School Programs at Palm State Beach

Palm State Beach

For school programs at Palm State Beach, please contact park staff at 831-685-6444.

New Brighton offers two field trips for third and fourth graders.

New Brighton State Beach

The pacific migrations tour at the visitor center is a museum tour with hands-on activities. The local history tour is a short- to moderate-difficulty guided walk. Both tours last about an hour and a half for groups of one class at a time, and are offered year around.

Self-guided tours of New Brighton State Beach are available by prior arrangement. All field trips at New Brighton offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-464-5620 or 831-685-6444.

Students can enjoy a Monarch Tour

Natural Bridges State Park

Natural Bridges offers several different tours for school groups. From October through January each year, students can enjoy a Monarch Tour. Applicable for K-12th grade curriculum, the guided walk can accommodate one class at a time, lasts approximately one hour and includes indoor activities.

From March 1 until July 30 each year, tidepool tours available for first through fourth graders. This is a moderate-difficulity guided walk with indoor activities, which lasts approximately an hour and a half and accommodates one class at a time.

The beach ecology tour is offered for second grade classes in the spring only. This is a short, guided walk with indoor activities, lasts approximately an hour and accommodates one class at a time.

Self-guided tours of Natural Bridges State Beach are available by prior arrangement. All field trips at Natural Bridges offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-423-4609.

Hands-on educational programs for school groups K-college.

Henry Cowell Redwoods Sate Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offers CA State Standard hands-on educational programs for school groups K-college. With the diverse ecosystems within the park boundaries, including old growth redwood forest, riparian habitat, sandhills chaparral and grasslands, there are many opportunities for school field trips.

Two year-round programs include:

The Old-Growth Redwood Loop Tour—an approximately hour and a half program for K-4th grades, includes a short-to moderate-difficulty walk and hands-on activities.

Anadramous Fish/Steelhead Tour—a half-day field study experience focusing on life in and around the San Lorenzo River. Check with park staff for group size and availability.

Self guided tours of Henry Cowell are also available by prior arrangement. All field trips at Henry Cowell offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at (831) 335-7077.