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Field Trips with the Mount St. Helens Institute are a blast!
Volcano Outdoor School with the Mount St. Helens Institute provides a variety of options for outdoor educational adventures at Mount St. Helens!
The Mount St. Helens Institute education team provides high quality, hands-on science education for students grades 2-12 in the landscape around Mount St. Helens. Our main education program site is the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater to the northwest of Mount St. Helens.
Ready to book? Fill out our non-binding inquiry form to start the booking process.
Volcano Outdoor School rocks!
Ready to Register?
Step 1: Consider your date availability
Our form asks you to submit 3 possible date options. Please note that available dates are subject to group size, staff availability, and facility availability.
Our busiest weeks are May 1 through June 15 and fill up quickly. Fall outdoor school is a great way to create bonds that last throughout the school year, is a beautiful time of year to visit the mountain, and has more flexibility.
Step 2: Read our Program Policies
Program Policies. Note that groups are required to provide chaperone support at a ratio of 1:5 chaperones per students for overnight trips and 1:8 chaperones per students for day trips.
Step 4: Register by completing the non-binding inquiry form
The required inquiry form begins your registration. If your school or nonprofit wants to apply for financial assistance, please also complete the financial assistance application.
On the inquiry form, please include your top three dates, any limits on your flexibility (e.g., any Thursday in June), and any dates you cannot come. We do our best to accommodate your dates based on our availability and grant-funding priorities.
After you Inquire
- We will notify you of the proposed date(s) and any financial support ~ 2 weeks after we receive your inquiry.
- Once we have agreed on a date, we will send you a Program Agreement for you to sign and return to us.
- Once we received a completed Program Agreement, we send you access to pre-field trip planning materials.
Financial Assistance
In order to make the volcano accessible to ALL youth from around the region, Mount St. Helens Institute provides reduced-rate Volcano Outdoor School programs for schools and nonprofit organizations that qualify. Additionally, we offer a limited number of transportation subsidies for qualifying schools attending in-person field trips.
Our field trip financial assistance is only possible through the support of our generous supporters, donors and sponsors. If you are in a place to sponsor outdoor school or support us, please reach out.
General Financial Assistance Information
- Funds are limited and will be awarded based on our funding criteria, as determined by our grant requirements and annual budget.
- We have limited funding each year. We begin awarding funding when we open registration, usually in November.
- Schools and nonprofit organizations must apply for financial assistance using the Financial Assistance Application Form.
- Schools or nonprofits must submit a W9 for their organization with an Employer Identification Number to receive an award. We do not fund informal organizations.
- If you have any questions, please email our team: learn@mshinstitute.org.
Eligibility
- Location: Some funding is unrestricted, but some is restricted to certain locations.
- Program fee assistance for public schools and qualifying nonprofit organizations is based on the percentage of students considered low-income as follows:
% STUDENTS LOW INCOME | QUALIFY FOR |
|---|---|
40-49% | 25% financial assistance for program fees |
50-59% | 50% financial assistance for program fees |
60-69% | 75% financial assistance for program fees and/or transportation assistance. Transportation reimbursement may be available at a rate of up to $12/person OR up to $600/vehicle (whichever is less). The number of vehicles eligible for transportation reimbursement is not limited. Availability of all funding is limited by our grant funding and is not guaranteed. |
70% or more | 90% financial assistance for program fees and/or transportation assistance. Transportation reimbursement may be available at a rate of up to $12/person OR up to $600/vehicle (whichever is less). The number of vehicles eligible for transportation reimbursement is not limited. Availability of all funding is limited by our grant funding and is not guaranteed. |
Transportation Reimbursement Information
We know that transportation to Mount St. Helens may be a barrier.
Transportation Reimbursement may be available for groups who have submitted a financial assistance application and who qualify according to our criteria: currently, groups who qualify to receive 90% or 75% off their program.
All groups receiving financial assistance and/or transportation assistance must request transportation support on the Financial Assistance Application Form.
- Submit the transportation reimbursement form after your field trip is complete.
- We evaluate each school/group individually based on the group's needs.
- All groups receiving financial assistance must provide a W9 for their organization.
- Qualifying groups will receive reimbursement for the cost of school bus or transportation UP TO $600 per bus or $12/person (whichever is less).
- Funding is limited by our grant funding and is not guaranteed.
- We provide transportation reimbursement only after we receive receipts or an invoice submitted after your field trip with us.
- Funds are limited.
Expectations of teacher or group organizer receiving financial assistance:
- Complete the post-program survey, which supports our recurring grant funding.
- If selected to receive transportation assistance for an in-person field trip, your school or group must submit an invoice or receipt of transportation within 30 days of your visit to receive a transportation reimbursement.
Teachers, schools, universities, or other groups wanting to use the Science and Learning Center for overnight outdoor school but provide their own programming can check out our Science and Learning Center rental page that covers amenities, capacity, and rental information.
Volcano Outdoor School Information Sheets
- US Forest Service
- WA Recreation & Conservation Office No Child Left Inside
- WA State Parks
- Honorable Frank L and Arlene G Price Foundation
- Sierra Pacific Foundation
- Autzen Foundation
- Outdoor Schools Washington
- Chevron
- Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Other Ways to Visit Mount St. Helens
Our partners at the U.S. Forest Service and Washington State Parks have great resources for field trips, too!
The U.S. Forest Service manages the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and offers itineraries and curriculum for classes who visit Mount St. Helens on their own. Visit their Teacher's Corner.
- Groups can visit the Science & Learning Center Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center which is open 10AM - 4PM daily (7 days a week) from June - November and open weekends November - June. Please contact the U.S. Forest Service (360) 449-7800 with questions about programs and services.
- The fabulous Ape Cave on the south side of Mount St. Helens is open for school groups to visit between June - October. This site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service; please contact the U.S. Forest Service staff (360) 449-7800 with questions about programs and services.
- Mount St. Helens Institute offers guided hikes & field trips at Ape Cave per request & based on staff availability. Contact us to inquire and learn more!
The Mount St. Helens Visitors Center at Seaquest State Park is located just 5 miles from the I5 corridor and is a fantastic place to visit as part of your trip to Mount St. Helens. This visitors center is open for school groups and is a great place to stretch your legs, use the restroom and learn more about the volcano with the interpretive exhibits, ADA accessible boardwalk trail and free curriculum provided by State Parks staff to school groups. Please contact WA State Park staff directly via phone or email with any questions.
Stay Connected
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