Program Times

School programs may be scheduled during : 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Programs are approximately 45 minutes in length. Many school groups schedule both a Nature and Astronomy program for the same day, thus making most efficient use of their transportation dollars.

Program Fees

Kingsport, Rogersville, & Bristol (TN) City Schools - No charge.

Public, private, and home schools within Sullivan County, TN and Hawkins County, TN - No charge.

Home schools, private schools, and public schools located outside Sullivan or Hawkins County: $2.00 per student and parents or chaperons. There is no charge for teachers.

Entrance Fees

Entrance to the park is $3.00 per car and $12.00 per bus (school bus or larger). Park Association members must present a current membership card for entrance to the park.

Buses from Sullivan and Hawkins counties are waived the entrance fee.

To schedule a group call (423) 229-9490 and ask for Fred Hilton.

To expedite the scheduling process, please have the following information available prior to calling:

• Grade level and number of students to visit the park.
• Number of staff to accompany the students.
• Number of non-school personnel (if any) who will accompany the students. PLEASE BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE WITH THESE NUMBERS.
• Which programs you would like (nature, planetarium, or both) and the preferred topic (where a choice is available).
• The month you wish to visit the park, days you CANNOT come due to in-service training, etc., the earliest time you can arrive at the park, and the latest time you can remain at the park.
• School name, mailing address, phone and FAX numbers, and the name of one teacher who will be accompanying the group.

To schedule a group call (423) 229-9490 and ask for Fred Hilton.

Arrival & Check In

Please arrive at the park and check in at the front desk of the nature center 15 minutes prior to the first scheduled program time. Arriving late may cause your group's program to be cancelled.

During Your Visit

• Bays Mountain Park is a nature preserve. Please inform your students that destroying or removing material, either living, dead, or non-living violates park rules.
• A teacher or other responsible adult should accompany students at all times they are in the park.
• Students should be encouraged to walk quietly while in the park. Others are here to enjoy the tranquility of the nature preserve as well as to learn.
• Teasing, harassing, or feeding of park animals, whether caged or loose, will not be tolerated.

Staying for Lunch

Please note: There are no vending machines or food concessions at the park.
Groups may bring their lunches to the park and eat at the picnic tables, the amphitheater, or two covered picnic shelters. These areas are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. During inclement weather, the Park will attempt to provide indoor or sheltered areas for the students to eat. The availability of these areas is subject to programming needs. Please help the staff keep the park clean by depositing all trash in appropriate recepticles. Please do not feed any park animals, caged or loose.

Select a program fromt the list to see detailed information in the box below.

Select from the list for detailed program information in the box below.