Thank you for your interest in coming to the End of the Oregon Trail! Our focus is to give students interactive, hands-on experience based on contemporary interpretive and Oregon Department of Education Content Standards. The group activities are designed to provide an in-depth educational introduction to the Oregon Trail experience, and its historical impact on the Pacific Northwest. These activities are special programs and are separate from the general admission programming. General Admission tickets must be purchased separately. Library Cultural Passes cannot be used for group programming.
We love helping others learn! Check out some of our new additions to programs for school groups, which we are excited to now offer for the 2023-2024 school year!
Interested in coming with a small group, home-school students or scout troop? If you have fewer than 20 children in your group, we recommend that you come for admission through the general public– candle dipping, wagon packing, doll making, journal making, and paper weaving are all included with general admission, free of charge.
How does it work? Three simple steps. Choose your presentation, activities, and then submit your google form!
We want your experience at the End of the Oregon Trail to be as one-of-a-kind as the group you are bringing. Create your own group program by choosing a presentation and your choice of 30-45 minute activities. Groups typically choose 2-3 activities, depending on available time. For example, the standard presentation and two activities is one and a half hours, the standard presentation and three activities is two – two 1/2 hours, and so on. You can also plan to eat lunch in our on-site picnic shelter and visit our gift shop (preferably in small groups), just make sure to note any requests in the comments.
Please note that larger groups may require a minimum number of activities so that they can be split up into smaller groups during the program. We may also ask that your group be split between multiple dates, especially for large groups, to ensure that students are given enough time/space for each activity. If a group consists of a variety of ages, we may suggest specific activities that will work with the age group. We also highly encourage chaperone and parent participation (Interpreter will give instructions), especially with groups of children that have various ages, so that students have the help that may be needed. When adults are excited, the children will be as well!
Step #1:
Choose a Main Presentation: All packages include a general main presentation with a historically clothed interpreter because it’s a great place to start!
Standard Presentation: Your interpreter will orient your group with an interactive presentation that includes volunteers and props. This overview of the reasons pioneers traveled, the dangers they faced, and chores they did will prepare your group for the rest of your visit. This activity may be done inside or outside weather permitting.
Journey West Presentation : This presentation is 45 minutes long and takes place outside along our interpretive trail, which features oxen statues, wagons, and a replica of Independence Rock.
Step #2:
Choose your activities. Each activity is approximately 30 – 45 minutes (with the exception of candles and butter), and educates students about various important aspects about Oregon and Oregon Trail history. We recommend you choose at least two activities, and we are happy to help answer any questions via email.
Bison Expedition: This 30 minute activity (may be indoor or outdoors) introduces students to North America’s largest mammal: the bison. Students will learn about the keystone species of the Great Plains. Your guide will discuss how different groups hunted and utilized the bison, and how over-hunting led to their near extinction.
Bound for Oregon: This 30-minute film traces the true stories of four pioneers making their way to Oregon. Elizabeth Dixon Smith, John Minto, Lucy Henderson, and Joel Palmer came from different backgrounds, and were motivated by different goals, but all faced the hardships and the joys of the Trail. Hear their experiences in their own words – taken from their journals, diaries and letters – interwoven with the narration of John McLoughlin, the Father of Oregon.
Oregon’s First People: This 40-minute film tells the story of the Indigenous tribes and, from their point of view, explains the outcome of the arrival of settlers in the Pacific Northwest and Oregon in particular.
Candle Dipping & Butter Making: Please note that this activity is approximately one hour or more depending on group size. For almost every pioneer, candles and butter were an essential part of the overland journey. Students will also listen to a short presentation about the typical diet of pioneers before they make (and taste) their own hand-churned butter. Students will also learn about how daily tasks and chores were different without electricity, and then hand-dip their own candles. Requires close chaperone supervision. (Gluten free options available upon request, however there are no dairy free alternatives. Please let us know of any allergies).
Chinook Trade Language: When pioneers began to arrive in Oregon, English wasn’t the language used for trade: it was Chinook Wawa. During this activity (may be indoor or outdoors), students will explore the myths surrounding the relationships between Indigenous communities and pioneers, and how pioneer communities relied on trades (and trade routes that Indigenous peoples had established long before they began to move west). Along the Oregon Trail, bartering and trading kept pioneers alive. Students will have the opportunity to use the trade language that the Indigenous people of the Columbia river area shared with those who traded in their lands.
Oregon Trail Quest: Explore our outdoor “Westward Interpretive Trail” in search of answers to questions about daily life on the Oregon Trail. This activity encourages students to read the fine print on the interpretive signs around the museum grounds, as the answers to their questions are written on the sign displayed on the path.
Packing the Wagon: One of the most important parts of the journey overland was packing and preparing for the trip. Students will listen to a short presentation about necessary provisions before they have the opportunity to pack the wagon themselves. Students will ensure their wagons aren’t overweight for the journey by using one of our “provision mathematics” worksheets, and learn about how the different cultures of pioneers affected what they carried. (The time for this activity may be adjusted depending on class size and attention span, and also requires chaperone assistance for some students.)
Animal Identification: In this 30 minute indoor activity, an interpreter, using genuine furs and skins, will provide historical and scientific information about the indigenous and invasive animals of Oregon. Students will learn about the wildlife that was important in the fur trade and why, animals people encountered along the trail, and animals they encountered in Oregon once they arrived. Students will also learn about where these animals can be seen today and how they interact with people.
Step #3:
Make a reservation. Fill out this google form and an interpreter will connect with you within 48 hours. If you haven’t heard from a member of our staff within three days, please email amy@historicoregoncity.org.
***To insure our school group staff is prepared for your group, we ask that you book at least three weeks in advance before your visit.
***To cancel a reservation, please notify group services at least 10 days in advance in order to allow time for another group to enjoy the experience. Cancellations must be submitted in writing (e-mail, fax or mail). Cancellations become official when CHP has confirmed your request.***
Email any questions to info@historicoregoncity.org or call (503) 657-9336. We look forward to seeing you!