/night up to a maximum of $60/night.

Groups larger than 40 people will need to overflow into the main campground on a first-come, first-served basis. There are 40 sites which accommodate up to 10 people and two vehicles each. Cost for these sites is $10/site/night. We cannot reserve sites in the main campground. Although we strongly discourage more than one group from using the campground at a time, we cannot prevent it. Be prepared to share the main campground with other groups on occasion. Several schools have arranged overnight accommodations in the local school gymnasium.

Call with questions or to reserve the group site.

Questions?

Please call or write our visitor center staff with any questions (530-667-8113 or labe_interpretation@nps.gov). Remember as you plan your trip that the busiest months are May and June. You may find less congestion, more lanterns, and smoother logistics by planning your visit during September or October. We look forward to seeing you and your students soon!