Eligible organizations
Bus transportation is available to groups who register for a program led by and in Dakota County Parks. Eligible groups and organizations include schools, outreach partner groups and organizations, nonprofit organizations, community groups and organizations, and youth groups.
Participants
Groups must have at least 25 participants (including staff and chaperones).
Bus funding limits
Dakota County Parks will provide contracted bus transportation for each entity once per school year (defined as July through June). In the case of schools, this would mean busing for each class or grade level once per school year. Partner schools who have committed to programming for the school year can apply for busing once each season (fall, winter and spring).
For non-school groups, this would mean busing once per school year timeframe for your organization.
Bus and funding availability
Busing is available for groups registered for a school or private program at a Dakota County Park through a non-competitive process. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Bus transportations is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding for the year is used.
Scheduling
Requests for busing can be made once a group has registered for a program (School Nature Program or Private Nature Program). To complete your request, please apply at the time of your program registration, no later than 21 days prior to your desired program date by filling out and returning the
Busing Request Form.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel, you must notify the bus transportation coordinator at least five business days before your scheduled trip. If you do not let us know you need to cancel five business days prior to you trip, this may count as your one trip per year. If the program is canceled by Dakota County Parks, this does not apply.