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Field Trips

Take learning beyond your classroom and up to the summit of Mount Washington, the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”! The Mount Washington Observatory has partnered with the Mount Washington Cog Railway and Mt. Washington Auto Road to provide an unrivaled, innovative field trip experience for K-12 students. These field trips are designed to support NGSS Weather and Climate, and Engineering Design curricula. Our field trips are customizable with optional pre- and post-trip in-classroom content provided by our education team. Field trip programs are hosted in the late spring through early fall (winter programs are also available). Request a field trip program today!

Made possible by generous funding from Bank of New Hampshire

Sample Schedule

Cog Railway Example

  • 9:15 am: arrive at Cog Base 
  • 9:15 – 10:00am: [Base Activity] 
  • 10:00 – 10:45 am: train to summit [Train Activity] 
  • 10:45 am: arrive at summit 
  • 10:45am – 11:45pm: [Summit Activities (weather station tour, observation deck activities, museum, lunch, outside time)] 
  • 11:45 am: depart summit 
  • 11:45am-12:30pm train to base [Train Activity] 
  • 12:30 pm: arrive at base 
  • 12:45 pm: depart for school 
  • 2:00 pm: arrive at school 

Field Trip Themes

How and why does weather change as you move up Mount Washington? Why is Mount Washington known as the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”? 

Investigate what determines a microclimate then explore Mount Washington’s three distinct climate zones, including the alpine tundra. Discover why Mount Washington’s alpine tundra is unique compared to other alpine tundra. 

How is the climate of Mount Washington changing in a warming global climate?

Design, build and bring your prototypes to test on Mount Washington: build a wind anemometer, wind turbine, insulated instrument enclosure or other prototype. 

Winter Field Trips

Join MWOBS educators as we climb to tree line on Mount Washington via the Cog Railway to Waumbek Station or via the Auto Road in their Snow Coaches. Give your students a taste of the harsh climate of Mount Washington in winter as we explore additional program themes such as:

  • Mountain Weather 
  • Citizen Science Snow Observations 
  • Winter Ecology

Program Fees

$400 for up to 24 students for a half-day program with dedicated MWOBS educator-guides. Additional students are $5 per student. Does not include Cog Railway or Auto Road fees. If your school group would like to tour the weather station only, please visit our weather station tours page for more information and to book.

School Memberships

Base Camp (6 Hours of Programming)

$900Per School Year
  • Discounted program rates, no mileage fees*
  • Choice of program (school visit, virtual, field trip)**

Boreal Forest (10 Hours of Programming)

$1,350Per School Year
  • Discounted program rates, no mileage fees*
  • Choice of program (school visit, virtual, field trip)**

Tree Line (15 Hours of Programming)

$1875Per School Year
  • Discounted program rates, no mileage fees*
  • Choice of program (school visit, virtual, field trip)**
  • Weather station for your school with supporting curriculum

Summit (30 Hours of Programming)

$3450Per School Year
  • Discounted program rates, no mileage fees*
  • Choice of program (school visit, virtual, field trip)**
  • Weather station for your school with supporting curriculum

*For schools located in Grafton, Carroll, Coos County, NH and Oxford County, ME.
**Does not include Cog Railway or Auto Road ticket fees.

Have a question or another program topic in mind? Contact us by email at education@mountwashington.org or by phone at 603-356-2137 ext. 204. Reserve today to ensure educator availability!