Please contact Education Coordinator Jacob Crews with any questions and to schedule your field trip.
Take your class on a field trip back in time. When students visit Historic Bethabara Park, they learn what life was like for children living in the 18th century Moravian settlement of Bethabara. While engaging in fun, hands-on activities, children will experience a world from long ago and understand what was necessary to live in colonial North Carolina.
Historic Bethabara Park offers two different field trip experiences, one for Lower Elementary (grades 1-3) students, and one for Upper Elementary (grades 3-5) students. Both our Lower and Upper Elementary tours are an extension of the elementary Social Studies classroom curriculum and meets many NCSCS Curriculum guidelines.
Lower Elementary Tour (Grades 1-3)
Essential Question: How did Moravians build and maintain a unique community and culture on the Frontier of North Carolina?
This tour begins in our 1788 Gemeinhaus (which served as the settlement’s church along with the minister’s living quarters), and moves around the park to stations where students learn about playing, education, chores, and other features of 18th century life for the children of Bethabara.
Available: September-November, April-June
Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
Group size: Minimum number of students is 20, maximum number of students is 60.
Upper Elementary Tour (Grades 3-5)
Essential Question: How did the Moravian settlers of Bethabara impact the economy, environment, and identity of Colonial North Carolina?
On this tour, guides help students explore our 1754 Village, which features reconstructions of the first buildings the Moravians built in Bethabara. There, they will participate in activities such as wood-sawing, shingling, and plowing as they learn what it took to build the settlement around them.
Available: September-November, April-June
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Group size: Minimum number of students is 20, maximum number of students is 50.
Christmas Tour (Grades 1-5)
Essential Question: How did Moravian culture and tradition shape the identity of North Carolina and Winston-Salem?
On this tour, students will learn about Moravian Christmas customs, as well as how Bethabara’s settlers prepared for winter. From Moravian Cookies to the Moravian Star, the traditions and culture of the Moravians of Bethabara shaped how we celebrate the Christmas Season to this day.
Available: Late November-mid-December
Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
Group size: Minimum number of students is 20, maximum number of students is 50.
Other tours (Grades 6 & up)
If you are a teacher with older students, please contact Education Coordinator Jacob Crews (336-397-7586, jacobcr@cityofws.org) to discuss tour options.
Homeschool Living History Days
This 3 hour learning experience has all the park has to offer! Blended learning groups such as homeschool families and cooperative learning groups will go on a self-guided exploration of the park while it is filled with living history demonstrations, tours, and hands-on learning experiences. This event is designed to cater to multiple age groups and learning styles, and is perfect for families looking to make history fun and interesting!
Available: One Fall & One Spring Date
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Group size: No minimum or Maximum.
Admission Fee
Admission is $1 per student (plus tax). Teachers and school employees are free of charge. Admission for parents is $2 (plus tax).
Reservations
Reservations are required for all school programs. These are made on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please contact us early in order to secure the dates you prefer. Reservations must be placed at least one month in advance and require a minimum of 10 students. Please contact Education Coordinator Jacob Crews with any questions and to schedule your field trip: 336-397-7586, or jacobcr@cityofws.org
Historic Bethabara Park has two separate picnic areas you may reserve when scheduling your field trip. Neither area is sheltered, so please have alternate plans in the event of rain. Bethabara also offers a small gift shop located in our Visitor Center that includes Moravian cookies and colonial toys. Please indicate if you would like gift shop time when making your reservation. In addition, Bethabara’s grounds and trails are free to explore, in the event you would like to extend your visit with a self-guided look at the site.
Please be sure to allow your group plenty of travel time. Late arrivals may not be able to see everything normally included in the tour. It is preferred that groups arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to check in before the tour begins. If you would like your students to use the restroom facilities before their tour, please arrive 15 minutes early.
To help us provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our young visitors, we request the assistance of adult chaperones. We ask tour leaders to provide one chaperone for every 10 children in their group.
Please advise your students to wear clothing and footwear appropriate for outdoor activities.
Many of the items located in our 1788 Gemeinhaus are over 200 years old and must be treated very carefully. In order to help us preserve them for future use, we ask that you please do not touch any artifacts or sit on the furniture.
Food, drinks, gum, and backpacks are not allowed in the exhibition buildings; please make arrangements to leave them on the bus.
Please silence your cell phone during guided tours.
Teachers and chaperones must remain with school groups at all times during the visit.