With school back in session and as the region continues to rollout reopening and welcome the community back, many Sacramento area museums have resumed group and student tours in addition to their online/virtual educational offerings. A sampling of group and/or student tours currently offered by local museums – with enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place – includes the following:
- Aerospace Museum of California – The Aerospace Museum offers engaging STEM-focused school tours featuring historic aircraft in the four-acre outdoor Air Park, along with interactive hands-on activities. Tour guests can explore the four forces of flight, the solar system, and more. In-person group tours for adults are also available. The Museum also offers virtual programs exploring NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope for schools, scouts, and homeschool students. Learn more and reserve an on-site or online tour at https://aerospaceca.org/.
- California Museum – The California Museum is now booking 2021-22 field trips for class groups, offered on-site and online. Ideal for 2nd-12th grades, seven on-site and three online learning programs highlighting a variety of California topics aligned with History-Social Science, Common Core ELA, Civics outcomes and Ethnic Studies. All programs explore the state’s history, arts, and culture from diverse perspectives, increasing empathy, tolerance, and critical thinking skills for students. In support of under-served communities, California Title 1 schools are eligible to apply for a field trip scholarship covering the cost of admission. For more information or to book a field trip, go to www.californiamuseum.org/field-trips. For details on or to apply for a scholarship, visit www.californiamuseum.org/field-trip-scholarships.
- California State Railroad Museum – The Railroad Museum currently offers daily group tours included with admission. And, for the Fall and Spring school season, the Museum is also offering CSRM Digital Classroom Live Programs that include “Horses to Horsepower” (October to November 2021 & March to June 2022) and “Westward Bound” (first three weeks of November 2021 & March to June 2022). For tour and school resource information, please visit www.californiarailroad.museum/education/school-resources.
- Crocker Art Museum – With numerous virtual tours available, the Crocker Museum continues to offer a popular “Crocker-to-Go” program which brings a trained docent into area classrooms (or virtually) to provide an overview of the Crocker and share artwork that aligns with a theme rooted in the California State Standards for the Visual Arts and History/Social Science. Plus, the Museum now also offers 50-minute in-person school tours with a variety of themes from which to choose for grades K-12 on Thursdays through Sundays with at least a two-week advance registration (30 students maximum per hour). For more information, please visit www.crockerart.org/school-educator-programs/tour.
- Locke Boarding House Museum – Docent led tours of the quaint and historic town of Locke are available to groups of 10 more on Saturdays and Sundays. Other days are available for group tours and student tours by advance reservation. Guided tours last 60 to 90 minutes and Chinese language tours are available upon request. For more information or to reserve a group tour in advance, please call 916-776-1828.
- Maidu Museum & Historic Site – Starting this fall, the Maidu Museum in Roseville has resumed in-person School Tours. The Museum also offers a Classroom Outreach program where a member of the Museum staff visits local classrooms (upon advance reservation), as well as Virtual Field Trips. For more information, please visit www.roseville.ca.us/news/what_s_happening_in_roseville/school_tours_are_back_in_session.
For more information about upcoming activities offered by Sacramento area museums, “like” them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SacMuseums, follow them on Instagram and Twitter @SacMuseums or visit the user-friendly website at www.SacMuseums.org.
