Field trips
Education Programs for Pre-School through 12th Grade
Why bring your classroom to Cave of the Winds?
From preschool to high school, a field trip to Cave of the Winds is more than just a day out of the classroom—it’s an unforgettable experience filled with hands-on activities, science-backed learning, and pure excitement. Whether you’re bringing a small group or planning for a full busload, our education programs align with Colorado academic standards and make learning come alive underground.
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Whether you have a kindergartner who is learning basic facts about bats and panning for gold, or a high schooler who is interested in getting muddy and crawling through caves, we have something that will get every kid excited about learning.
Grades Pre-K – 1
Intro to Bats and Caves
Introduce your preschoolers and early elementary school-aged kids to an exciting and age appropriate cave curriculum, full of hands-on learning. Watch your students come alive with excitement as they learn about bats and explore the perfect caves for their age group!
- Bat Presentation
- Geology Lab in our underground laboratory
- Age-appropriate tour of the cave, inside Temple Mountain!
- Tools for teachers
Pricing (Tour Only): March–May & September–October
| Students | $8.00 |
| Chaperone | $15.00 |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum.
*Also note: Additional children/siblings not being carried: $8.00 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
November–February
| Students | $6.00 |
| Chaperone | $13.00 |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum.
*Also note: Additional children/siblings not being carried: $6.00 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
Call or email us to book your field trip reservation or just to just check our availability!
Phone: 719-685-5444, option 5
Email: info@caveofthewinds.com
Grades 2-4
Intermediate Bats & Caves
Spark your elementary schoolers’ love of learning by teaching them about caves and the animals who live in them. Continue to build their knowledge and love of Colorado caves with an age-appropriate curriculum guaranteed to get them excited about an undiscovered world hiding right under their feet!
- Bat presentation
- Geology lab in our underground laboratory
- Age-appropriate tour of the cave, inside Temple Mountain!
- Tools for teachers
Pricing (Tour Only): March–May & September–October
| Students | $9.00 |
| Chaperone | $15.00 |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum.
*Also note: Additional children/siblings not being carried: $9.00 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
Tour Pricing: November–February
| Students | $7.00 |
| Chaperone | $13.00 |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum.
*Also note: Additional children/siblings not being carried: $7.00 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
Call or email us to book your field trip reservation or just to just check our availability!
Phone: 719-685-5444, option 5
Email: info@caveofthewinds.com
Available Add-Ons
Make your field trip to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park more educational and more memorable when you add-on our special activities to keep your students busy and learning!
Gemstone panning: $3 per person
(Available Weather Permitting): Just like miners used to pan for gold during the United States gold rush, your students will pan for their very own gemstone collection at our Sluice. Everyone is guaranteed to find some at no additional fee! Each student will receive a souvenir bag to take their collection home in.
Free Add-Ons
These FREE add-ons are included upon request or with group tours of 100 or more! Please add approximately 20 minute time slots for each add-on.
Cave Creatures Presentation
Learn about the different cave zones, and the many creatures who live in the harsh and delicate cave ecosystem. Discover how they adapt to environmental issues and inclement weather to thrive.
Caver’s Crawl
After learning some of the skills that are required for a true caving adventure, school groups will have a hands-on simulated caving experience in the Caver’s Crawl Challenge. They must crawl through 120 feet of wooden “cave passage” encompassing 4 levels while avoiding the formations along the way during this guided tour.
Forces of Nature Program
This classroom program teaches students the difference between healthy and unhealthy forests. Discover how lightning and fire are created, and their possibly devastating effects on unhealthy forests. We will also discuss the Waldo Canyon fire and flash floods. Includes live fire demonstration!
Manitou Fossils Presentation
Learn from staff members about the ancient creatures that once lived in the Manitou area, how to look for the evidence they left behind, and see our real limestone fossil examples for an unforgettable field trip experience.
