Forests for the Future

Education Reservations Forms for the 2025-2026 school year are now live! To apply, please submit the form found at the bottom of this page. For questions, please email GOGA_Education@nps.gov

Grades 11-12

Overview

How can redwoods and communities help mitigate environmental changes?

Forests for the Future engages students in an in-depth investigation of the redwood forest ecosystem at Muir Woods National Monument, challenging them to uncover the crucial role that redwoods play in mitigating environmental changes. Through firsthand exploration the program encourages students to question, analyze, and reimagine the narratives of climate action, focusing on how the unique ecology of redwoods intersects with broader environmental and social challenges.

The Forest for the Future program uses the Understanding by Design framework and aligns with California K-12 History–Social Science Content Standards and Common Core Standards. The program is framed by the essential question - "How can redwoods and communities help mitigate environmental changes?"

Program Structure

Forest for the Future programs are structured in the following three-touch model:

1. Classroom Preparation - Teachers complete three pre-lessons supported by park-provided resources, emphasizing the use of scientific inquiry to explore observation, inference, environmental assessment, and social community well-being. Subsequently, students will analyze both their surroundings and the societal vitality of their communities. Please share details about preferred NPS staff visit in the Education Reservation Request Form.
2. Field Session - Field Session – During the park experience, students explore the remnants of an ancient forest at Muir Woods. Please share details about preferred field visit date in the Education Reservation Request Form.

3. Classroom Assessment - opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through inquiry investigations. Please email or mail back student work to NPS staff.

How to Apply

Step 1: Educators must complete the Education Reservation Request Form at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Park staff will reach out to accepted classes after September 26th, 2025 to schedule a date for your class visit and park visit. Please keep in mind, programs on Muir Woods are only offered (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday).

Step 3: New teachers must attend a Teacher Workshop to confirm program dates.

Step 4: Teachers complete pre-site lessons with students before the scheduled Ranger Class visit. Ranger visits the classroom virtually or in-person.

Step 5: Class attends in-person park visit.

Step 6: Teachers complete the post-site lesson and share student work with Rangers.

Please note the following:

Education Programs are only offered Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Programs are FREE of charge. Programs are available in a Spanish/English bilingual setting – please be sure to inform the Ranger ahead of time.

Due to limited staffing at each park site, we ask that classes only apply to one of the program offerings throughout Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Program locations can ONLY accommodate 1 class per day (minimum of 10 students).

Ranger-led programs generally last 2-3 hours, not including driving or lunch time. Expect total time of park visits (travel to site, program, lunch) to be approximately 5-6 hours.

Chaperones:

Chaperones are expected to attend and support each program – 1 per 10 student ratio.

Chaperones play a key role in making park programs successful and safe. Here’s what to expect on your park visit:

Support student safety—your primary role throughout the day.

Guide learning – help students stay focused on the lesson or speaker.

Assist with materials – help distribute and collect as needed.

Supervise lunch and clean-up – provide guidance during breaks.

Stay curious and flexible – your attitude sets the tone for students!

Safety at Muir Woods

Field trips to Muir Woods are full of adventure—and safety is key to a great trip!
Admire poison oak from afar – leaves of three let them be.
Stay on the trail – no climbing or leaning on fences.
Stick together – groups should stay close and move as one.
Keep voices low – we do not want to startle the wildlife.

Be Prepared
Any visit to Muir Woods will include some outdoor walking and exploring. Students should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Layering is essential in the redwood forest—mornings can be chilly, afternoons warm, and conditions may change quickly. Each student should carry a water bottle.

Restrooms

Restrooms are located in the front plaza near the visitor center, as well as in the café area inside the park. Restrooms are not available along the trails. Please use the restrooms before hiking.

Bus scholarships may be available for high need schools. If interested in a scholarship, please include this request in the transportation section of the form.

For questions, please email muwo_educationrequest@nps.gov.

Education Reservation Request Form – In-person Park Visit

Use this form to apply for the Forests for the Future Education Program.

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Contact Mailing Address Country

I have a US mailing address

I have a mailing address outside the US

International Mailing Address (required)
Please include building number and street, city, state/province country and Postal Code

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Visitors 16 years of age or older (including students, chaperones, and teachers) must pay an entrance fee at this site. Academic institutions (including schools) may apply for an academic fee waiver to cover the cost of these visitors. The number of teachers/chaperones that are covered with a waiver varies depending on the size of the group.

Would you like to request an academic fee waiver for your group?

Yes. I need to complete the fee waiver application. No I do not need a fee waiver.

For this section, all of the criteria fields and the acknowledgement checkbox are required for the waiver.

Certification

Academic fee waivers are not granted automatically. Applicant groups must show they qualify for the waiver. There are three criteria the group must meet to qualify for an academic fee waiver: eligibility, relevance of park resources or facilities to academic program, and academic purpose. Details of these qualifications are listed below. If your institution and purpose meet these criteria, submit this form.

Criterion One - Eligibility

Describe and/or attach current official recognition or accreditation as an educational institution by a federal, state, or local government or other documentation attesting to educational status, such as an accreditation letter, educational tax-exempt letter.

Attach Supporting Document for Eligibility (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, and Google Doc

Criterion Two - Educational Purpose

Verify how this visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered. For example, attach a course syllabus/description, course catalog, lesson plan, letter detailing the educational purpose, etc., and/or describe.

Attach Supporting Document for Educational Purpose (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Criterion Three - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Identify the pertinent park resources and/or facilities and detail how they are relevant to support the educational purpose of the visit (attach letter or describe).

Attach Supporting Document for Relevance (if needed). Acceptable document types: are Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Google Doc

Authorized School / Organization Contact Name (required)

Title / Position

Acknowledgement (required)

The Recreation Fee Authority (16 USC 6802 Sections 3 a and b) allows for fee waivers only for bona fide educational and/or scientific institutions that are using the park for educational purposes. I hereby certify that the above detailed trip meets these requirements and therefore request that fees be waived.

Current official documentation of recognition of affiliation as an educational institution by a Federal, State or local government entity, or other evidence attesting to educational status is attached (e.g. accreditation letter, educational tax-exempt letter). It is insufficient to merely state or imply this on official letterhead.

By checking this box I acknowledge that I have read the Acknowledgement.

Date of Acknowledgement (required)
format mmddyyyy

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.

Last updated: August 26, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area
201 Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone:

415-561-4700
United States Park Police Dispatch: Non-Emergency: 415-561-5505 Emergency: 415-561-5656

Alerts In Effect

Forests for the Future

Grades 11-12

Overview

Program Structure

How to Apply

Education Reservation Request Form – In-person Park Visit

Disclaimer:

Certification

Criterion One - Eligibility

Criterion Two - Educational Purpose

Criterion Three - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Acknowledgement (required)

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Estimated Burden Statement

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Phone:

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected

Contact Us

Forests for the Future

Grades 11-12

Overview

Program Structure

How to Apply

Education Reservation Request Form – In-person Park Visit

Learning Accommodations

School / Organization Contact Information

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Disclaimer:

Academic Fee Waiver

Certification

Criterion One - Eligibility

Criterion Two - Educational Purpose

Criterion Three - Relevance of Park Resources or Facilities

Acknowledgement (required)

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Estimated Burden Statement

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Phone:

Contact Us

Tools

Stay Connected