Gold Rush Days

Take a trip back in time...

Gold Rush Days is a living history program that immerses students into the realities of 19th century California.

Your students will be transformed into 1850s prospectors. They will each receive a historical role, travel to California via an Overland Trail, stake a claim, and try to strike it rich!

The goal of this living history experience is to teach your students what life would have been like in the 1850s for the various residents of California, including Native Americans, immigrants, and fortune-seekers from across the country. Some will be guaranteed to make a fortune, while most will lose it all and learn, as most prospectors did, that the streets of California were not really paved with gold.

Gold Rush Days FAQs

Gold Rush Days is offered as a day or an overnight program.

See the details below to find what fits your needs!

  • Our day program begins with check-in from 9:00-9:45 a.m. The students' orientation begins at 10:00 a.m. The final event will conclude at 7:00 pm with an expected departure time of 7:30 p.m. Food service is provided for lunch and dinner.

    Pricing

    Student fee: $75.00

    Teacher/Chaperone fee: $75.00

    Sample Schedule

    9:00: Arrival

    10:00: Orientation

    10:45: Overland Trail

    11:30: Staking Claims

    12:30: Mid-day Meal

    1:30: Gold Mining

    2:45: Archery

    3:30: Free-time/Trading Post

    5:30: Supper

    6:00: Closing Ceremony

    7:00: Departure

    Click to Download Day Trip Packing List

  • Our overnight check-in is from 3:00-3:45 p.m. The students' orientation begins at 4:00 p.m. The overnight program ends at 1:30 p.m. on the following day. Your students will stay the night in one of our signature Boom Town Miner Shacks or a Covered Wagon. Full food service is provided from dinner on the first day to lunch on the second day (a total of 3 meals).

    Pricing

    Student fee: $100.00

    Teacher/Chaperone fee: $100.00

    Sample Schedule

    Day 1

    3:00: Arrival

    4:00: Orientation

    5:00: Supper

    6:15: Overland Trail

    6:45: Free-time

    7:15: Campfire

    9:30: Lights Out

    Day 2

    7:00: Rise & Shine! (Wash Up/Pack Up)

    8:30: Morning Meal

    9:15: Staking Claims

    9:45: Goldmine

    10:30: Archery

    11:00: Free-time/Trading Post

    12:30: Mid-day Meal

    1:00: Closing Ceremony

    1:30: Departure

    Click to Download Overnight Packing List

  • Click to Download Camp Map