Stalaktykes Slide (grades 2 and up)
A fun way to expend some energy! Students test their climbing and dexterity skills as they ascend through 7 levels of bungees to reach the long twist slide at the top!
*while this activity is considered "all ages", it is best for those in 2nd grade or older, as they are tall enough to ascend more easily.
Grades 5-8
Geo 101: Underground Adventures
This field trip is designed to challenge middle school students and features an extended cave tour and a geology lab presentation. Students will learn about Colorado geology in our cave classroom before investigating cave formations during a tour of Cave of the Winds, with a special extension into the unimproved Manitou Grands section. Students will discuss the differences between the two systems, while taking temperature and humidity data throughout.
Students will need to bring a flashlight for the highlight of the program in the Manitou Grand Caverns, the location of some of the most active passages of the cave. Expect clothing to get slightly dirty.
- Geology lab in our underground laboratory
- Age-appropriate tour of the cave, inside Temple Mountain!
- Tools for teachers
Tour Pricing: March–May & September–October
| Students | $10.00 (tour only) |
| Chaperone | $15.00 (tour only) |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
Must have/pay for 15 people minimum (tour only). One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Children under 8 years of age may not accompany this group. Any additional siblings : $8 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
Tour Pricing: November–February
| Students | $8.00 (tour only) |
| Chaperone | $13.00 (tour only) |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
Must have/pay for 15 people minimum (tour only). One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
*Please note: Children under 8 years of age may not accompany this group. Any additional siblings : $8 (tour only). Must have teacher permission.
Call or email us to book your field trip reservation or just to just check our availability!
Phone: 719-685-5444, option 5
Email: info@caveofthewinds.com
Available Add-Ons
Make your field trip to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park more educational and more memorable when you add-on our special activities to keep your students busy and learning!
Gemstone panning: $3 per person
(Available Weather Permitting): Just like miners used to pan for gold during the gold rush, your students will pan for their very own gemstone collection at our Sluice. Everyone is guaranteed to find some! Each student will receive a souvenir bag to take their collection home in.
Above Ground Activities: $15/ person for full Pioneer Pass, $10/person for Wind Walker & Bat-a-Pult only
Your students can test their endurance on the Wind Walker Challenge Course, climb on the Cliff Hanger Climbing Wall, test their balance on the Geronimo's Leap, and fly like a bat on the Bat-a-Pult Zip Line. (All participants must be at least 48″ tall, weigh less than 300 lbs, and securely fit the harness to ride.) Available March – October only, weather permitting.
Free Add-Ons
These FREE add-ons are included upon request or with groups of 100 or more! Please add approximately 20 minutes for each add-on.
Caver’s Crawl
After learning some of the skills that are required for a true caving adventure, students will have a hands-on simulated caving experience in the Caver’s Crawl Challenge. They must crawl through 120 feet of wooden “cave passage” encompassing 4 levels while avoiding the formations along the way.
Forces of Nature Program
This program teaches students the difference between healthy and unhealthy forests. Discover how lightning and fire are created, and their possibly devastating effects on unhealthy forests. We will also discuss the Waldo Canyon fire and flash floods. Includes live fire demonstration!
Manitou Fossils Presentation
Learn about the ancient creatures that once lived in the Manitou area, and how to look for the evidence they left behind in our caves!
Stalaktykes Slide
A fun way to expend some energy! Students test their climbing and dexterity skills as they ascend through 7 levels of bungees to reach the long twist slide at the top!
Grades 9-12
Caving 101: Introduction to Caving
Take your high school students or youth group on an exciting caving trek! Students will explore undeveloped sections of the Manitou Grand Caverns, while climbing and crawling through passageways lit only by your headlamps. Knowledgeable guides provide groups with 2 hours of good clean, yet muddy fun underground! High-schoolers can expect an exciting adventure that will culminate in a deeper knowledge about the Colorado cavern system. Caving 101: Introduction to Caving is a tour that teaches teens about the wonders beneath their feet, building upon what they have learned in their earlier education in a fun and accessible way.
