School Field Trip Programs
Connect your class with nature and history in your local County Parks. We
offer a variety of curriculum-based field trip programs for grades K-6.
Most field trips last 1-2 hours and can accommodate one class per time slot.
Programs are led by interpretive staff and supported by volunteer docents. We
are always looking for enthusiastic school program docents. For more
information on volunteering, click HERE.
Programs for Grades K-3
Pieces of the Past (Pedazos Del Pasado) – early
California history at Bernal Ranch
Location: Bernal-Gulnac-Joice
Ranch at Santa
Teresa County Park in San Jose
Grade Level(s): K/1st
Maximum Number of Students: 30
Language: English (English/Español
by request)
Program Duration: 2 hours (10am
-12pm)
Program
Fee: $100 (Half price for schools with 50% or
more students qualifying for free and reduced meals)
Overview: Students will learn about the Bernal Ranch area's past inhabitants
including the Muwekma Ohlone, Chicano ranchers, and Bernal family. Through
artifacts and a visit to the historical house students will explore early
California life at the ranch. The field trip curriculum aligns with Common
Core: Social Studies standards for grades K/1.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Cottle Ranch Children – agricultural history and
life on a farm
Location: Martial
Cottle Park in San Jose
Grade Level(s): 2nd/3rd
Maximum Number of Students: 30
Program Duration: 1.5 hours
(10-11:30am)
Program Fee: $100 (Half price
for schools with 50% or more students qualifying for free and reduced meals)
Overview: This 90-minute, hands‐on program
is designed for second and third grades. Students participate in activities the
three Cottle Ranch children might have taken part in and compare maps,
photographs and current views from the park to see how the valley has changed
from the early 1900s until now. Learn more in our Teaching and Activity Guide - Martial Cottle.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Chitactac School Program – California
Indians and natural resources
Location: Chitactac
Adams County Park in Gilroy
Grade Level(s): 3rd/4th
Maximum Number of Students: 35
Program Duration: 2 hours (10am-12pm)
Program Fee: $100 (Half price
for schools with 50% or more students qualifying for free and reduced meals)
Overview: Students will learn about the local tribal region by
exploring ways in which the Amah Mutsun utilized the natural resources along
Uvas Creek for thousands of years. Students will explore the park through
activity stations focused on wildlife and hunting, native plants and their
uses, and life in the Chitactac village community. Learn more in our Teaching and Activity Guide -
Chitactac-Adams.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Programs for Grades 4-6
Quicksilver Mining Museum School Program – rocks,
mining, and the California Gold Rush
Location: New Almaden
Quicksilver Mining Museum in San Jose
Grade Level(s): 4th
Maximum Number of Students: 35
Program Duration: 1.5 hours (10-11:30am)
Program Fee: $100 (Half price
for schools with 50% or more students qualifying for free and reduced meals)
Overview: Students explore the history and science of mercury
mining and its importance to the gold rush and local mining communities through
a museum tour and hands-on activities indoors and outdoors at the Casa Grande.
Learn
more in our Teaching and Activity Guide for the New Almaden Quicksilver
Mining Museum.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Raptor Route (Ruta De Rapaces) – Explore
the migratory patterns of raptors
Location: Santa
Teresa County Park in San Jose
Grade Level(s): 5th
Maximum Number of Students: 35
Language: English (English/Español
by request)
Program Duration: 2 hours
(10am–12pm FALL ONLY)
Program Fee: $100 (Half price
for schools with 50% or more students qualifying for free and reduced meals)
Overview: On a short hike up into
Santa Teresa Park students will participate in counting birds of prey during
the peak of raptor migration season. Through inquiry, students will work with
their peers to identify obstacles and aids to raptor migration and human
immigration. The field trip curriculum aligns with the Next Generation Science
standards.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Exploring our Changing Bay – wetlands
and climate change at Alviso Slough
Location: Alviso Marina County Park in Alviso
Grade Level(s): 6th and
up
Maximum Number of Students: 30
Program Duration: 1-2 hours (times
vary due to tides)
Program Fee: FREE ($100
program fee waived due to special funding from the County)
Overview: Students
will explore the carbon cycle and our changing climate while traveling through
the tidal marsh environment of Alviso Slough aboard Santa Clara County’s new
“floating classroom”. This boat-based field trip will support Next Generation
Science Standards.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
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Custom Programs & Tours
Custom Program – At a County Park
Location: Onsite at
one of our Santa Clara County Parks
Maximum
Number of participants: varies, depending on program
Program
Duration: varies, depending on program
Program Fee: $60 per hour per staff
Overview: Don’t see what you’re looking for in one of our existing
field trip options? Perhaps you want to bring a group to tour the Quicksilver
Mining Museum or want to bring your Girl Scouts out on a guided nature-hike?
Let us know what you are looking for, and we’ll do our best to accommodate if
staff is available. Custom tours are available on a very limited basis.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Custom Program – Outside of County Parks
Location: Within
Santa Clara County (i.e. schools, senior centers, libraries, etc.)
Maximum Number of participants:
varies, depending on program
Program
Duration: varies, depending on program
Program Fee: $120 per hour per staff
Overview: Park interpretive staff are occasionally able to come out
to your school or community center to provide a custom program about the
natural or cultural history of our County Parks. Availability is limited during
peak field trip season (fall and spring), but we have more flexibility in
winter and summer months.
Click HERE to submit a
program request
Self-Guided Tours
Individuals and groups may conduct a self-guided park visit during open hours.
However, groups of 10 or more are advised to contact the park interpretive
staff in advance at education@prk.sccgov.org to
find out if their activities may conflict with a previously scheduled group
visit or event.
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Classroom Kits, Activity Guides, and Online Resources
A limited number of classroom kits are available throughout the
year for a variety of topics. To reserve your teaching kit, contact education@prk.sccgov.org. Kits
are available for up to two weeks at a time.
Activity Guides are designed to support learning, before, during, and after
park field trip programs. Teachers can access the most recent versions of
activity guides at the links below:
• Teaching and Activity Guide - Bernal Ranch
• Teaching and Activity Guide - Chitactac-Adams
• Teaching and Activity Guide - Martial Cottle
• Teaching
and Activity Guide - Quicksilver Mining Museum
• Ohlone People Educator’s Guide
• Just For Kids: More opportunities to connect
with nature