School field trip programs at Black Chasm Cavern, California Cavern, Moaning Cavern and Sutter Gold Mine

STATION 1: Cavern/Mine Tour (available at all locations) Each of our underground tours is very different, and requires different scheduling. Click on the following links just below to read descriptions of the school tours and each of our "station" activities available at each location, or scroll down to read about all of the "stations": Black Chasm Cavern California Cavern Moaning Cavern Sutter Gold Mine	Our Field Trip Programs Offer Your School... A unique and fun learning experience set in an unusual environment that makes for a great field trip A modular program divided into "Stations" that can be customized to suit your time schedule, group size and budget Free school lesson plans with activities and projects developed for grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 on "Cavern Geology," "Cavern Life," and "People and Caverns" available to download from this web site! School discounts for tours - the lowest prices we offer to anyone! No prepayment required and no cancellation fees! Free chaperones - one free adult chaperone from your school per fifteen students Gemstone mining discount (see prices link below) and a free gemstone mining postcard for each participating student Free, self-guided educational nature trail using our trail guide handouts (caverns only) or free above ground movie on the Gold Rush or Hard Rock Mining in our Gold Theatre (gold mine only) Free thank you gift for the teacher Free return trip cavern tour coupon for each participating student Special winter discount package deals offering substantial discounts off our already low school prices Send Page To a Friend Lunch can be a station in the rotation of students through multiple activities so each student is occupied at all times. Bring your picnic lunch to eat at our picnic tables, available at each location. Call us to plan your next school field trip. We will be happy to assist you in determining the very best configuration of activities for your school group. Locally our number is 209-736-2708, or out of area, toll free 866-762-2837.
STATION 2: Gemstone Mining / Jr. Prospector (available at all locations) At the nearly 200-foot long flume system, students start with their own bag of mining "rough" that is guaranteed to contain lots of gemstones and minerals if you purchase the gem mining pack, or gold plated, copper nuggets if you purchase the Junior Prospector bag. Pouring it into a screen bottomed box, flowing water sifts out the dirt leaving the goodies behind. A display with samples of the 20 possible gemstones that can be found in the gem mining bags is available for students to compare and identify their finds. Each student gets a free postcard showing the same display. Gold Prospector bags can be panned out using a gold pan, or they can be filtered out using the screen bottomed box.
STATION 3: Nature Trail (available at California Cavern & Moaning Cavern) With the assistance of our free trail guide handouts, your students can learn about the local flora and fauna around Moaning or California Cavern on our maintained surface trails. The guides also include information about the Gold Rush and the Native Americans that once lived in the area. Please note that the trail is self-guided and you hike at your own risk. This station is FREE.
STATION 4: Geode Cracking (available at all locations) Geodes are naturally occurring, volcanically generated hollow rocks containing crystals. Students pick out their own small geode to crack using our special machine operated by a trained guide. The student gets to pull the lever for the final crack - when they hear a loud "pop." The inside crystals are a mystery until the two halves are carefully separated - and then eureka! The unique and glittering interior can now be seen. This makes a great, inexpensive, and hands-on, souvenir for a field trip.
STATION 5: Gold Theater (available at Sutter Gold Mine only) Our theater with large screen and tiered seats, has a 32 person capacity and makes a perfect addition to your field trip. Your students can watch an engaging and informative 22-minute movie set in a real hard rock gold mine. This kid-friendly documentary shows the modern mining and milling process from blasting through refining. This station is FREE.
STATION 6: Climbing Tower (available at Moaning Cavern Park only) Our new, custom designed climbing tower is 32 feet high and includes climbing routes from beginner to challenging. It's suitable and fun for all age groups. The tower can accommodate 10 students at a time, and includes a belay system - just climb and then jump back for a smooth, automatic descent. Participants are geared up in climbing harnesses, then clipped on to the route of their choice. Routes include life-like rock features and overhangs, making it one of the most competitive climbing surfaces available today. Students get 2 climbs each.
STATION 7: Visitor Center (available at each location) Every one of our locations has a visitor center complete with historic displays and lots of great science and nature merchandise. Science kits, books, fossils, rocks, jewelry, nature merchandise and souvenirs are available at each location. In addition, Sutter Gold Mine's Company Store specializes in gold prospecting equipment, and Gold Rush history, while Black Chasm Cavern includes dragon merchandise in honor of their dragon trademark. California Cavern's visitor center includes a massive, ancient cave bear skeleton fossil. Information on the history of the world's now extinct cave bears can be picked up at the cash register. You will find that there are plenty of tempting goodies to be found at each location. Bring your spending money too - you can pick up great educational materials including kits, experiments and books.
STATION 8: Gold Panning For school groups we generally do not recommend gold panning because it takes some practice to acquire the necessary skills, and the gold flakes that are panned out can be somewhat disappointing to children. This is why we recommend the Gold Prospector bag instead, which contains nice, chunky goodies like quartz with gold leaf and gold covered copper nuggets, which can either be panned or screened just like the gem mining bags. However, gold panning is available for more mature students upon request.
PBS kids science show DragonflyTV was shot at California Cavern and played nationwide in 2004. To see a slide show of the stars and the filming, click HERE. Click on the link below to see part of the episode.