School Tours From Start to Finish

National Western proudly hosts more than 20,000 students, teachers and parents each year through our organized School Tours Program. Educating our children about agriculture is a part of our mission!

All Schools MUST Pre-Register to be admitted for FREE
Click here for registration
School Tours are available from January 9-13 and January 17-20, 2012

Following registration, schools will be contacted if tours are available.
Have 2 or 3 days in mind before you register as your first selection might not be available.

Download School Tour Visit Information Sheet PDF

GENERAL INFORMATION

The School Tours program is geared towards grades 1st through 6th grade.
Any 7th through 12th grade participants are encouraged to register with School Tours, but will be CHARGED GENERAL ADMISSION FEES (see below). For Payment, please contact the National Western Group Sales Department at 303.295.3959. You will not be admitted unless you have your tickets.
Registered schools must show up on their assigned day.
If you show up and are not registered with our School Tour program you will be sent to the Event Center ticket office to purchase general admission tickets.
- The cost for general admission is:
  - Children 2 and under are free
  - Ages 3-11 are $2 on weekdays
  - 12 and older are $8 on weekdays
No toddlers or strollers will be admitted with a school tour group due to the higher risk in livestock areas.
School groups must participate in our PLAN YOUR DAY activities.
Home Schools must be a part of governing Home School Association and come as an organized group of 15 or more. Please call 303.637.8104 for more information.

For more information on activites happening during your visit, click SCHEDULE on the left!

ARRIVAL

Arrive at 9am on the date your school is scheduled. If you arrive on another date, you will be charged.
Have the buses drop you off on the east end of the Event Center Arena; volunteers are there to assist; you'll be asked to submit a form for each bus.
Directions to Event Center drop off:
1. Going East or West on Interstate 70, take exit 275C onto Brighton Blvd.
2. Go North to East 48th Avenue, and turn left (West).
3. Turn left (South) on Baldwin Ct.
4. Drop off is the East side of the Events Center
Parking for the Buses:
- Turn left (East) on East 47th Avenue
- Turn left (North) on Brighton Blvd.
- Continue North on Brighton Blvd across 48th Ave
- DPS Lot is on right (East) side across from the G Lot entrance. Click Here for the parking map that highlights the location of the DPS Lot for FREE BUS PARKING
  - Set a time with your bus driver to be picked up
  - A sign with the name of your school will be placed in the bus side window.
  - Bus drivers can walk to the National Western Complex or catch a people mover to the main entrance.
- One general admission ticket will be provided to your bus driver.
Parking for other vehicles:
- You will be charged a parking fee. Go to www.nationalwestern.com to download a map of our parking and the fees under Directions.
Make sure every adult knows the bus number and when it will return for pick-up. Buses normally leave around 130pm.
Groups should be divided inside the building.
Each School is responsible for their day at the Stock Show. NO tours are given by our staff or volunteers, but they are available to answer any questions you may have.

PLAN YOUR DAY

There is no cost for general admission if you are registered with the School Tours Program.
There is a cost –
- If you are a 7th through 12th grade school group participating in the School Tours program. Once you have a confirmation from Adams County on your date of participation, please contact the National Western Group Services Department at 303.295.3959 to purchase your general admission tickets.
- If you are in Pre-K through 6th grade and don’t pre-register with the School Tours program.
- If you show up on a day that you are not scheduled for the School Tours program.
  - The cost for general admission is:
    - Children 2 and under are free
    - Ages 3-11 are $2 on weekdays
    - 12 and older are $7 on weekdays
- If you park in a lot that charges – costs vary, please see parking maps.
- If you purchase your food.
- If you attend a rodeo in the Denver Coliseum or any other ticketed event.
  - We offer tickets to the January 20, 2011, 1030am Rodeo. Click TICKETS to the left of the web page to purchase.
  - Discounted tickets are available for groups of 15 or more. Please contact 303.295.3959 for more information.
A PLAN YOUR DAY MAP is provided for you at www.nationalwestern.com under Education. Use this map to help PLAN YOUR DAY.
- On the right side of this page there are different children’s educational activities and will tell you approximately how much time it will take for each activity. Pre-plan your day around the activities and exhibits you would like to see. NO tours are given by our staff or volunteers, but they are available to answer any questions you may have.
LUNCH
- Students may bring sack lunches.
- If you bring lunches, please do not sit in aisles, on stairs or in designated restaurants. Students should carry their lunch in a back pack as there is no storage area for boxes of lunches.
- Food also can be purchased at the National Western.
  - Please plan on eating in the Stadium Arena

LEAVING

Once you determine a time you will need to leave grounds and notify your bus driver of that time be sure to arrive 15 minutes early to the East End of the Event Center.
You will be directed to specific seating in the Events Center to wait for your bus. A volunteer will notify you when your bus is outside. REMAIN SEATED UNTIL THEN.
A sign with the name of your school will be displayed by this location.
Volunteers will help with the loading process.
If horses are in the arena, everyone must stay away from the arena rail and remain quiet.
Please be patient, everyone tends to leave at the same time.

OTHER INFORMATION

We want you to enjoy your visit and be safe while you are here. Please remember these important safety rules and continue to remind students of them:

RULE #1 – Use your INSIDE VOICE. This means no yelling or screaming.
RULE #2 – WALK with your group and stay together. This means no running.
RULE #3 – SAFE PEOPLE:
- Volunteers in Black/Turquoise
- Uniformed Police Officers
- Uniformed Fire Fighters
- Rodeo Clowns
- **If you get separated from your group, you should find one of these safe people to help you.
RULE #4 – Get PERMISSION to touch any of the animals. If no one is around the animal, you are NOT to touch it. If you do touch any animals, don’t forget to WASH YOUR HANDS afterwards.

Pre Stock Show Visits

Beginning in September 2011, if you register with the National Western Stock Show School Tours program through the Adams County Website, you will have the ability to schedule a pre-Stock Show visit at your school during November 28 to December 15 2011.

The deadline to register for a pre-visit is October 28, 2011.

Each pre-visit will involve two people: a county extension agent as well as a NWSS volunteer. One person will to talk to the kids and one will talk with the teachers about what to expect when they come to the Stock Show.

There are a limited amount of pre-visits that are allotted; registration information will be sent out in September.

Download Teacher's Guide - Lesson Plans PDF

Thank you for joining us this year!
We hope your visit is both fun and educational!