Field Trip Experiences: Early Childhood through Grade 12
The Wisconsin history you read about in text books becomes a vibrant learning experience full of activities for students and teachers to see and do when you visit the Manitowoc County Historical Society. You can barter with the storekeeper, feel the heat from the blacksmith’s forge, set up a Civil War camp, play games with the local pioneer children, and help with the farm chores.
Each of our tour experiences satisfy specific Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies and includes hands-on opportunities to interact with objects and artifacts at our living history museum. Subjects including social studies, language arts, math, and science are all incorporated into your visit. Students get the perfect mix of learning, adventure, and fun during their visit.
There are three ways to join us for a field trip experience:
Self-guided tour experience
General private field trip options where you pick the date and time
Themed field trips with a pre-set date and time allotments
Field Trip Details
Max Capacity: 300 students per day. Please review our Museum Manners and Code of Conduct.
Time: Each General Field Trip tour experience is 2 hours in length and comprises of stations in our historic structures. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. You may choose from a morning time slot or an afternoon time slot -or both! Themed field trips have set times to begin and end but for the most part, you can decide your pace for the day (our Civil War School Day is a bit different and is time structured).
School Tour Fee: $6 per student. Teachers and aids admitted at no charge. One free chaperone is allowed for every 10 students. Additional chaperones are $13 each. A minimum of 15 students is recommended for a field trip. In addition to a base tour (one main tour type) you can also choose to add a 1-hour experience at a rate of $3 per student.
Homeschool Field Trip Fee: Family field trip/homeschool program admission is $6 for students age 4 to 17. Children under 4 are admitted free. One primary adult educator per family is admitted free. Additional adults may join in the program at a cost of $13 each. A minimum of 15 students is recommended for a private field trip. In addition to a base tour (one main tour type) you can also choose to add a 1-hour experience at a rate of $3 per student.
Availability: Programs are available May 1 through October 31, Tuesday through Friday. Limited availability from November through April.
Contact: Please contact our Education Coordinator at (920) 684-4445 or Education@ManitowocCountyHistory.org for more information.
Let us help make your field trip a day in history!
General Hands-on Field Trip Experiences:
Choose from a menu of targeted base field trip programs for a
private group experience. You pick the date of your experience. All experiences are timed and interpreter led.
Early Childhood Play Trip (For preschool through Grade K)
Students will have the opportunity to explore and discover the fundamental concepts of history and the passage of time. Through objects and play, children will be able to compare and contrast utilizing multiple senses. This field trip is designed to set the framework for conceptual understanding of history and the objects that help us to learn about people, places, and cultures.
Learn more about how young pioneers can relate this experience to their classroom learning here for a program overview and curriculum standards.
Pioneer Kids (Recommended for Grades 1 to 3)
What was it like for a child to grow up in a small Wisconsin town in 1900? Students learn the answer to this question as they meet an immigrant family, see traditional pioneer activities such blacksmithing or carding wool, and learn about businesses that were needed for a pioneer community to thrive.
Learn more about how young pioneers can relate this experience to their classroom learning here for a program overview and curriculum standards.
We Came to Wisconsin (Recommended for Grade 4)
Immerse yourself in a 19th-century village and interact with the people, objects and routines of life in rural Wisconsin in 1872. You’ll be introduced to 4 immigrant families who have made their home in Pinecrest Village. Using reasoning and educated information, you will match each families’ pioneer trunk to the lives they hold. You'll learn new skills as you hear stories of how they came to Wisconsin.
Learn more about how students can relate this experience to their classroom learning here for a program overview and curriculum standards.
Trades and Occupations (Recommended for Grades 6 to 12)
Meet tradespeople in Pinecrest Village and become their apprentice. Learn how they are adapting to new technology and power to expand their businesses.
Learn more about how apprentices can relate this experience to their classroom learning here.
Plows and Pulleys (Recommended for grade 4 and above)
Time is a resource to use wisely on a farm. Follow an early 1900s farm family through turning grains into food, tending to their fields, taking their milk to the cheese factory, and creating a meal for the family. See how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and history connect through pioneer power on the 19th century farm.
Discover how this program shares our agricultural heritage using classroom standards here.
A Day at Shadyside School (any age or multi-age groups)
Experience the one-room school house with this tour experience. Interact with our school teacher to take part in lessons real lessons. Children will read from McGuffey’s Readers, complete math problems on slates, and participate in spelling bees.
If you finish your lessons promptly, there will be time for games! Grab your lunch pails and register!
Learn more about how students can relate this experience to their classroom learning here for a program overview and curriculum standards.
Your Voice, Your Vote (recommended for Grade 5 and above)
There is much to decide in the future of the Village of Pinecrest! Should a new rail line come to town? Listen as Mrs. Kunze and Mrs. Sorenson debate the issues around their right to own property. The Pinecrest Post is working on an article about gas lighting in town and needs your help. The experience includes 1900s era issues to debate and then vote at the Two Creeks Town Hall and Meeme Poll House. The experience can also be enhanced with voting for class elections or class-centered topics following the 2 hour structured experience.
Learn how this tour relates to classroom learning with our program overview, found here.
Expand your General Tour Experience
General Tour Add-Ons:
Add-on a 1 hour experience for $3 per student with a private field trip experience. You can choose these additional experiences when you register for your base tour above.
Lesson at Shadyside School
Experience the one-room school house with this tour experience. Interact with our school teacher to take part in lessons real lessons. Children will read from McGuffey’s Readers, complete math problems on slates, and participate in spelling bees.
Historic Pastimes
Life for early settlers wasn’t only about hard work and chores - leisure time in the 19th century can teach us a lot about History! Take your turn in playing some games from the past. What games and toys did kids just like you take part in?
Step into the Stories of our Past with Adventures.
Themed Field Trips:
Choose from a menu of themed field trip programs that are held on a specific date and time.
Maximum capacity for the themed field trips is 300 students. Programs typically take place from 10 am to 2 pm
and offer a handful of interpreter led stations. Your groups will visit the stations and take as much or as little time as you like.
Click on the themed tour options below to learn more and register.
Journey into the past wtih us:
Contact our Education Coordinator to create an experience that will meet the specific needs of your group!
Phone: (920) 684-4445
