Learning Excursions

Learning Excursion trips for schools, homeschools, and youth groups connect youth of all ages to Midwestern rural life experiences. Offered in spring, summer, and fall during our regular season, these curriculum-connected tours are based on the State Board of Education’s social studies standards.

Reservations for the 2017 – 2018 school year may be made beginning on August 1, 2017.

Availability

Fall 2017: September 6 – October 20 (Wednesday – Friday)
Spring 2018: May 1 – June 1 (Monday – Friday)
Summer 2018: June – August (Monday-Friday)*

* Only for summer schools, year-round schools, and school-affiliated summer programs; please email adminasst@lhf.org for details. Otherwise, please find our youth group tour information here.

General Tour

  Fees: $7.75 per student; Grades 2-12

Tour Length: 4 hours, including lunch.

This tour combines stops at the 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm,  and 1900 Horse-Powered Farm with visits to as many town buildings as time allows.  The interdependence of and connections between farm and town are stressed.

To request a reservation, fill out the form below.

300 Year Farm Tour

  Fees: $7.50 per student; Grades K-12

Group Size: No more than 4 homerooms/100 students may book this tour at one time

Tour Length: 2.5 hours, including lunch.

Experience first-hand the changes in farming over time as you visit the 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1900 Horse-Powered Farm, and the Wallace Exhibit Center. Themes tie the farms together, making connections and comparisons easier for students.

To request a reservation, fill out the form below.

Walnut Hill Town Tour

  Fees: $7.00 per student; Grades K-12

Group Size: No more than 4 homerooms/100 students may book this tour at one time

Tour Length: 2.5 hours, including lunch.

Students visit businesses, trade sites, and homes typical of an 1875 town. Themes tie the stops at the various buildings together, making comparisons and connections easier for students.

To request a reservation, fill out the form below.

Schoolhouse

  Fees: $7.00 per student; Grades 3-12 , can be adapted for homeschool families

Group Size: No more than 1 group/12-25 students may book this program at one time

Tour Length: 2 hours, not including lunch.

Spelling bees, recitation, reading from McGuffey Readers, and arithmetic problems on a slate are lessons students will do when they visit the one-room schoolhouse.

To request a reservation, fill out the form below.

Reservations

Summer schools, year-round schools, and school-affiliated summer programs, if you would like to sign up for a tour during June, July, and August, please email adminasst@lhf.org for details. Schools with a traditional calendar may make reservations for the 2017-2018 school year beginning on August 1, 2017. Requests for reservation made less than three weeks prior to your visit are not eligible for group tour discounts.

Reminder, Living History Farms is open from 9:00am – 4:00pm.  Arrive no later than 1:45pm if you want to see all three of the historic farms.

Social Studies Standards

Our curriculum-connected tours are based on the State Board of Education’s social studies standards:

Kindergarten: Space and Place: Impacts of geography (SS.K.15; SS.K.17; SS.K.19)
1st Grade: Communities and Culture: Connections between people in Iowa (SS.1.19; SS.1.21; SS.1.23)
2nd Grade: Choices and Consequences: How decisions people make impact Iowa’s history (SS.2.12; SS.2.17; SS.2.18; SS.2.23)
3rd Grade: Immigration and Migration: Why people move into, out of, and around Iowa (SS.3.16; SS.3.25; SS.3.27; SS.3.28)
4th Grade: Change and Continuity: Farming and rural life in Iowa (SS.4.12; SS.4.23; SS.4.25; SS.4.26)
5th Grade: Rights and Responsibilities: Examples over time in Iowa (SS.5.13; SS.5.20; SS.5.26)
6th Grade: World Regions and Cultures: Iowa’s historical connections to the world (SS.6.13; SS.6.17; SS.6.23)
7th Grade: Global Studies: Iowa’s impact on global issues in history (SS.7.17; SS.7.18; SS.7.19; SS.7.27)
8th Grade: U.S. History and Civics: Iowa’s place (SS.8.15; SS.8.18; SS.8.19; SS.8.20; SS.8.25)
High School: Teacher request, based on subject area

Find out more about these standards in this document: Learning Excursions and Iowa Core Curriculum.

Program Policies

Please read over all of the following information before requesting a reservation.