All participants must bring gloves, a headlamp, a change of clothes, and an extra pair of shoes. Pants and long sleeve shirts required. Crawling is required and the cave is often muddy. The cave is 54 degrees year round.
- An immersive 2-hour underground trek, the Caving 101: Introduction to Caving tour promises both education and excitement for your high school group
- Explore undeveloped sections of the Manitou Grand Caverns Climb and crawl through passageways by headlamp.
- Knowledgeable guides provide groups with 2 hours of adventure underground!
- All participants must bring a headlamp, a pair of gloves, a change of clothes, and extra pair of shoes. Pants and long sleeve shirts required. Please wear clothing you won’t mind getting dirty and possibly ruined by the mud. An area will be available to change and clean up after your tour.
- The cave is 54 degrees year round with possibly humid areas so students will need to dress with this in mind.
- Tools for teachers
Tour Pricing: March–May & September–October
| Students | $27.00 (tour only) |
| Chaperone | $27.00 (tour only) |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum. One teacher or chaperone free with every 15 paid students (tour only).
Participants: must be 9th – 12th graders. No children under 13 allowed.
Tour Pricing: November–February
| Students | $20.00 (tour only) |
| Chaperone | $20.00 (tour only) |
| Gemstone Panning | $3.00 per student |
*Please note: Must have/pay for 15 people minimum.
Participants: must be 9th – 12th graders. No children under 13 allowed.
Call or email us to book your field trip reservation or just to just check our availability!
Phone: 719-685-5444, option 5
Email: info@caveofthewinds.com
Available Add-Ons
Make your field trip to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park more educational and more memorable when you add-on our special activities to keep your students busy and learning!
Gemstone panning: $3 per person
Just like miners used to pan for gold during the gold rush, your students will pan for their very own gemstone collection at our Sluice. Everyone is guaranteed to find some! Each student will receive a souvenir bag to take their collection home in. Gemstone Panning is only available March – October due to colder temperatures.
Above Ground Activities: $15/person for full Pioneeer Pass, $10/person for Wind Walker & Bat-a-Pult only
Your students can test their endurance on the Wind Walker Challenge Course, climb on the Cliff Hanger Climbing Wall, test their balance on the Geronimo's Leap, and fly like a bat on the Bat-a-Pult Zip Line. (All participants must be at least 48″ tall, weigh less than 300 lbs, and securely fit the harness to ride.) Available March – October only, weather permitting.
attraction add-on
Wind Walker Challenge Course & Bat-a-Pult
(Available Weather Permitting): For a fantastic team building class activity, your students can test their endurance on the Wind Walker Challenge Course and fly like a bat on the Bat-a-Pult Zip Line. (All participants must be at least 48″ tall, weigh less than 300 lbs, and securely fit the harness to ride.)
- $10.00 per person
attraction add-on
Pioneer Package
(Available Weather Permitting): The Pioneer Package includes the Wind Walker Challenge Course, Bat-a-Pult Zip Line, Cliff Hanger Climbing Wall, and Geronimo’s Leap (All participants must be at least 48″ tall, weigh less than 300 lbs, and securely fit the harness to ride).
- $15.00 per person
Field Trip FAQs
There is a minimum deposit of $10 that will be charged when you make your reservation. Your deposit will be applied toward your grand total. The remaining balance will be due the day of your tour. Sorry, no business, school, or personal checks can be accepted.
We can accommodate up to 45 people in your group for the tour only, however, up to 90 can be accommodated when you add on additional activities.
Yes, depending on the tour you are taking. When you book up to 200 Students you will choose from our list of popular add-ons. Add-ons help keep students learning and help us accommodate larger groups.
Yes! Check out our Tools for Teachers for student worksheets and other useful field trip information. Also take a look at our Learning Center for more information about cave geology, ecology and history.