Field Trip and TNC to Go Policies and Procedures
Field Trip Policies and Procedures
- Notify us no less than 48 hours in advance of any special needs or considerations for your group.
- Separate
- Pre-school & Kindergarten students into groups of 25 max (or one class) prior to arrival.
- 1st-12th grade students into groups of 30 max (or one class) prior to arrival.
- Programs require one group leader per class and one adult chaperone per five students. Additional parents may not attend without prior written permission from TNC .
- Advance notice of additional students and adults is required. TNC reserves the right to limit the number of non-registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.
- Reservations that are cancelled due to inclement weather or the needs of the animals will be rescheduled, as possible. If rescheduling is impossible, a credit or refund will be issued.
- Program Attire:
- Programs vary seasonally and are mostly outdoors; please encourage your students to dress for the weather.
- All students should wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes or boots and rain gear when applicable (no umbrellas please).
- Due to elevation and forest cover, TNC tends to be cooler throughout the year.
- Please apply insect repellent at home before you arrive at the Nature Center. We suggest that you apply to clothing rather than skin. We ask that you don’t spray insect repellent in our preserve!
- Visit our Contact & Directions page to find us.
- Field Trip groups can expect to be greeted as they arrive in the parking lot by a TNC Environmental Educator. If you arrive early please check in with the front desk to learn where to meet your educator.
- If space is available you will be asked to park in the nature center parking lot and load and unload. It is unsafe to unload or park in the cul-de-sac without TNC staff. Our driveway is in the middle of the cul-de-sac (not the short driveway to the left).
- If the parking lot is full, a TNC representative will instruct drivers to appropriate parking locations (parking is not permitted in the cul-de-sac).
- If you arrive early you are welcome to walk on the trails before your scheduled program.
- Programs begin and end at the time listed on the confirmation sheet. Program time will not be altered due to lateness. Please contact us if delayed while en route.
- Schedule transportation accordingly, and allow time for traffic, bathroom breaks, loading and unloading.
- For all scheduled programs one Environmental Educator will be assigned to lead each group (max, 25-30 students depending on age).
- Please make sure all cell phones are set to vibrate.
- Attending group leaders and chaperones are required to stay and be a part of the group program. They will be asked to assist when necessary to provide an enjoyable experience for all involved.
- Child discipline is the responsibility of attendant adults, not the staff of TNC.
- TNC cannot guarantee any specific animal encounters during programs and has the right to substitute animal ambassadors based on health concerns.
- TNC cannot guarantee you will get to touch the animals or guarantee any specific activities due to the needs of our animals and the variability of their behavior.
- TNC has several picnic areas available. If you would like to make use of one of these, please let us know ahead of time and we will add that at no extra charge.
- TNC does not supply any food or refrigeration.
- Tenafly Nature Center practices the principles of Leave No Trace. For more information on these principles, please visit the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics page.
- Lunch/snack trash removal is your responsibility. Please bring a trash bag for your garbage and take it with you when you leave.
- TNC has the space for recyclables, and encourages the recycling of glass, metals, and plastics numbered 1-7.
- For the health of our wildlife, please do not place any food, plates, cups, etc. in the trash cans outside.
- If the weather is inclement the reserved snack/lunch time may be moved indoors.
Many of the programs Tenafly Nature Center offers can be altered to accommodate participants with disabilities. We ask that you disclose pertinent information with a minimum of two weeks notice about any participants that require any accommodations (particular educational requirements resulting from learning difficulties, physical disability, or emotional and behavioral difficulties). This information enables us to make the necessary accommodations needed to meet the needs of your group.
- Notify us in advance regarding any special needs or considerations for your group.
- Arrive on time and if delayed please contact us.
- Have no additional participants or adults than what was agreed upon ahead of time and scheduled for.
- Group leaders are responsible for maintaining discipline.
- Treat our equipment respectfully.
- Cancel with a minimum of 48 hours notice if you need to do so.
TNC to Go Policies and Procedures
- Notify us no less than 48 hours in advance of any special needs or considerations for your group.
- One parking space must be provided near the entrance of your location (if no parking is available at your site then a fee will be added to cover any associated garage fees).
- A table must be provided for the use of the educator.
- Programs require one group leader per class.
- Advance notice of additional participants is required. TNC reserves the right to limit the number of non-registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.
- Programs begin and end at the time listed on the confirmation sheet.
- For all scheduled programs one Environmental Educator will be assigned to lead each group or assembly.
- Consecutive programs are programs held one right after another, for different classes, in the same location with no more than a 60 minute break between two of the programs.
- Programs with more than 30 students will be charged the assembly fees. An assembly program is one program, held for multiple classes, in one location, and at one time (for assemblies there is no maximum limit of attendees).
- Please make sure all cell phones are set to vibrate.
- Attending group leaders and chaperones are required to stay and be a part of the group program. They will be asked to assist when necessary to provide an enjoyable experience for all involved.
- Discipline is the responsibility of attendant adults, not the staff of TNC.
- TNC cannot guarantee any specific animal encounters during programs and has the right to substitute animal ambassadors based on health concerns.
- TNC cannot guarantee you will get to touch the animals or guarantee any specific activities due to the needs of our animals and the variability of their behavior.
- Notify us in advance regarding any special needs or considerations for your group.
- Provide one parking space near the entrance of your location.
- Have no additional participants or adults than what was agreed upon ahead of time and scheduled for.
- Behave and group leaders are responsible for maintaining discipline.
- Treat our staff respectfully.
- Cancel with a minimum of 48 hours notice if you need to do so.
Reschedule, Cancellation & Refund Information
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. The deposit will go toward the balance of your programming costs. If rescheduling the event, the deposit will be carried over to the new booking.
- Payment can be made via check, cash, P.O., or money order (credit cards may be accepted ahead of time).
- It is the duty of the group representative to collect and pay the entire fee (TNC will not accept individual payments from the participants).
- If you must reschedule or cancel, a $50 processing fee may be applied. Cancel with a minimum of 48 hours notice if you need to do so.
- If programs must be cancelled, refunds are based on how far in advance the cancellation is from the scheduled date.
- Cancellation Timeline Refund Amount
- More than 30 days’ notice – 100% returned
- 11 to 30 days’ notice – 50% returned
- Less than 11 days’ notice – NO REFUND
- We reserve the right to terminate your event for non-compliance with these regulations and prohibit plans that may interfere with operations, cause harm to animals, or other reasons at the discretion of the Executive Director.
- For Field Trips: A minimum charge of $50 will be added and an invoice generated on the group’s Tenafly Nature Center account in the event of damage to a room or its contents or if garbage is left behind. Tenafly Nature Center will notify the group contact by phone if an invoice is created.
- We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled activity if actual group size and age levels differ substantially from the reservation without notification. The above cancellation/ refund policy applies.
- Reservations that are cancelled by TNC due to inclement weather or the needs of the animals will be rebooked as possible. If rebooking is impossible, a credit will be issued.