School Tours - Day Field Trips
Bring your 3rd–5th grade students to experience California's Gold Rush history at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park!
Our program inspires students to step back in time to explore the historic Gold Rush town of North Bloomfield. Highlights include a guided tour of the town (with a scavenger hunt), museum scavenger hunt, and a hands-on activity or hike, facilitated by teachers and chaperones, allowing students to deepen their connection to history and nature.
We welcome school groups of up to 60 students with chaperones.
RESERVATIONS
To schedule a field trip at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, use our online reservation form:
Schedule a School Tour - Day Field Trip at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE
Please see our typical field trip schedule below. If you have questions or if changes are needed please contact:
Email: Sue.Finlay@parks.ca.gov
Phone: 530-265-8125
Group #1
10:00am-11:00am Town Tour
11:00am-11:30am Museum Scavenger Hunt
11:30am-12:00pm Self-Guided Hike
Group #2
10:00am-10:30am Museum Scavenger Hunt
10:30am-11:00pm Self-Guided Hike
11:00am-12:00pm Town Tour
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIELD TRIP
What should I bring?
Make sure to wear comfortable close toed walking shoes, wear pants, bring sun protection and an extra warm layer. Please bring water bottles and snacks/lunch.
How to Prepare for your field trip?
If you have more than 30 students, please organize your students into two separate groups with at least one chaperone per ten students. We accept up to 60 students for a field trip.
What to expect on arrival?
Please arrive 30-minutes early to leave time for bathroom and snack breaks. Follow signs to the restrooms located behind the general store. A park aide will greet your group in front of the visitors center to welcome you and introduce the docents leading your tour.
What about parking?
There are no parking fees for registered school groups at Malakoff Diggins SHP. Please park along the fence on the opposite side of the road from the Visitors’ Center.
Chaperones
Chaperones are responsible for guiding participant behavior and keeping the group together and focused on the program. We ask that chaperones play an active role in managing student behavior during the field trip. If teachers or chaperones need to take a phone call, please step away so that we can keep the children's attention.
Health and Safety
In the event of injuries, we ask that the teacher be prepared to assume first aid responsibility. Please inform Park staff of any injuries, accidents, or facilities damage. Extreme weather may cancel field trips if transportation to/from the park is unsafe.
PARK RESOURCES AND HISTORICAL REFERENCES
Review these optional resources for teachers about the park and historical references.
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Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park Brochure: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/494/files/MalakoffSHPFinalWebLayout051517.pdf
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FILM - Huell Hower’s California’s Gold– Water Under Pressure (first half): https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1994/11/08/water-under-pressure-californias-gold-501/
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American Black Bears in California State Parks Brochure: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/494/files/cablackbear_web_2010.pdf
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Self-Guided Hike: Please pick up your map and trail guide from the Park Aide in the Visitor Center for this 30-minute hike that is facilitated by teachers and chaperones.
Questions?
Email: Sue.Finlay@parks.ca.gov
Phone: 530-265-8125