For Teachers

Calling All Educators: Enrich Your Students’ Learning at Whiskeytown!

Enhance your students’ education with a free visit to the ultimate classroom—Whiskeytown National Recreation Area! Interpretive park rangers offer a variety of engaging field trips, in-classroom programs, and virtual education experiences. We can even tailor a program to meet your specific curriculum and educational needs, providing a unique and immersive learning opportunity for your students. Let Whiskeytown inspire curiosity and learning! Browse program options below and schedule or ask about a program by emailing us at [e-mail] or calling 530-242-3450.

 

Whiskeytown is a great place for student learning! Here, a 4th grader and park ranger interact in the Tower House Historic District.

Record Heat & Rising Challenges: Human-Caused Climate Change & Sustainability at Whiskeytown

Program offered to 7^th graders and above and can be conducted as a field trip (2-3 hours), in-classroom program (1 hour), or virtual program (1 hour).

Climate change is a difficult topic—but it is arguably the most important topic of our time. Explore how the increase in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is changing the national recreation area and how these changes affect your visit. Also learn how the park is reducing its carbon footprint. This interactive program invites students to think about and share their own experiences about “natural” disasters.

Rangers, Parks, & You: Who Does What in a National Recreation Area

Program offered to 7^th graders and above and can be conducted in-classroom (90 minutes) or virtually (1 hour).

Each unit of the National Park System—including Whiskeytown—is like a city. How do you run a national park city? In this interactive program, students will learn about various jobs and careers within the National Park Service. They will then become Law Enforcement Park Rangers and other park positions for a few minutes and have to make some decisions.

 

All smiles during this field trip!

Habitat Hike

Program curriculum specific to 2^nd and 3^rd grades and is offered as a 90 minute or 2 hour field trip.

Lake. Creek. Chaparral. And more! Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is home to a variety of ecosystems, and each of these natural areas support numerous wild animals. Students will learn all about habitats and wildlife during this interactive ranger-led hike.

Respecting the Land & Water: Wintu Heritage at Whiskeytown

This program focuses on 3^rd grade curriculum standards and is offered as a field trip (2 hours), in-classroom program (1 hour), or virtual program (1 hour).

How have local Native Americans traditionally used the woods, water, and wildlife of western Shasta County? What can we learn from the Wintu that makes us better citizens and human beings? These two questions form the backbone of this program that explore Wintu heritage at Whiskeytown. This interactive program involves students rotating through three specific activities based on Wintu use of native plants, maps and Wintu placenames, and Wintu traditional use of fire.

 

Students are eager to ask questions as a park ranger gives a program about wildlife in the park!

An Introduction to the National Park System: 4th Grade Parks Pass!!!

In-classroom program offered to 4th grade classes or end of school year 3rd grade classes. (60-90 minutes)

Students will be introduced to the beauty and wonder of the U.S. National Park System during this interactive program and they will also design their own national park. At the end of the program, students will receive a 4th Grader Federal Recreation Lands Pass giving themselves and their family carload free entry into every national park unit—including Whiskeytown—in the country for an entire year.

Multiculturalism, Farming, & Mining: The California Gold Rush at Whiskeytown

This program focuses on 4th grade curriculum and is currently offered as a two-hour field trip.

During this hands-on field trip program, students will discover how pioneers/prospectors Charles Camden and Levi Tower reshaped the landscape during the California Gold Rush. They will also explore how this era in history was unjust to most Chinese immigrants Native Americans. Finally, students will try their hand at gold panning.

Whiskeytown, Wildfires, & You

Program coming soon!

 

 

Academic Entrance Fee Waiver

Groups from bona fide educational institutions are eligible for an entrance fee waiver if they are coming to learn about the park. Requests should be sent at least two weeks in advance of visit using the following form: Application for Academic Fee Waiver. Please submit this application to [e-mail]. 

Teachers and schools are welcome to plan their own field trips to Whiskeytown, if you are wanting to have a ranger led field trip, it must be planned in advance with park staff, please contact us at [e-mail].