Author: Robin Kerr

Are you a teacher who wants to bring your students to Mount A this school year? We’re looking forward to seeing both new and familiar faces, and we hope we can help you plan your field trip!

Registration

Start planning your visit by first filling out our Group Registration form!

We do request that all organized groups fill out this form prior to visiting. Please fill the form out at least a week in advance of your visit date, and we’ll do our best to accommodate. Fall is a busy time for field trips, and our calendar fills up quickly!

If you’re bringing a larger group, or if you’re interested in the Lodge or a guided program, it might be a good idea to have a couple of options for dates. Consider scheduling a rain date, as well; there is no indoor or sheltered space available.

Our Outreach and Education Coordinator will respond to your form as soon as she can with everything you need to know to plan your visit, and will keep you updated prior to your trip with any changes or safety information as needed.

Fees

As in previous years, our Group Use fees are based on group size, impact, and planned usage. Additional fees do apply for groups that wish to visit the Learning Lodge or participate in one of our hands-on educational programs. Group Use fees will continue to be paid directly to the Conservation Program via check, cash, or payment through Square; registered groups do not need to use the Pango app at this time.

All Group Use and Admission fees directly support the work we do here at Mount Agamenticus, from trails and facilities maintenance to our outreach and education efforts in the Learning Lodge and beyond. We are so grateful for your support, and for the teachers who bring their students to Mount A year after year!

Learning Lodge

Serving as the hub of operations for the Big A Ski Area from 1964-74, the summit lodge at Mount Agamenticus is now our visitor center, thanks to early efforts of the Friends of Mount Agamenticus! The Lodge is home to educational displays, hands-on activities, and our gift shop. The space is available on weekdays from May through October for school & camp group visits, and other pre-scheduled groups for educational programming.

The gift shop is typically closed during school group visits, but we are happy to open it by teacher request!

Guided Programs

We have two hands-on guided programming options available for groups.

Watershed Model: Learn about our local watershed and how human actions directly impact water quality. Participants will discover how water travels through a watershed through direct interaction with a 3D landscape model. By using everyday kitchen materials to represent chemicals and loose soil, participants can watch how pollutants travel through their community. This program emphasizes pollution prevention with a follow-up demonstration that shows how Mount A is working to reduce erosion and improve watershed health.

Leave No Trace: This activity introduces the Leave No Trace philosophy. Students will learn how their actions can affect the environment in both positive and negative ways. This activity consists of a homemade model of a natural environment, much like Mount A, and a set of instructional playing cards. Students will each have a card instructing them to complete an activity within the environment. After all the cards have been played students will observe the model and take note of changes and how individual actions, when compounded, can leave a significant impact.

The programs above work best with between 8-20 students, but we’ll work with individual groups to determine the best fit based on group size and available time. Larger groups will be split into multiple program rotations.

➤ Additional/alternate programs are available for small groups (between 4-12 people). You can reach out to our Outreach and Education Coordinator for more information.

➤ Conservation Program staff is willing to work with teachers to create a program related to specific topics being studied in the classroom. Program topics related to conservation work, forest and shrubland management, invasive species, Leave No Trace™, pollinators, or vernal pools are all especially well-suited for the Mount Agamenticus area. We may also be able to work with groups interested in volunteering as part of their trip!

➤ Guided hikes may be available for groups of 20 or fewer, dependent on staff availability. We are more than happy to help you plan your route if you need assistance or are unfamiliar with our trails! Trail descriptions for First Hill trails are available.

At this time, the interior of the Lodge is accessible by stairs only. We can bring any of our educational programs or displays outside!

Parking

Bus parking is available at the Summit on the western side of the park, across from the barn and restrooms (spaces marked A38-A50). If you plan to hike up to the summit with your students, buses can drop off at the Base before parking. Teachers and chaperones who are taking their own vehicles will not be charged our seasonal Admission Fee on top of your Group Use fees, but please let us know in advance!

Restrooms & Water

New composting toilet facilities are available at the Base and Summit. Indoor restrooms are not available. Drinking water is available from spring through the fall outside the summit Lodge, under the deck.

We look forward to field trip season every year; thanks for letting us be part of building your nature connection!

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to our Outreach and Education Coordinator or go right ahead and start planning your visit!