This is a unique program, offered just a few Thursdays each spring. After a series of in-class programs led by the teacher and based on pre-visit activities in the accompanying teacher’s guide, the students arrive at the park prepared for their Gold Trek. At the school, the students will bake hard-tack and create journals. Teachers will divide the classes into companies after communicating with park staff.
When they arrive at the park, the companies participate in an auction where they have the opportunity to spend or save their money, purchase maps, carts, supplies and shovels, and start on their journey. Along the route to the gold fields, they encounter charlatans, merchants, ferry crossings, and opportunities to make critical decisions that impact their ability to arrive at the diggin’s ready to work.
This program is meant to replicate the experience that many young men faced as they traveled from Stockton to the diggings in search of gold.
This program costs $3.50 per student, and takes approximately 3 hours.
2020 dates are March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2, 16.
There will be 3 start times with up to 35 students each time slot allowing us to move more smoothly during the program and have less wait time at the beginning and end of the trek. Treks will commence at 9:30,10:00, or 10:30.
A mandatory virtual pre-lesson is required to prepare the class for Gold Trek. The pre-lesson is offered in January and February, and introduces students to the Gold Rush so they will be better prepared for the Gold Trek, and can have a more enriching experience. The lesson covers historical Gold Rush history, Columbia’s town history, routes of travel, and information about the trek from the Port of Stockton to Columbia. The lesson is approximately ½ hour long.
Contact our PORTS interpreter, Randie Ortloff , and she will assist you with your technology needs. She can be reached at email: Randie.Ortloff@parks.ca.gov
A new teacher’s guide is available at www.parks.ca.gov/columbia.
WAITLIST: If you are unable to make reservations for this program because the timeslot is full, please send an email to SchoolGroups with your name, school name, # of students, and phone number to be added to our waitlist. If we have additional spots available or receive a cancellation, we will contact you.
Park staff, docent volunteers and concessionaires at Columbia State Historic Park take great pride in presenting a number of quality educational programs for schools. In this way, we help preserve the rich heritage that is an important part of our lives as Californians and in the history of our state. Financial and volunteer support for these programs is provided by Friends of Columbia.