Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC - Sierra's Schoolhouse

Class enjoys instruction with professional prospector guides.

TOUCH THE HISTORY. . . . PRESERVE THEFUTURE.

An Educational Experience

The primary objective of Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC is to provide students -and teachers- the Great California Gold Rush experience in an authentic Living History environment. Bring your class or youth group to a creek where the original 49ers panned for gold almost 150 years ago. These adventures into history are designed to foster awareness of the outdoors and the bounty of nature in a wholesome recreational setting. We provide students with experience in team work, cooperation, communication and patience as well as applied physics, hydrology and geology at their age level. Professional guides in period costume, will begin your visit with a short lecture on characteristics of gold, panning instruction, basic geology and local history. Following their introduction to Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp students are free to pan for gold, explore the camp, where they will see Mark Twain's cabin, an old mine tunnel, Indian grinding holes, a corral of live animals, and Boothill. As they hike about the camp, they will enjoy interacting with our Living History characters; including: "Smilin' Jack", known for peddling dubious concoctions alleged "to cure any ailment"; "Jake Smith", who settled in Jimtown after beating a hasty retreat from gallows of the famous, Hangin' Judge Parker, and "Zechariah Graham", a young miner who "rushed" to the "gold fields" from St. Louis, in hope of striking it rich in the California's Mother Lode. Our entire Living History staff are involved in ongoing instruction in early California gold rush history, and lore; therefore, we encourage questions, and invite everyone to assist them in their chores i.e.: working the old rocker boxes, longtoms, and flumes which will be operating throughout the camp.
So, come and join us, and together, in space and time, we will create memories by sharing our common heritage in the same spirit that made California great! Keep all of the gold you find!

All visitors must provide their own transportation

#1 Two-Day Overnight Adventure

(Minimum 25 people)

2 1/2 hours of gold panning includes Living History, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots for wading in the creek, a visit from Mark Twain, a personal guide to assist with your agenda and provide a Historic tour of your choice (see field trip options #D).
Overnight lodging, cabin and dormitory-style rooms with modern lavatories, hot showers, dinner, breakfast, and a sack lunch to go. Swimming pool, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts, nature hike, amphitheater with fire pit, and a hay ride.
#2 Two-Day Overnight Camp Out

(Minimum 25 people)

2 1/2 hours of gold panning including living history, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots for wading in the creek, and a camp out Under the Stars like the 49ers did. You stay at a beautiful campground tucked away on the Tuolumne River at 4,300 feet. Bring your own sleeping bags, fishing gear, and meals. There is no electricity but we do provide modern lavatories and hot showers. Enjoy the great outdoors; create a nature hike, play in the meadow, or swim in the river. Take a moment to review the additional options that you may add to enhance your gold prospecting adventure; Mark Twain, the Story Teller, and Historic Tour, guide will meet you at the river camp location, if you wish.
#3 Small Group Two-Day Overnight Adventure

(10-24 People)

2 1/2 hours of gold panning includes Living History, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots gold for wading in the creek, a visit from Mark Twain, a personal guide to oversee your agenda and provide a Historic tour of your choice (see options D). Overnight lodging, cabin and dormitory-style rooms with modern lavatories, hot showers, dinner, breakfast, and a sack lunch to go. Swimming pool, volleyball, basket ball, and tennis courts, nature hike, amphitheater with fire pit, and a hay ride.
#4 One-day Adventure

(Minimum 25 People)

2 1/2 hours of gold panning including living history, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots for wading in the water and a choice of our many additional options that you may add to enhance your gold prospecting adventure.
#5 One-day Adventure

(Minimum 25 People)

2 hours of gold panning including living history, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots for wading in the water and a choice of our many additional options that you may add to enhance your gold prospecting adventure.
#6 One-Day Adventure

(Minimum 25 People)

1 hour of gold panning including living history, prospector guides, gold pans, vials and boots for wading in the water and a choice of our many additional options.

Field Trip Options: Price Per Person:

A.) MARK TWAIN (min. $150.00)
Imagine the looks on their faces as the famous Mark Twain noted humorist and master of Americana, walks into the camp and weaves his way into the imagination of his listeners as he relates tales from the Mother Lode! $3.95

B.) 49ER SCHOOL HOUSE (min.$95)
A stern School Master or School Marm will ring a hand held bell to start the 49er school session. Students will be seated on benches in front the school house tent. The rules will be read, a short, interactive lesson in reading, writing, and ciphering will commence followed by a discussion on education as it was in early days of the gold rush era. $2.50

C.) STORYTELLER (min.$150)
A local spinner of folklore relates stories from the gold rush days, (some of them are even true), at your evening camp fire or during gold panning at Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp. $3.95

D.) HISTORIC TOUR: WITH GUIDE (min.$95)
An historic, guided walking tour of: (I) Columbia State Park, known as "the Gem of the Southern Mines" a small community that has maintained its historical integrity i.e.: buildings, businesses overall appearance, since 1852. (II) Knights Ferry was named after the infamous Dr. William Knight who first realized the value of a ferry over the Stanislaus River in 1844.Cross the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi; engineered by President Ulysses S. Grant. (III) Railtown 1897 State Railroad Park. Tour a 100 year old roundhouse; see steam trains including the famous movie train #3, star of hundreds of movies, (Back to the Future 3, Little House on the Prairie) Learn how they worked and their importance to the Mother Lode. $2.50

