Wilder Ranch offers several interpretive programs:
Wilder Ranch State Park
Ranch Kids Day—an intensive all-day program involving hands-on activities that are relevant to third grade social studies curriculum and align with state standards. Check with park staff for the reservation process, group size, availability and fees.
Ranch Tours—available year-round for second through fifth graders. The tours last approximately an hour-and-a half. Group size is limited to 10-35 participants, including adult chaperones.
Nature Walks—a guided hour-and-a-half walk for third grade and upper grades. Group size is limited to 10-35 participants, including adult chaperones. This tour is available year-round, except when raining.
Farm Animal Tours—available year-round, except when raining. This thirty-minute to one-hour tour is best suited for younger students (preschool-second grade), and is limited to 10-35 participants, including adult chaperones.
Self-guided tours of Wilder Ranch are available when the machine shop buildings and the Interpretive Center are open—call for the current schedule. All field trips at Wilder Ranch offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-426-0505.
Native plant restoration program for students.
Sunset State Beach
Sunset State beach offers a native plant restoration program for students in fourth through twelfth grades. The program last approximately four hours and includes hands-on work and in-classroom outreach activities. This program is available from September through May each year.
Sunset also offers hour-long dune and wetland walks for grades K-12. These guided walks are short- to moderate-difficulty and are offered year-round.
Self guided tours of Sunset are available by prior arrangement. All field trips at Sunset offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-685-6444.
Seacliff State Beach offers year-round tours.
Seacliff State Beach
Moderate-difficulty fossil walks, which include some indoor activities, last up to two hours and are offered for second through sixth graders. Sanctuary walks, which also include some indoor activities, are offered for Kindergarten through second grade classes.
Self guided tours of Seacliff are available by prior arrangement. All field trips at Seacliff offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-685-6444.
The Santa Cruz Mission offers Hands-on History Field Trips
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Our Mission Day Program takes your students from the life of the Ohlone people in their village to their life in the Santa Cruz Mission with the Spanish. We compare and contrast the two cultures and discuss what happened when they came together in the context of the Mission System.
The day includes a mixture of information, demonstration and hands-on activities. It is geared towards 4th graders, and meets California Curriculum standards for 4th grade Mission Studies. Additionally, the program can often be tailored to your group’s grade level and curriculum.
Logistics:
The time is from 10:00 A.M.–2:00 P.M. The program works best with groups of 10 – 25. However, we can accommodate larger groups by dividing the class during the craft rotation and building tour activities (see Mission Day Schedule). Parent chaperones play a key role in facilitating the craft rotations. We request a donation of up to 5 dollars per student. No group will be turned away for lack of funds.
All field trips at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park offer admission/parking at no charge for K-12 school groups who have made reservations a minimum of two weeks in advance with approved waiver. For additional information, including teachers’ guides and to make reservations, please call park staff at 831-425-5849.