Field Trips & Tours
Field trips and guided research tours showcase the Harvard Forest's varied landscape and ongoing ecological research. We at the Harvard Forest hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and land stewards, build transformative relationships with students, faculty, and our local community, and foster long-term engagement with our visitors. These relationships guide our research and help us to better address environmental challenges in ways that are relevant to all.
Guided Visits
Guided visits to the Fisher Museum and Harvard Forest’s Natural History Trails and research sites are available to groups of all ages, with advanced reservations and for a moderate fee.
- Conferences – Please contact hfvisit@fas.harvard.edu with questions.
- University and adult tours – Please contact hf-edu@fas.harvard.edu with questions.
- K-12 tours – Please contact hf-edu@fas.harvard.edu with questions.
In-Person Tours
Tours range from 2-4 hours and are individually tailored to each group’s background and interest. Groups may request special visits to certain habitats or study areas. Occasionally, scientists are available to meet with groups, but more traditionally, tours are led by education staff.
- 15-minute film in the Fisher Museum, describing the history, forest management, and long-term ecological research of the Harvard Forest
- 30-minute to 1-hour tour of the Fisher Museum dioramas, emphasizing the land-use history of the region and its role in ecological research
- 45-minute to 1.5-hour outdoor tour of the natural history trails and/or research sites
To create more equitable access to our facilities and accommodate a broader diversity of learners, we offer financial support to eliminate fee-related barriers to access. Further, we are working to build our own understanding of the needs of learners from all backgrounds, and working to expand racial, cultural, economic, ability, urban-to-rural, and gender diversity and representation at the Harvard Forest.
Virtual Tours
Interactive virtual tours are led by scientists and educators at the Harvard Forest. They run up to 1 hour in length and focus on an intensive eastern hemlock research area at the Harvard Forest, with guided exploration and opportunities for Q&A with students about:
- long-term carbon research in forest air and soils
- forest phenology (seasonal change)
- the region’s major drivers of forest change, with a focus on invasive species and climate
- what we’re learning from the Harvard Forest “megaplot” study area
Content is somewhat modular and, upon request, may also include information about natural history (with connections to the Fisher Museum dioramas), plant identification, and related topics.
Tour Fees
Our primary mission at Harvard Forest is research and education for Harvard University students. Field trips for other groups – of all ages and from around the world – are led by a small group of devoted, knowledgeable, but extremely part-time employees. To cover staff time and facilities upkeep, we must charge visiting groups a fee (please see our current fee schedule). If your school’s budget cannot cover the full fee, we may be able to offer a fee reduction. Call (978) 724-3302 or email hf-edu@fas.harvard.edu.
Reservations
Availability of tours is highly variable and requires reservation in advance. To inquire about a tour, please contact hf-edu@fas.harvard.edu.
Self-Guided Tours
Nature trails with interpretive natural history signs, including the Manchage Manexit trail, the French Road Trail, and the Sanderson Farm Natural History Trail, are available 365 days a year for self-guided exploration.
We appreciate your support as we continue to engage a wide variety of students in the many lessons available in our Museum, research sites, and natural history trails.