D.) HISTORIC TOUR: WITH GUIDE (min.$95)
An historic, guided walking tour of: (I) Columbia State Park, known as "the Gem of the Southern Mines" a small community that has maintained its historical integrity i.e.: buildings, businesses overall appearance, since 1852. (II) Knights Ferry was named after the infamous Dr. William Knight who first realized the value of a ferry over the Stanislaus River in 1844.Cross the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi; engineered by President Ulysses S. Grant. (III) Railtown 1897 State Railroad Park. Tour a 100 year old roundhouse; see steam trains including the famous movie train #3, star of hundreds of movies, (Back to the Future 3, Little House on the Prairie) Learn how they worked and their importance to the Mother Lode. $2.50

E.) STEAM TRAIN RIDE
A 40 minute round trip train ride through the sierra foothills that can include a guided tour of a 100 year old roundhouse. (call for prices and details)

F.) FINGER PRINTS OF NATURE (min.$95)
Informative 25 minutes that will change the way you look at a river or creek forever. Learn to read the clues natures produces to directs us to the gold. From something as simple as a high watermark, to understanding the power and direction created by helical, laminar flows. $2.50 per person

Traveling Prospectors

Field Trip Options:	Price Per Person:
A.) MARK TWAIN (min. $150.00) Imagine the looks on their faces as the famous Mark Twain noted humorist and master of Americana, walks into the camp and weaves his way into the imagination of his listeners as he relates tales from the Mother Lode!	$3.95
B.) 49ER SCHOOL HOUSE (min.$95) A stern School Master or School Marm will ring a hand held bell to start the 49er school session. Students will be seated on benches in front the school house tent. The rules will be read, a short, interactive lesson in reading, writing, and ciphering will commence followed by a discussion on education as it was in early days of the gold rush era.	$2.50
C.) STORYTELLER (min.$150) A local spinner of folklore relates stories from the gold rush days, (some of them are even true), at your evening camp fire or during gold panning at Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp.	$3.95
D.) HISTORIC TOUR: WITH GUIDE (min.$95) An historic, guided walking tour of: (I) Columbia State Park, known as "the Gem of the Southern Mines" a small community that has maintained its historical integrity i.e.: buildings, businesses overall appearance, since 1852. (II) Knights Ferry was named after the infamous Dr. William Knight who first realized the value of a ferry over the Stanislaus River in 1844.Cross the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi; engineered by President Ulysses S. Grant. (III) Railtown 1897 State Railroad Park. Tour a 100 year old roundhouse; see steam trains including the famous movie train #3, star of hundreds of movies, (Back to the Future 3, Little House on the Prairie) Learn how they worked and their importance to the Mother Lode.	$2.50
D.) HISTORIC TOUR: WITH GUIDE (min.$95) An historic, guided walking tour of: (I) Columbia State Park, known as "the Gem of the Southern Mines" a small community that has maintained its historical integrity i.e.: buildings, businesses overall appearance, since 1852. (II) Knights Ferry was named after the infamous Dr. William Knight who first realized the value of a ferry over the Stanislaus River in 1844.Cross the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi; engineered by President Ulysses S. Grant. (III) Railtown 1897 State Railroad Park. Tour a 100 year old roundhouse; see steam trains including the famous movie train #3, star of hundreds of movies, (Back to the Future 3, Little House on the Prairie) Learn how they worked and their importance to the Mother Lode.	$2.50
E.) STEAM TRAIN RIDE A 40 minute round trip train ride through the sierra foothills that can include a guided tour of a 100 year old roundhouse.	(call for prices and details)
F.) FINGER PRINTS OF NATURE (min.$95) Informative 25 minutes that will change the way you look at a river or creek forever. Learn to read the clues natures produces to directs us to the gold. From something as simple as a high watermark, to understanding the power and direction created by helical, laminar flows.	$2.50 per person

In Class Program

With this program Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC takes a bit of the Mother Lode into the schools. It is specifically designed to enhance the social science curriculum. Though not as realistic as visiting our Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp, it still allows students the opportunity to learn about the history of the California Gold Rush and the importance of their gold country heritage. Instruction begins with a fun presentation that can include a pictorial which depicts the people, places and events along with actual gold rush equipment and gear. Learn the difference between real gold and fools gold. Best of all, each student will keep all of the real gold they find (glass vials included free) while panning in our portable panning troughs.
Please Note: In order to maintain the In-Class Program, a minimum of two classes must be booked for the same date. Either two classes at the same location or another school within 15 minutes driving time. Mileage is .30 cents per mile from Jamestown. Two or more schools may split the round-trip mileage/plus set up fee per class and overnight per diem when needed. Allow approximately 45 minutes per 40 students panning.

#7 This in class. . . .

. . . .visit includes a costumed prospector, lecture and pictorial presentation, miners equipment, a short question and answer session, real and fools gold samples plus panning for real gold. (A teachers Companion Guide that offers suggestions and fun projects will be sent to you at the time you book this visit)
#8) This In-Class. . . .

. . . .visit includes a costumed prospector, short lecture, miners equipment, real and fools gold samples plus panning for real gold.

Teachers, ask for our gold rush study guide & free pass to Jimtown 1849.

Jimtown 1849 Gold Mining Camp

One or all of these can be included in your adventure to gold country with Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC!
The leader in school field trip destinations.

Click here to email for information

or call for more information at
209-352-8293

Gold Prospecting Adventures, LLC
P.O. Box 1040
Jamestown, CA 95327-1040
209-352-8293

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