Donner Memorial State Park - 3rd -12th Grades
Date – Time
September 12, 2025
– 10:00 AM - 1:15 PM
Grade/Age Restriction
3rd–Adult 20+ ; 8 y/o–19 y/o
Additional Information
Join us at Donner Memorial State Park!
Parents and students 3rd grade and higher will take a step back into time and learn how pioneers travel west over the Sierra Mountains, the Donner Party, and about the local Native Americans who lived and still live in the area.
Below is the itinerary of our field trip. Parents are expected to be responsible for guiding student behavior and keeping the group together and focused on the program. We ask that parents play an active role in managing student behavior during the course of the field trip. If teachers or chaperones need to take a phone call, please step away so that the park rangers can keep the children's attention. Please keep your phones on vibrate or silent mode.
***Please arrive to the park by 9:45am to park, check in, and be divided into groups*** We will start promptly at 10:00am.
Field Trip Itinerary
- 10:00-10:15 Meet Park staff at Visitor Center (introductions, snacks, bathrooms)
- 10:15-11:30 Rotation #1
- Group #1: Donner History Video (26 min). Free exploration in the museum w/ optional scavenger hunt.
Eagle will provide scavenger hunt papers & pencils for those who want to do this. - Group #2: Park staff will lead a guided hike along the Nature Trail and around the park museum to learn about the natural and cultural hisotry of the area.
- Group #1: Donner History Video (26 min). Free exploration in the museum w/ optional scavenger hunt.
- 11:30am Lunch
- 12:00-1:15pm Rotation #2
- Groups 1 and 2 switch
- 1:15pm Conclusion
How to Prepare for your field trip?
Students & Parents will be organized into 2 groups. Weather in the Sierra Nevada’s may fluctuate. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring sun protection and an extra warm layer. Please bring water bottles and snacks/lunch. Drinking water, and bathrooms are available at the Visitor Center. Weather-permitting, students will walk a ½ mile nature loop (wheelchair accessible).
Below are great resources to review with your students to prepare or extend this topic at home.
- Scavenger Hunt for Donner Memorial SP Visitor Center - self guided
- Park Interpretive Content and Historic References - Donner Docent website
- Donner Self-Guided Nature Loop Brochure (.5MB)
- Donner Summit Historical Society
***AFTER THE FIELD TRIP***
Join Eagle for some beach & swim play! We'll drive to the back swimming area in hopes of swimming in the lake and building sand castles. This is weather dependent of course and parking might be interesting as the campground is still open. There are lots of swim areas tucked along the road heading back into the park.