Education
Campbell Museums Field Trip Program:
Hands-on History
Hands-on History is an interactive program designed for 2nd and 3rd grade students at the Campbell Historical Museum. This immersive experience engages multiple senses to help students explore historical content in meaningful ways. Through hands-on activities, the program fosters critical thinking, cross-disciplinary connections, and a deeper sense of historical empathy.
Plan a Field Trip
Reservations are open for the 2026-2027 school year.
Please check the 2026 - 2027 field trip availability calendar at the bottom of this page.
Not available on mobile devices.
Please Note:
We are thrilled to welcome you to our field trip at the Campbell Historical Museum! Our museum has limited group capacity, so we encourage you to book early to secure your spot. During the trip, classes will be divided into four groups and rotate through four themed exhibit stations, led by our enthusiastic chaperones, whom a Museum staff member will train on the day of the field trip. Get ready for an exciting 2.5 to 3-hour adventure filled with history, fun, and learning!
Hands-on History Supports the Common Core Curriculum:
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Building Strong Content Knowledge: Expands students' knowledge of social studies through listening, discussion, and hands-on activities
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Comprehending and Critiquing: Discussions and activities during the programs allow students to compare and question assumptions about current and historical ideas that provide engaged and open-minded debates.
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Evaluating Evidence: Students evaluate primary sources such as artifacts and photographs to support learning across content areas. This allows students to use their reasoning skills in real-life scenarios.
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Coming to Understand Other Perspectives and Cultures: The programs are designed to develop historical empathy: the ability to understand and appreciate what life was like for people who lived in a different time and place.
Field Trip Information and Requirements
Please review the following information before making a reservation:
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There is a minimum program fee of $160 for 20 students or fewer. Additional students are $8 per student.
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Payment is accepted by cash or physical check only. The Campbell Museums cannot accept credit card payments or online banking transfers.
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Payment is due on or before the date of your field trip. If your school's payment process requires payment after the visit, please notify museum staff in advance.
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Schools with outstanding balances or repeated late payments may be ineligible to schedule future field trips.
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Hands-on History has a maximum capacity of 30 students. Please contact museum staff before making a reservation if you have a larger group or special circumstances.
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A minimum of four chaperones is required; museum staff welcomes more. Chaperones must be able to read, speak, and communicate in English.
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Teachers, aides, and chaperones attend free of charge.
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Programs are available Monday through Friday.
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Programs begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
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Teachers and chaperones are expected to actively supervise students throughout the field trip. Museum staff provide instruction and activities but are not responsible for student discipline or behavior management.
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The Campbell Museums feature hands-on exhibits and touchable artifacts; however, we also care for thousands of historic artifacts that are irreplaceable. Even educational materials designed for handling can be costly to repair or replace.
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Students are expected to treat museum exhibits and artifacts with respect. Appropriate behavior, good manners, and careful handling of materials are expected at all times.
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Classes that arrive without adequate teacher or chaperone supervision, or whose students repeatedly engage in unsafe, disruptive, or destructive behavior, may be asked to leave the program.
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Schools whose classes are not appropriately supervised may be ineligible to participate in future field trips at the Campbell Museums.
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By participating in a field trip, schools agree to help preserve and protect the museum's collections and provide a positive learning environment for all visitors.
For More Information:
Please contact Kerry Perkins, Museum Supervisor at:
Call (408) 866-2718