School tours
The Springs Preserve offers ever-changing educational opportunities for teachers and students alike. With themes exploring all aspects of nature and science (and aligned with Nevada State Standards), our exhibits are interactive, engaging and fun!
Tour options
Want to explore the Springs Preserve with your students? Take them on a free self-guided tour! Self-guided tours are generally offered Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. (Non-CCSD schools may take the self-guided tour Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, from noon to 2 p.m.)
Guided tours and premium experiences are currently unavailable. Please check this page for future updates.
What's included?
Access to our grounds and attractions including Origen Museum, Boomtown 1905, WaterWorks, Nature Exchange, Botanical Garden and our picnic areas. The Butterfly Habitat is seasonably accessible but not recommended.
Note: Nevada State Museum field trips must be booked separately. Book a Nevada State Museum field trip.
What's not included?
Geode cracking, fossil dig, or Toddler Time.
Teaching tools
We've developed these specialized activities for teachers to complete with their students around the Springs Preserve.
Self-Guided Field Trip Student Packets and Activities
- Origen Museum (English)
- Origen Museum (Spanish)
- WaterWorks
- Boomtown 1905
- Botanical Garden
- DesertSol Solar House BINGO
Teacher Guides and Answer Keys
School Tour requests are closed for the 2023-24 school year. Please check back in August for booking for the 2024-25 school year. Thank you.
Required "Teach the Teacher" training
All teachers bringing students on tours of the Springs Preserve (whether guided or self-guided), must complete “Teach the Teacher” training before arrival. This training includes watching a 15-minute video and completing all necessary forms, listed below.
Please use this checklist as a helpful tool to ensure that you've completed all of the necessary training, and that your field trip runs as smoothly as possible. It covers registration, preparation, arrival and procedures for the field trip itself.
Video tour of the Springs Preserve
All teachers must watch this video tour of the Springs Preserve before bringing their students on a field trip. The video tour should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Required forms
Teachers must bring these signed documents with them to their school tour.
- Field Trip Guidelines & Acknowledgment form: This document contains information about chaperone requirements, lunches, Springs Preserve grounds, and field trip check-in procedures.
- Chaperone Expectation form: This document outlines our expectations for chaperones. There should be one chaperone or teacher for every 30 students. The maximum number of chaperones is one for every five students. Any additional chaperones above that ratio must pay $9.95 admission. ¿Hablas español? Llena nuestra forma en español de Expectativas para Chaperones.
This program is supported by the generous contributions of the Rosenblum Family Foundation