California History 4th Grade Field Trips
Fun and Educational sleep-over field trips for 4th graders!
Just 1/4-mile from the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park Site.
Parents & Teachers: YOU plan and carry out whatever 2-day Gold Country Adventure you decide is best for your kids. WE provide accommodations in our riverside cabins on the banks of California’s most historic river!
History Comes Alive
Kids get hands-on learning where significant historic events happened!
The program is flexible and easy: You plan your own agenda, choose your own activities and then use us as a convenient base camp. It’s that simple!
Just 1/4 mile away from the American River Resort is Sutter’s Mill and Marshall Gold Discovery Park, with living history exhibits and hands-on learning activities like panning for gold.
Also at the park, the American River Conservancy provides hands-on nature oriented activities for kids.
A few miles up the road is the Wakamatsu Silk Colony and Tea Farm, the first Japanese settlement in the US.
Through all this runs the most historic river in California, the South Fork American River. Sitting on its banks makes the perfect setting for engaging kids in history or environment related lessons and activities.
“Our experience at ARR was absolutely fantastic. The location was perfect. We were a quick walk away from the Gold Discovery Park, where we spent our first day. The cabins were very clean and big enough to accommodate our students. The grounds were well kept with plenty of room to eat and explore. The river was a walk away and the view was amazing. The staff at ARR was very helpful. It was a great way to have an outdoors experience without the hassle of setting up tents, looking for bathrooms and being cold. My fourth graders can’t stop talking about how amazing the field trip was and how they’ll never forget this experience. We’ll be coming back next year.”
C.S., 4th Grade Teacher, Sacramento
Suggested Sites to Visit:
- Marshall Gold Discovery Park with many educational activities and the Jr. Ranger Program.
- The fascinating Wakamatsu Silk Colony and Tea Farm, the first Japanese settlement in the U.S.
- The South Fork American River with environmental lessons learned through American River Conservancy educational programs plus nature scavenger hunts and overnight riverside stays, right here at American River Resort.
Choose Your Activity
American River Conservancy
- California Gold: Pan for gold directly in the American River and then experience gold discovery from an environmental viewpoint!
- Nature Quest: This active program unravels tidbits about ecology, what all organisms need for survival and leave no trace outdoor ethics. 2 hours. $160 per class.
- Wakamatsu Colony: Picnicking available, optional formal student tour. 2 hours, $160 per class, $5 per additional student
- Web of Life: Life Science concepts of interdependence, food webs, and ecosystem interactions. 4 hours, $210 for 50 students
- Winter Wonders: Uncover how wildlife survives in the winter and under extreme weather conditions.
Eureka Experience Group Programs
- Gold Panning Lessons: $7 per student
- Poke Program: Students make their own leather pouch to store their treasures. $7 per student.
- Wagons Ho!: Experience loading a real wagon with the supplies needed to make the westward journey. $150 per group of 30.
- Gold Discovery Tour: $60 per group of 30.
- Stage Coach: Talk and robbery presented by Ed Allen
Native American
- Story Telling: Native American tales around the campfire at American River Resort
- Folk Dancing: Native American dancing/music at American River Resort
SAMPLE ITINERARY 1
Gold Rush, Wakamatsu, Native American
Thursday
10:30 AM: Arrive at Marshall Gold Discovery Park, Coloma CA
10:30 – 11:15 AM: Mini exploration to Blacksmith shop
11:15 – 11:45 AM: Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Coloma Gold Discovery Tour
1:15 – 1:45 PM: Stage coach talk and robbery
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Eureka Wagons Ho program
3:00 – 4:00 PM: Gold Panning
4:15 PM: Check in at American River Resort
4:30 – 5:30 PM: Native American Story Telling
5:30 – 6:30 PM: Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 PM: Native American Folk Dancing
8:30 – 9:00 PM: Return to cabins
9:00 PM: Lights out
Friday
7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast buffet and pack
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Pack lunches
9:00 – 9:30 AM: Drive to Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm
9:30 – 9:45 AM: Quick snack
10:00 – 12:00 PM: Tour of Wakamatsu
12:00 – 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 PM: Teacher recap of trip
1:30 PM: Use bathrooms, load into cars, head home
SAMPLE ITINERARY 2
Gold Rush, Nature Scavenger Hunt, Native American
Thursday
10:30 AM: Arrive at Marshall Gold Discovery Park, Coloma CA
10:30 – 11:15 AM: Mini exploration to Blacksmith shop
11:15 – 11:45 AM: Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Coloma Gold Discovery Tour
1:15 – 2:15 PM: Eureka Wagons Ho program
2:30 – 3:30 PM: Eureka Poke Program
3:45 – 4:00 PM: Load up and go to American River Resort
4:00 PM: Check in at American River Resort
4:30 – 5:30 PM: Native American Story Telling
5:30 – 6:30 PM: Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 PM: Native American Folk Dancing
8:30 – 9:00 PM: Return to cabins
9:00 PM: Lights out
Friday
7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast buffet and pack
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Pack lunches
9:00 – 9:30 AM: Scavenger Hunt
9:30 – 9:45 AM: Arrive back at Marshall Gold Discovery Park
10:00 – 11:00 AM: Eureka Gold Panning Lesson
11:00 – 12:00 PM: Stage Coach talk and robbery
12:00 – 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 PM: Teacher recap of trip
1:30 PM: Use bathrooms, load into cars, head home
One-night stay in the Cabins at the American River Resort
- 5 people per cabin (total number of kids plus teacher or parents)
- Any weeknight Sunday through Thursday, subject to availability
- Check-in is 4:00PM and check-out is 12:00PM noon
Parents and teachers plan all aspects of the field trip, including what to do and when, what to eat and so forth. American River Resort is your base camp.
COST & INCLUDES
All costs in addition to what’s listed below are the responsibility of the school and are payable to the venue, organization or person providing the activities.
$1400.00 payable to American River Resort includes:
- 6 cabins for one night (guests to provide own linens, pillowcases, towels, and toiletries)
- 3 bundles of firewood for campfires
- Native American music around riverside campfire
- Kitchen and propane BBQ in each cabin for food preparation
NOTE: Native storytelling (always a huge hit with kids) requires advanced arrangements and an ADDED DONATION to storytellers.
To book your field trip, call (530) 622-6700 and make a 50% deposit. After booking, we’ll send you contact information for Native storytelling and other activities listed on this page.
Call us with questions. Let us help you make your California History field trip super memorable and fun!
