Field Trips to Mound City Group

 

Planning your Field Trip

If you are interested in scheduling a field trip, please read through this page and then complete the online field trip form at the bottom of this page. May and October dates fill up very fast and we do our best to accommodate as many schools as possible. We require at least a 3 week notice to schedule your field trip to ensure adequate staffing.

HOW TO RESERVE A PROGRAM: Schools must complete the form below on this website to reserve a field trip at Mound City Group. Once your information is received, a ranger will be in contact to get more information and customize your experience. Communication will be handled through email. Check your spam/junk email folder. You can expect a reply within 3-5 business days. If you do not receive any communication, please call the park at 740-774-1126 and request to speak to the education team. Scroll to the bottom of this page to complete the reservation information.

 

A park ranger speaks with kids during an activity on a field trip to Mound City Group.

NPS Photo

Field Trip Options

Field trips to Mound City Group are normally about 2 hours in length. We understand that some classes may not be able to take in all programs offered. Please be sure to advise us on the amount of time that your school will be able to spend on site. Once we confirm the visit length of your field trip with you, the ranger will then go over which programs would be best-suited for your school's scheduled time at the park. Special note: We make every attempt to keep classrooms with one ranger, however, depending on the size of your school and our staffing levels, there will be times when classes have to be split among the rangers available.

• Interpretive film: 20 minutes

  Mysteries of the Ancient Architects: Most students benefit from viewing the park's film. The film gives viewers a snapshot of who these people were and explores the monumental earthworks that they constructed during the middle woodland period. Film is suitable for third grade and up. Ranger Tip: View this film in your classroom before your visit. Students will be prepared and rangers can spend more hands-on time during tours. Request a copy when you reserve the field trip.

• Mound Tour: 30 to 60 minutes

  A ranger guided tour of the Mound City Group explains how these American Indians lived their lives and discusses the importance of cultural and natural resource stewardship. It also gives students a chance to stand next to multiple earthen, tangible objects which aids tremendously in learning about the culture. The tour time and extent is modified depending on the total needed for your school's visit.

• Hands-on Activities: 30 to 60 minutes

  Students explore the daily life of the American Indians of the Hopewell culture by circulating through various stations focused on different topics. Animal hides, plant identification and tool use are a few of the topics rangers discuss using hands-on objects. Activities take place in and around the Mound City Group visitor center. Special Note: The museum space inside of the visitor center is currently being rennovated and new exhibits are coming soon!

• Atlatl Demonstration: 30 minutes

  Students learn about the hunting and gathering of the people and get an opportunity to learn how to throw spears using the ancient spear thrower, the atlatl.
  Spcecial Note - This activity is only available for students in grades 3 and above, no exceptions.

• OPTIONAL: Park Store: 20 to 30 minutes per class

  Shopping in the Mound City Group park store is optional but the time for it must be reserved in advance. Depending on the number of classrooms and size of your groups, shopping can take up a large amount of your school's visit. The park store is small, with only one cash register for transactions. Students will be divided by classroom group to accommodate the small space.
  

• OPTIONAL: Lunch: 30 minutes

  Please let us know if you are planning eat during your field trip. The picnic area is open-air (no shelter). Please bring your lunches in a box or tub so they can off-loaded from the busses. Rangers will assist with storing lunches in the visitor center until your scheduled lunch time. Students should not carry their lunch bags during their field trip.

Chaperones:

Chaperones are not required for your visit at Mound City Group. Please make sure you have the adequate staff you need to make sure all students needs and abilities are met. Any adult chaperones that attend with your school must be willing to assist in the safety and well being of your students. All adults, faculty and students must obey park rules and follow the lead of the Park Ranger. Please do not disrupt activities, park ranger talks and lessons with disruptive conversation. Parking at the Mound City Group visitor center is extremely limited and shared with the visiting public.

Additional Notes:

• Most activities including lunch, take place outdoors. Dress accordingly. No flip flops or sandals. No open toed shoes. Dress in layers.
• There is a lot of walking. The tour length is approximately one mile plus the walking between activities.
• Food is not available for purchase at the Mound City Group visitor center. Any adults attending with students must pack their own snacks, lunches and water bottles. Water fountains are available.

 

Rangers in the Classroom

If you are interested in having a ranger visit your students in the classroom, please see the Guest Speaker page.

 

Mound City Group Field Trip Visit Form

 

Please complete the form with as much information as possible. A park ranger will contact you to discuss the details of your class' visit once the form is reviewed.

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Learning Accomodations

Does anyone in your group need any accomodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accomodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.