SCHOOL GROUPS — EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Learn about the area’s heritage through a variety of educational programs offered to groups of all ages. Programs focus on history, frontier lifestyles, performing arts, pioneer crafts, early railroading and forest eco-systems.

Living History Programs:

Mountain Men Living History - May 7, 8 & 9, 2008
Explore the life style of 1840’s pioneers as trappers, traders, and settlers demonstrate their skills in blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, and spinning. Learn candle making, gold panning, pioneer games and square dancing. Experience class in a one-room schoolhouse. Listen to Isaac Graham’s story and Native American lore. This package includes a trip on a vintage locomotive and narrative of the California Redwood Forest.

Student price $28.00
(an adult rides for $11.00 with every four student tickets purchased)
Additional adults $19.50

Civil War Living History - May 21, 22 & 23, 2008
Relive the history and experiences of this country’s Civil War. Students are mustered into historical units led by uniformed Union and Confederate soldiers. Civil War Cadet Corps Commanders guide them through demonstrations that include 1860’s medical practices, spinning and weaving, camp cooking, military drills, artillery and infantry maneuvers. Top performing units are recognized at a pass and review. This package includes candle making and gold panning plus a trip on a vintage locomotive with narrative of the California Redwood Forest.

Student price $28.00
(an adult rides for $11.00 with every four student tickets purchased)
Additional adults $19.50

Education Comes to Life:

Big Trees by Rail History Program
Local history is brought to life by a special rail history program. Students board vintage passenger coaches for an hour train excursion exploring the history and ecology of the famous Welch Big Trees Grove and San Lorenzo Valley. Retrace the steps of President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited 100 years ago. Included in the program is a guided walk among giant coastal redwoods along the Redwood Grove Nature Trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Minimums of 100 paid participants are required for this package.

Student price $11.50
Additional adults $11.50

Norman’s Trail,
A 90-Minute, Guided Eco-Adventure
In honor of Roaring Camp’s founder, F. Norman Clark, an environmental hike program is available for groups. A knowledgeable guide leads the 90-minute hike. Learn the characteristics of Sequoia Sempervirens, eco-systems of the redwood forest, endangered species, wildlife and native plants, watersheds and environmental impacts. Minimums of 25 paid participants are required for this program.

Student price $12.00
Adult price $12.00
Hike plus Steam Train (Student) $23.00
Hike plus Steam Train (One Teacher) $23.00
Hike plus Steam Train (Additional Adult) $27.50

I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, A Performing Arts Program
Student bands and choirs have the opportunity to gain experience before live audiences by performing at Roaring Camp Railroads. Two venues are available: outdoors under the oaks at Roaring Camp’s main stage and indoors at Bret Harte Hall. Performances are pre-scheduled and take place mid-day. Available dates are weekends in May, June, September, or October plus daily July and August. Train excursion for performers and adult supporters is included.

Student Performers $10.50
Accompanying Adults and Supporters $15.50

Redwood Grove Nature Walk
Join an expert on redwood ecology on an hour guided walk through the Redwood Grove Nature Trail of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Learn about the venerable coastal redwoods and their majestic habitat. The Nature Walk may be added, based on availability, to a group train reservation or package at time of booking for an additional $2 per person. Minimums of 25 paid participants required.

Halloween Programs:

Pumpkin Train
Combine learning with a day of old-fashioned fun. Schedule your class to ride a vintage steam train through a majestic redwood forest to Cathedral Grove and Bear Mountain. At the summit, passengers holding tickets may select and take home a pumpkin of their choice. The Pumpkin Train operates Mondays through Fridays during the month of October.

Student price $14.00
Additional adults $15.50
(Plus optional $3 for pumpkin)

Harvest Fair, October 11 & 12, 2008
Join the fun! Participate in scarecrow building and pumpkin decorating contests and win cash prizes.

Hands-On Learning Packages:

Hobo Meal Train Package
Ride a vintage train through a redwood forest to Bear Mountain. Hear the conductor relate information about the history of Roaring Camp, railroading, and the forest. Upon return to Roaring Camp, prepare and roast a Hobo Meal over an outdoor BBQ grill. The Hobo Meal Package requires student participation and additional time to prepare the meal. Allow 2 1/2 hours.

Train (per student) $11.00
Hobo Meal (plus sales tax) $8.00
(Hamburger patty, veggies and sauce combined in a foil pack and roasted over an outdoor BBQ grill)
Total (per student price) $19.00
Additional Adults (train ride) $15.50

Program dates of Hobo Meal Train Package: Monday-Fridays, March 19 through June 13, 2008, 11 a.m. train. Not available during Mountain Men/Civil War Living History dates of May 21, 22, 23, 2008.

Gold Panning Package
Students stake their claim and experience how “pay dirt” got its name. Learn gold panning techniques. Flakes and nuggets are yours to take home. Steam train included in this program.

Student price $16.50
Additional adults $15.50

Allow approximately 20 minutes for gold panning and 1 1/2 hours for the train ride.

Country Western Dance Package
Social activities were a treat for the hardworking pioneers. Learn how to dance, as they would have at some gatherings in the 1840’s. Steam train included in this package. Minimums of 40 paid participants required for this package.

Student price $16.00
Additional adults $15.50

Allow approximately 20 minutes for dance lesson and 1 1/2 hours for the train ride.

Candle Making Package
Students make their own hand-dipped candles and learn first-hand how much effort it took pioneers to have a little light at night. Steam train included in this package.

Student price $16.00
Additional adults $15.50

Allow approximately 20 minutes for candle making and 1 1/2 hours for the train ride.

One-Room Schoolhouse Package
1800’s school life is re-created in a one-room country schoolhouse. Students are cautioned to mind their manners when addressing the local school marm. Students will read from the McGuffy Eclectic Reader. Steam train included in this package.

Student price $15.50
Additional adults are $15.50

Allow approximately 20 minutes for school house lesson and 1 1/2 hours for the train ride.

Add-ons to Packages
Engineer Talk (15 min. prior to first train of day) .......... NC
Gold Panning (per person) .......... $5.50
Candle Making (per person) ..........$5.00
Schoolhouse Lesson (per person) .......... $5.00
Student Group Rate (steam train only) .......... $11.00

Sneak to the Beach
Sneak to the beach and retrace the route of the Picnic Line, which ran between Felton and the Beach during the 1880s up to the early 1900s. The Beach Train departs from Roaring Camp, travels along the scenic and spectacular San Lorenzo River Canyon, and arrives at the beach of Santa Cruz. Allow a minimum of three hours for the round trip. Or relax in the sun and spend the entire day at the beach (seven hours)!

Minimums of 25 participants required for group rates. Program available on regularly scheduled beach train. Call for public schedule.

13 years and older $18.00
3-12 years $14.00

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Roaring Camp school packages are available Monday-Friday (March 3-June 13 and September 2-October 24) for regularly scheduled train departures and only to enrolled K through 12th grades, in-session, and California state schools.

Advance reservations and deposits are required. Group minimums vary according to the program offered. 80% of the group must be less than 18 years of age. Cash or credit card, purchase order, or one check per group reservation. Bus drivers are given complimentary admission. As a service to schools, we are pleased to provide FREE PARKING to school groups (buses, vans, or cars).

Student groups desiring times and dates other than those offered should contact Roaring Camp’s group reservation office at (831) 335-4484, extension 135, for alternative group rates, group minimums, and availability.

Educational Programs & Planner Brochure
(PDF 1.2M requires Adobe Reader)

Food & Beverages Meal Options (PDF 145K requires Adobe Reader)

For more information, call Group Sales at (831) 335-4484 or use our Group Inquiry Form.