Buses for Paterson Schools

Grant Funded Bussing:

Bussing may be available for Paterson Schools on a first come, first served basis through the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson (HPP), made possible by grant funding from the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Funding for the buses is available through the 2025 calendar year.

To take advantage of this great opportunity to bring your students to the Paterson Great Falls, please make a note in the "Mode of Transportation" section of the reservation request form, found on the Field Trips page. When a ranger reaches out to coordinate to your reservation, they will put you in contact with HPP to make arrangements for buses.

Program Offerings:

A Stroll Through History - The Paterson Great Falls Orientation Walking Tour

Appropriate for families, elementary, middle school, high school, and college/adult groups. Please specify age range and focus when reserving so we may best match your curriculum and visitation needs.

Primary matched curriculum standards:
Social Studies: 6.1.2.Geo.HE.4, 6.1.2.EconNE.1, 6.1.12.HistoryCC.6.b, 6.1.12.HistoryCA.11.a, 6.1.5.HistoryUP.1, 6.1.5.GeoGI.4, 6.2.12.HistoryCC.3.[a]b

The story of Paterson and its Great Falls demonstrates that the natural and cultural diversity of the area helped fuel the economic and social growth of a young nation. Join a staff member for this 45-minute to 1-hour, 1-mile walk to discover how the natural world inspired a founding father, entrepreneurs, immigrants, poets and artists to build the nation's first industrial city and changed the world.

Please wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing/shoes. The walk will be on along paved and unpaved paths with uneven footing. Guided tours led by the National Park Service, or its designees, can follow paved, wheelchair-accessible routes (assistance may be required, especially along narrow city sidewalks). If you have any concerns or questions, please review our safety guidelines, explore our accessibility resources, and contact the park with additional queries.