School Programs


This page is intended as a service to the teachers of our area who wish to plan a field trip to Bays Mountain Park.

General Guidelines

Bays Mountain Park staff and volunteers offer programs for area school groups from kindergarten through high school level. These are offered Tuesday through Friday, September through May. Four nature programs and four planetarium programs are offered daily on the half hour beginning at 9:30 A.M. Many school groups schedule both programs for the same day, thus making most efficient use of their transportation dollars. Scheduled groups need to arrive in the park and check in at the front desk of the nature center 15 minutes prior to their first program. Arriving late may cause your group's program to be cancelled. We ask that one person be appointed from your school to check in for the group. That person will need to bring the group's confirmation letter and fees due (if required) to our Gift Shop desk. We will be happy to issue a receipt to your school.

Groups may bring their lunches to the park and eat at the picnic tables, the amphitheater, or two covered picnic shelters. These areas are all available on a first-come, first-served basis. During inclement weather groups will need to eat on their buses. There are no vending machines or food concessions at the park. Your group will need to bring all the beverages and pre-cooked foods they will want. Trash receptacles are available at or near each of these areas. We ask all groups to help the staff keep the park clean by using them. Please do not feed any park animals, caged or loose.

Bays Mountain Park is a nature preserve. Teachers and leaders are asked to aid the staff by instructing their 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.

To expedite the process of scheduling a school group's field trip to Bays Mountain Park, please have the following information available prior to calling so that you can provide it to the staff person doing the scheduling when it is requested:

  • Grade level and number of the students to visit the park, number of staff to accompany the students and number of non-school personnel (if any) who will accompany the students. PLEASE BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE WITH THESE NUMBERS.
  • What programs you want (nature, planetarium, or both) and the topic you prefer (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.
Programs for public schools located in Sullivan County are provided at no cost.  To schedule a group call (423) 229-9447 and ask for Ken Childress.

There is a charge for any home schools, private schools, and for public schools located outside Sullivan County. To schedule a group call (423) 229-9447 and ask for Ken Childress.

We cannot take reservations made via e-mail!