Education

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park provides a variety of education programs for students in Pre-K through twelfth grade. Educators can register their classes for an on-site field trip, virtual field trip, or an in-classroom education program. To see available dates, go to our School Group Bookings calendar.

Education Reservation Request

To request a reservation, please click and fill out the appropriate form.

• Ranger in Classroom Program
• Virtual / Distance Learning Program
• Park Visit / Field Trip

 

A park ranger in uniform stands in the open doorway of a wooden blacksmith shop, speaking to a group of young school children gathered outside.

Special Offerings for Fall 2026

If you are planning a field trip during Fall 2026, we have some special offerings for your students!

Declaration of Independence Challenge!

• In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, students will participate in a scavenger hunt around Plains High School to learn about the delegates from Georgia who signed the document and “save” the signatures on the Declaration from fading! Students will be tasked to work in groups to decipher coded messages, locate coordinates on a map, solve equations to unlock key dates, and more! This directly engages standards from 4th and 8th grades but can be requested by grades 4-12.

Makers Mark at the Blacksmith Shop

• Students will witness live demonstrations of metal work and may have the opportunity for hands on engagement the blacksmith’s shop on Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Farm. Additionally, each student will be tasked with designing their own makers mark – a mark traditionally used by blacksmiths to sign their work. This is for grades 6-12 and is available on limited dates. Contact us for details!

 

Field Trip Planner 2026-2027

Planning for Success

Cost: FREE
Registration: ALL field trip groups, including self-guided, ranger-led, and virtual must pre-register. Email us at [e-mail] for forms.
Scheduling: Reservations for a ranger-led program must be made at least two weeks in advance.
Duration: Plan on spending at least two hours in the park.
Timeframe: Plains High School/Visitor Center and Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Farm open at 10:00AM. Field trips at the farm will begin no earlier than 10:00 AM.
Group Size: Our field trips can accommodate groups up to 60 students, or approximately 3 classes. If bringing more than 60 students, you will need to schedule multiple days.
Transportation: Financial assistance for school buses may be available. Contact [e-mail] to receive a Transportation Cost Assistance application. Applications must be submitted prior to your visit.
Food Services: None are available in the park. Groups planning to eat lunch at the park must provide their own food and drink.

 

An example of a 2nd grade field trip rotation schedule:

On-site Field Trip Programs

Come join us at the Boyhood Farm or Plains High School! Groups participating in an on-site field trip program must be prepared to divide their students by class upon arrival. Our field trip programs are station-style and require classes to rotate around the farm or museum.

Max 60 students (groups will be split into groups of 20 and then scheduled in rotations). If your group/grade level is larger than 60 students, please plan to schedule multiple days for your school.

Note: A majority of your field trip will take place outside. Prepare for heat in the spring and summer, and cool weather in the fall and winter. For safety and comfort, students should wear closed toe shoes.

We offer field trip programs at Plains High School for all grades
as an indoor option. Our field trips can service grades Pre-K – twelfth.
Email us at [e-mail] for details!

Virtual and In-Classroom Programs

Can’t come to us? We can come to you! You can request a virtual or in-classroom program. Virtual programs consist of a member of our park staff giving a live tour of Plains High School, Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Farm, or the historic Plains Depot. Virtual programs are generally one hour in length and are offered on Mondays and Fridays.

In-classroom programs involve a member of our park staff bringing hands-on learning activities to your classroom. Available activities include Carter Commissary Math, Owl Pellet Dissection, Solar Powered Plains, and Peanut Time Capsules to name a few. These activities are aligned with Georgia Standards of Excellence for social studies, math, science, and reading.

Email us at [e-mail] to inquire about virtual or in-classroom programs.

Additional Teacher Resources

In addition to facilitating education programs with students, we also offer teacher workshops and information sessions. You can request for a workshop to be conducted at your school or local RESA office. Participants who attend our workshops not only leave with fresh ideas, but they also walk away with complete lesson plans and a class set of manipulatives so they can put those plans into action. Virtual information sessions are also available.

Looking for supplemental resources? You can email us at [e-mail] to request more lessons and activities to help supplement your field trip plans.

All educational programs and resources provided by Jimmy Carter National Historical Park are free.

 

Explore Programs

• 

  Maslow Before Bloom

  A program that helps students identify emotions and equips them with coping strategies for when those emotions become too big to handle.

• 

  Postcard Contest

  Get creative with the annual Peanut Festival Postcard Contest!

• 

  Education Photo Gallery

  See all the fun students are having at Jimmy Carter National Historical Park!