Plan A Field Trip

Education Reservation Spots are Open for Spring 2024 Dates!

Vagabond School of the Drama Summer Plays start in Mid June.
Stay tuned for dates and make a Parkids reservation request here

Students will have access to the historic dairy goat farm, garden, grounds, and 5 miles of hiking trails. Ranger guided Education Programs are available upon request on Mon, Tues, Wed during March - May.

* Sandburg Home tours are not available for school groups at this time.

Need to Know:

• Education reservations are FREE and required for groups (both traditional school and homeschools) with a minimum of 10 persons and maximum of 80 persons for all grade levels per day.
  • Reservations are required to ensure multiple groups are not visiting on the same day.
• Advisory: Due to Front Lake bridge closure, all visitors and students will need to walk 0.7 miles to access education program spaces (15-20 minutes). This includes walking all supplies, like lunches, coolers, backpacks, etc…into the park. Transportation of supplies may be available. Please note assistance needs on your request form.
  • If you have a student/teacher/chaperone with mobility or accessibility needs, please note that on the form.
  • Click here for a link to a trail map with the detour highlighted.
• Please submit a request form at least three weeks before your visit.
• School visits are only available Mon-Wed. Max of 60 persons per day.
  • Larger groups will need to request multiple days to accomodate all students. Please note that on the request form.
  • Each group will be divided into rotations of no more than 15 persons each.
  • 10-40 persons = 2.5 hours
  • 40 - 80 persons = 3 hours
• Spring 2024 visits are available March 13 to June 7.
• Summer 2024 Parkids visits are available June 10 - August 10
• Fall 2024 visits are available September 11 to November 15.
• Pre and post visit lesson plans are available for all grade levels. Please visit https://www.nps.gov/carl/learn/education to find curriculum materials.

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Find an available date!
Available Spring 2024 Dates are in green. Calendar will be updated weekly. School visits are only available Mon-Tues-Wed. Max of 60 persons per day.

April

Mon	Tues	Wed
1	2	3
8	9	10
15	16	17
22	23	24
29	30

May

Mon	Tues	Wed
		1
6	7	8
13	14	15
20	21	22
27	28	29

 

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What does an education visit include?

Elementary School, Grades K-2
Life on the Farm: tour Connemara Farms and lean what it was like raising goats with Mrs. Sandburg.
Rotations activities:

• Farm visit
• Ranger-led activity (Life Cycles: Monarch Metaphor activity)
• Teacher-led activity (Farm Life Interactive Puzzle Play)
• Discovery Hike/Activity
• Lunch break if requested

Elementary School, Grades 3-5
Sandburg Through Time: Students will explore Carl Sandburg through autobiography and poetry.

• Farm visit
• Ranger-led activity. (Connemara Clues, or Every Kid in a Park)
• Teacher-led activity. Prairie-Town Boy
• Hike / Write (Bio Poem)
• Lunch break if requested

Middle School, Grades 6-8
Through the Eyes of a Poet: Students explore the Sandburg family through artifacts, literature and science!

• Farm visit
• Ranger-led Genetics activity,
• Hike / Write / Journaling, (materials providied)
• Teacher-led: Sandburg Alive! poetry activity materials provided
• Lunch break if requested

High School, Grades 9-12
The Sandburg Spectrum: Students learn how Sandburg was often a voice for those who felt they had none.

• Farm visit
• Ranger-led - Poetry and Pictures
• Hike / Write / Video
• Teacher-led: Journaling – Reflections on the Rock
• Lunch break if requested

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Arrival

• Greeting by volunteer and/or park ranger in Main Parking Lot. Find parking lot information here.
• Bathroom stop
• Walk to Amphitheater. Note: Front Lake bridge is closed. This is a 0.5 mile walk to amphitheater, and an additional 0.2 mile walk from amphitheater to house. See trail map with detour here.

Introduction

• Welcome at amphitheater (house garage behind Sandburg Home, if raining)
  • What is the NPS?
  • Why does this place exist?
  • Leaders assign rotation groups

Lunch (optional), will be added to rotations if requested.

• Carry in, carry out encouraged, limited trash services
• No concessions at park
• No place to store food; busses and coolers suggested.
• Picnic area, amphitheater or house garage only, please be careful of litter.