Policies: Please read our program policies, including the cancellation policy, behavior guidelines, payment info, and more.
K-12 Policies & Procedures

Iowa Core: Find out how these tours fit into the social studies section of the Iowa Core Curriculum.
Learning Excursions and Iowa Core Curriculum

Code of Conduct: During your visit, you agree that your group, including adults, will abide by the Museum Code of Conduct.
Museum Code of Conduct

Leader’s Guide: You will also receive a pre-tour Leader’s Guide via email. It is vital that you read this information prior to your visit.

Adult Chaperones

Free Adults Policy: 1 adult/10 students is required and admitted free. The teacher DOES count as one of the free adults. We always round up; so bringing 21 students allows you to bring 3 adults (the homeroom teacher + 2 others) at no charge.
Adult Fees: $14.75/person for Spring 2018. If an adult is paying separately, they will pay the full admission fee of $15.75.
Bus drivers and any 1-1 associates are always admitted free. These free adults do NOT count in the ratio mentioned above.

Plan Ahead

Worry Free Lunches: Save time and hassle by pre-ordering your lunch from Living History Farms! Order Lunches 

Pre-order souvenirs: Make taking home souvenirs from your visit easy, by pre-ordering stick candy, sarsaparilla, pencils and more!  Shop LHF souvenirs

Learning Excursions Request Form

Program Interested in*
Name*
First Last
Group or School Name*
School Building*
School District*
Public Schools - put your district name. Non-public schools, put Non-public. Homeschool organizations - put Homeschool. All others, put Other.
Email*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Phone*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
County*
Date of Program (1st Choice)*
Date of Program (2nd Choice)*
Date of Program (3rd Choice)*
Arrival Time*
Your tour begins 15 minutes after arrival. Museum hours are 9:00AM-4:00PM.

: HH

MM
Departure Time*
What time will you be boarding the bus? Your tour ends 15 minutes before your departure. Museum hours are 9:00AM-4:00PM.

: HH

MM
Estimated Number of Students*
Estimated Number of Adults*
Please enter the total number of adults including teachers, chaperones, 1-1 associates, and bus drivers.
- Free Adults Policy: 1 adult/10 students is required and admitted free. The teacher DOES count as one of the free adults. We always round up; so bringing 21 students allows you to bring 3 adults (the homeroom teacher + 2 others) at no charge.
- Adult Fees: $14.50/person Fall 2017, $14.75/person Spring 2018. If an adult is paying separately, they will pay the full admission fee of $15.75.
- Bus drivers and any 1-1 associates are always admitted free. These adults do NOT count in the ratio of free adults mentioned above.
Age or Grade*
Number of Homerooms or Groups*
One homeroom or group is 25 people. Homeschool groups: we ask that you have no more than 20 people in each group.
* No more than 4 homerooms/100 students may book the 300 Year Farm Tour or Walnut Hill Town Tour at one time. Only 1 homeroom/12-25 students for Schoolhouse Program.
Will you have lunch on the grounds?*
If you select 'Yes' we will provide a scheduled time during your tour for you and your students to eat lunch.
Note: If you wish to eat lunch during your tour, you will be scheduled for a 30-minute lunch break. If you would like more than 30 minutes, please indicate that in the "Requests" section of the form.
- Yes
- No
You may bring your own lunches or pre-order lunches. Order Lunches 
Need Time to Shop in MarketPlace Museum Gift Shop in the Visitor Center?*
If you select 'Yes' we will provide a scheduled time during your tour for your students to shop.
- Yes
- No
I have read and understood Living History Farms' K-12 Policies & Procedures*
By selecting "Yes" you indicate that you have read and understood the K-12 Policies & Procedures regarding Learning Excursions (School Tours), including the cancellation policy, behavior guidelines, payment info, and more. If you do not understand or have any questions please contact us at (515)278-5286 or by email at adminasst@lhf.org.
• Cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to adminasst@LHF.org.
• Any cancellation made more than 21 business days prior to your scheduled tour is subject to a 35% cancellation fee. Any cancellations made less than 21 business days prior to your scheduled tour or program is subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
• Grace period: After submitting your reservation online, you may cancel within three (3) business days and the cancellation fee will not apply.
• Weather cancellation: When the National Weather Service has issued a “Severe Weather Warning” and prohibited travel, this fee will be waived.
- Yes, I have read and understood the policies and procedures.
Special Needs or Requests
Please provide any information or requests that we need to know to make your visit successful.
Please note that your tour has not been reserved until you have heard back from a Living History Farms representative.
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.