Crystal Cave Tour- Heartland Charter School

Registration window September 25, 10:00 a.m. -October 1, 7:00 p.m.

Step beneath the surface and explore Crystal Cave, the only cave among over 250 in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks open for guided public tours!

On this incredible subterranean journey, students will wander through distinct underground chambers—each filled with intricate, naturally sculpted rock formations. From towering stalagmites to delicate mineral ribbons, families will experience a living underground wilderness firsthand while learning about subterranean geology and cave ecology.

The 50-minute tour is accessed via a narrow, steep trail with uneven surfaces, making it moderately strenuous. The cave is not recommended for individuals with heart or respiratory conditions, limited mobility, or any medical conditions that may be exacerbated by strenuous activity in the summer heat. In part of the tour, the lights are turned off for about 2 minutes so people can get an idea of how dark it is. Wear layers because the cave will be cool. It is a fairly steep walk down and up. You will have about 20 minutes to walk down to the cave for the tour, but there is no time limit for how long it takes you to hike back up. It is a beautiful walk down to the caves. It is about 2 hours from Visalia to the caves, including the drive down to the parking lot, which is windy (about 20 minutes from the main road). You will need a national park pass to enter the park, or pay the $35 entrance fee. Suggestion: after the tour, why not visit the Giant Forest Museum; it is only about 5 minutes from the turnoff to the cave.

May I pay using my funds? This event is FREE!

What are the check-in procedures? Check in with the HST in charge a few minutes before the field trip begins.

Who may attend? Students must be in TK-12th grade to attend. No strollers, wheelchairs, or baby carriers. Only one chaperone per family.

Is there on-site parking available? Free parking on-site.

Can we pack snacks or lunch for this event or field trip? No. Clear water bottles only.

How do I contact the event organizer?

Name: Michele Whitney

Phone number: 559-593-3909

Email address: [email protected]

You must have a student enrolled at Heartland Charter School to attend this event. We verify enrollment for all attendees.

How to Reserve Your Spot

To officially join us on this field trip, you must complete both steps of our registration process. All field trips and events, even free ones, must be ordered in Procurify. Please follow these directions carefully:

Step 1: Check out on Ticketbud

Complete the checkout process here on Ticketbud. This initiates your reservation.

• Confirmation: You will receive an email confirmation from Ticketbud once your order is complete.
• Tip: If you do not see the email within a few minutes, please check your Spam/Junk folder. If you cannot find a confirmation email from Ticketbud, you did not successfully reserve tickets.
• Action: Once you have your confirmation, move immediately to Step 2.

Step 2: Place your Order in Procurify

Your spot is not confirmed until an order is placed in the Procurify system for students who are enrolled in Heartland and their primary chaperone. You do NOT need to place an order in Procurify for siblings who are not enrolled or for additional chaperones.

• Search: Log in to Procurify, search the name of this field trip in the catalog, and complete your order as you would for any other educational resource.
• Note: Do NOT place a Procurify order for siblings who are not enrolled in Heartland.
• Deadline: You must place your Procurify order within 3 days of your Ticketbud registration.
• IMPORTANT! Registration Requirement: To avoid losing your spot, both steps must be completed. Failure to place an order in Procurify within the three-day window will result in removal from the attendee list, and funds will be manually deducted from your account.

Heartland events are designed for families to attend together. Students need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone. If your student will be attending with another family, please email the field trip host to let them know once you complete your registration. Chaperones must be the legal parent or 25 years and older. All chaperones must be healthy, ethical people with the skills to be responsible adult chaperones.

Please review our Field Trip Attendance Policy!

To ensure we can provide these experiences to as many students as possible, please review our commitment guidelines before registering.

Tickets are Non-Transferable

• Non-Transferable: Tickets are tied specifically to the student account used at registration. They cannot be sold, gifted, or transferred to another family.

The "No-Show" Policy

• Loss of Access: Families who are frequent "no-shows" may lose access to future field trip registrations. We track attendance to ensure that limited spots go to families who are committed to attending.

Professional Courtesy: If an emergency arises, and you truly cannot make it:

• Notify the Lead Teacher: Please email the organizing teacher as soon as possible.
• Why it matters: This prevents the entire group from waiting at the venue entrance for your arrival, keeping the educational program on schedule for everyone else.

Our Goal: By only registering for events you are fully committed to, you help us keep our field trip program sustainable and open to all students.