Group Visit FAQs

How do I schedule a field trip? What are my first steps?

Fill out the Group Visit Request Form. We’ll contact you to work out the date and details. Every trip is tailored to meet that group’s specific needs and interests.

What subject matters do you cover?

We can talk about the life and writings of Thoreau, Transcendentalism, history and the period in which Thoreau lived, and the natural history of Walden Pond and Walden Woods. Visit our “Planning a Group Visit” page to learn more about the variety of topics we can cover and activities we can facilitate.

Are there any fees?

We do charge fees for our facilitated group visits (outlined below), but have attempted to keep them affordable.  It is our goal to make these programs available to ALL groups that wish to visit us in the Walden Woods, however, so please be in touch if the fees are prohibitive for your group.

For groups visiting the Walden Pond State Reservation, you will need to pay $20 per bus and/or $8 per car with Massachusetts license plate/$15 for out-of-state plate.

What happens if there is bad weather on the day of our scheduled visit?

Thoreau walked and explored the outdoors in all types of weather and so do we!  So, unless the forecast calls for dangerous conditions (excessive cold, high wind speeds, lightning, etc.) we will plan to see you. That said, you know your group better than we do.  If you know that your students would be distracted by bad weather to the point that the trip would not be beneficial, we are happy to reschedule. We will definitely communicate with you ahead of time to determine what would be best for your group!

I’ve never been there. Will you provide us with directions?

Yes. As soon as all of the details of the trip are confirmed, you will receive a Group Visit Confirmation Form outlining the day’s schedule, directions and parking instructions, day-of contact information, etc.

While we are in the Concord area, we’d like to see another attraction.  Can you help us with that?

Yes.  We often work with other Concord-area sites to put together a full day of activities for groups that want to make the most of their time here.

Do you host groups on weekends?

While our general hours of operation are from 8AM-4:30 PM Monday-Friday, if your group is only in the area for a weekend, we will definitely do our best to accommodate your request (and have done so on many previous occasions)!

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