Take a journey back in time to the mid 1800’s and join us as California history comes alive!
Students will re-enact the life and times of California’s Native Americans, early settlers, and gold miners, learning how different cultures have utilized natural resources over the years and examine their impact on the environment. Through understanding our recent history, students can make informed decisions that shape the future for California’s diverse peoples and landscapes.
Program Goals & Objectives
Understand the social and economic forces that caused the California Gold Rush and learn the geologic background of gold fields.
Learn contributions and influence of cultural diversity in California history to present, as well as social differences and similarities between the past and today.
Understand relationships between people and their natural environment and the environmental effects of human activities, especially hydraulic mining.
Understand the importance of group cooperation in achieving common goals.
Learn about California Native Americans, their culture, and uses of plants and animals.
Learn adaptations and activities of plants and animals.
customized program concepts
One of WOLF School's strengths is integrating varied educational concepts to create customized programs that best support individual student groups. In addition to the concepts taught through the California Living History's program goals and objectives, we can also integrate or emphasize certain concepts based on teacher requests or requirements, including elements from our Outdoor Science School or P.A.C.C. Team Building programs, such as a focus on cooperative activities, local flora and fauna, or geology.
We work with the school in advance of the program to assure students’ curricular and social needs are met.
Students will participate in
Identifying several tools used in gold mining and panning for gold.
Learning settler and Native American crafts and ways of living.
Reflecting on how learning history changes the future.
Ethno-botany hikes teaching the many uses of native plants for medicine, food, and shelter.
A town hall meeting role playing the gold community versus those that suffered due to the ill-effects of hydraulic mining.
Recognizing and understanding policies of discrimination practiced during the Gold Rush.
We can't wait to hear from you!
For questions or to schedule your program...