Field Trips

Set against the steep Sangre de Cristo mountain range, and covering 30 square miles, are the tallest sand dunes in North America. Located in the mountains of Great Sand Dunes National Preserve are some of the most pristine wilderness and alpine lakes. Students can experience varied ecosystems, artifacts, some of the oldest cultural history ever recorded, and extreme geologic history in this outdoor classroom.

 

Know Before You Go

Field Trip Checklist

 

On-Site Field Trip Programs

2024 Spring Season

You can start reserving free field trip programs in February for dates in late April and May. Depending on staffing levels, the park may not be able to accommodate large groups of students in one program. It is best for educators to e-mail park staff to discuss group size, group needs, and other logistics to ensure program needs are addressed.

The educational programs at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve provide hands-on field experiences that can support and enhance your learning objectives. The rangers are dedicated to wanting students to learn and utilize the resources throughout the park to conduct standards-based education programs. Our lessons and activities encourage students to engage, explore, and experience new opportunities. Come discover the learning opportunities and potential lessons that exist in this unique outdoor classroom.

K-2nd Grade

Sand Matters - Students go on a rock hunt to discover why the colors of the stones are the same colors in the sand. One sand color in particular has a unique quality about it that will fascinate everyone!

Amazing Mammals - Students go on a hike near the dunes and observe which things blend in to the environment, and which odd items that do not belong. Learn about animal adaptations in this fun and engaging program.

3rd Grade

Sandy Bugs Everywhere - Great Sand Dunes National Park hosts species of insects found nowhere else on Earth! These strange creatures are uniquely adapted for surviving the extreme environment of the dunes. Students will learn about these endemic species and act out their funny adaptations on the sand!

 

4th Grade

Walking Back in Time - Humans have inhabited Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve for at least 9,000 years. Survival for American Indians and early settlers was a tough struggle in an extreme environment. Students learn about world and local history along this forested trail. 1 mile hike.

Sense of Time - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve contains diverse plants and trees of cultural importance to people here for thousands of years. Students will use their sense along this trail. 1 mile hike.

5th Grade

Extreme Mysteries - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve features the tallest dunes in North America, formed from four dramatic Earth processes. Students will form their own hypothesis of how the dunes were formed, build the San Luis Valley using sand and water, and study the sizes of sand grains using sifters.

6th-8th Grade

Flowing Waters - Water is crucial to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Students will learn the complex importance of water within this environment, measure stream flow in CFS for park data using two forms of measurement, and complete a stream flow worksheet. (Weather Permitting)

Paleo Life - Discover the lifeways of the first peoples at Great Sand Dunes. Students will touch an actual mammoth tooth, camel tooth, bison vertebra, and real artifacts from thousands of years ago. Then students will compare throwing a light spear alone vs. using a atlatl. Distance and time are measured ffor each throw, and then velocity and momentum are calculated.

 

Additional Planning

Once you have looked over the Field Trip Checklist and browsed the embedded links, you are welcome to email the Great Sand Dunes Education Team to request additional information for your field trip planning. Be sure to include the following information to better support your needs:

• Group size, number students and adults, and student age range

• Preferred program or learning goals for your trip

• Top three date and time choices for your program

Cancellation policy: Programs may be cancelled if weather or environmental conditions are unfavorable or unsafe, or if the group arrives 15 minutes late without communicating a delay.

Educational Entrance Fee Waiver: School groups, and educational organizations whose primary purpose for visiting is education, may qualify for an educational entrance fee waiver. This waiver is for park entrance fees; Great Sand Dunes does not charge for programs. The request form is available on our Fees and Passes page.