Timpanogos Cave National Monument - For Teachers (U.S. National Park Service)

2009 Educational Fee Waiver Basics

Educational Fee Waivers for Teachers and Students

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is excited to be part of your school’s continuing efforts towards excellence. The National Park Service has a strong tradition of education and we are proud to promote parks as classrooms. To assist local educators with their curriculums, Timpanogos Cave National Monument frequently waives the cave tour fee for educational or scientific institutions.

A limited number of educational fee waivers are available for the cave tour season, and we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. We suggest that you send in your application early and be flexible in scheduling.

In May, September, and October educational fee waivers for 60 people per day are available Monday through Friday. In June, July, and August 60 educational fee waivers per day are available Monday through Thursday. Groups larger than 60 people (students and adults) may choose to divide the group and visit the caves over two days or pay for the additional students/adults.

Fee Waiver Application Process

To apply for an educational fee waiver please complete and send us the Educational Fee Waiver Application Form by mail or fax beginning February 1, 2009.

In order for us to grant an educational fee waiver you are required to send with the application a lesson plan outline (one to two pages) on the subject that has been or will be taught. The lesson plan outline must show the direct relationship between the purpose of your visit and your curriculum. You should consider topics such as rocks and minerals, cave features, cave forming processes, local history, or other cave related subjects. The content of your lesson plan outline will be used to determine fee waiver eligibility. The National Park Service is not authorized to waive fees for recreational visits. Lack of, or insufficiently prepared documentation, may result in your application being denied.

If you would like an application mailed to you please contact us at 801-756-5239.

Applications will be accepted starting February 1, for the upcoming cave tour season. Applications received before February 1, will not be considered and will be returned to the sender.

Mail your application (form & lesson plan outline) to:

Timpanogos Cave National Monument
R.R. 3 Box 200
American Fork, Utah 84003

Applications may also be faxed at 801-756-5661. If your application is approved, a confirmation letter will be mailed to you. Bring the confirmation letter with you to the monument; it will be your fee waiver. Your original application will be kept on file in the visitor center for auditing purposes. If you do not receive a response, please contact us at 801-756-5239.

Important Fee Waiver Notices

Tours are limited to groups of 20 and must have at least one adult for each nine students. Large groups will be divided into groups of 20 or less.
Educational fee waivers are not granted on holidays or on weekends.
A fee waiver may be revoked and a bill of collection sent to your school, if your group behaves inappropriately, or if the group's activities indicate that the primary purpose of the field trip was recreational, rather than educational,in nature.

Group Rules and Safety

As your groups travels up and down the 1 1/2-mile cave trail we recommend that one adult leads the group and the second adult is at the end. By staying within voice range of each other, group leaders can communicate the need to stop and adjust a pack strap, get a drink of water, or tie a shoe.
Please make sure your group knows that they are visiting a National Park site where everything is protected. This includes the rocks, flowers, leaves and wildlife. If they leave it where they find it, other groups that follow can have the same wonderful experience of discovering it themselves.
ROCKFALL can occur at any point on the trail. The areas of the greatest amount of rockfall are marked with a red stripe. Most of the time rockfall may be heard before it is seen. When rockfall is heard, immediately duck down on the inside of the trail, close to the wall, and cover your head with your hands and arms. Remember not to stop in the red striped areas.
RUNNING is extremely difficult for children to resist as they come down the trail, but running can lead to painful falls. Keep your group with you at all times as you walk down the trail and make sure students are watching where they are going.
SHORTCUTTING causes damage to the thin canyon soils and a loss of vegetation - often leaving noticeable scars for many years. It also causes rockfall that may injure visitors below.
ROCK THROWING is simply a DON'T! The trail winds steeply up the mountainside, and there are often hikers below you that you cannot see. Even very small rocks pick up enough velocity to severely injure any visitor, wildlife, or building they may strike.

Monument Conveniences

Restrooms are available at the visitor center and at the entrance of the caves.
Food is available at the snack bar located next to the visitor center. Students may eat on the cave trail but no food or drinks are allowed inside the cave system.
Picnic tables are available at Swinging Bridge picnic area and a few tables are available across from the visitor center.
A 20-minute Orientation video is shown on request at the visitor center.
The Western Nationals Parks Association bookstore and the concession gift shop are open daily. A 20% discount is offered to teachers on book sales.
We consider the 1-1/2 mile trail to the caves to be a strenuous and difficult hike. Visitors gain over 1,065 feet elevation in that distance. The narrow cave trail is paved but rough with water bars and rain gutters. For everyone's safety, pets and wheeled vehicles (including wheelchairs and baby strollers) are not allowed on the trail. The visitor center, snack bar, and picnic areas are wheelchair accessible.

Who to Contact

Contact Camille Jensen, at 801-756-5239, or Sheila Hunt, at 801-756-5238, for questions or comments about the educational fee waiver program.

Contact the visitor center at 801-756-5238 for general questions about the monument and the cave.