School and Group Tours
Guided Field Trips (Grades K-12)
During September, October, mid-March, April, and May, we offer guided school tours for classrooms at 10:00 a.m. Monday -Friday. These tours are available to K-12 classes and are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Each time slot costs $60 and is limited to 60 students. Reservations made using the link below. Thirty (30) days advanced reservations are required.
Buses to Big Trees and passPORTS offer transportation funds to cover costs. Self-guided hikes are also offered. See below for more information.
For questions, please contact us at calaverasbigtreesSP@parks.ca.gov or (209) 795-7980 If you would like to request special accommodation based on group size, bus scheduling, etc., please reach out to us, and we will work with you to the best of our ability.
School Tour of the North Grove Trail
Your students will discover the uniqueness and special adaptations of giant sequoia trees and the unique history of this park as they walk by 150 giant sequoia trees. They will also see the trees that were destroyed in the name of tourism. The tours are aligned with the Next Generation Standards for each grade level. This tour lasts between 1 ½ hours- 2 hours.
School Tour of North Grove Meadow
The North Grove Meadow is a beautiful naturally occurring meadow enjoyed by thousands of visitors a year. Many visitors probably don’t realize that this meadow has an interesting human history which includes changes made during the last century that threaten its very existence. The students will discover how State Parks has restored the meadow to its original beauty and usefulness. The guide will help students understand how the alpine wet meadows are important to forest ecology and how we can restore meadows. They will trace the history of the area from the discovery of the giant sequoia trees to the restoration of the wet meadow. This tour lasts about 1 hour to 2 hours.
Visit the online booking page to book a guided field trip.
Buses to Big Trees School Program
Thanks to Calaveras Big Trees Association, we offer a field trip program to Calaveras Big Trees called 5th Grade Buses to Big Trees, which provides transportation scholarships to 5th grade classes from Title One schools. Field trips are offered in October, April and May. You must apply for this program. For more information or applications contact Teddie Jackson 209 795-7980 or teddie.jackson@parks.ca.gov.
Central Valley Title One schools may apply for a $1000 transportation scholarship to cover bus transportation costs for their 5th graders. Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne County Title One schools may apply for a scholarship, not to exceed $500, for the same purpose.
passPORTS
California Title One schools are welcome to apply for the passPORTS program to fund part of their in-person field trip. Want to apply? Complete an online application at https://ports.parks.ca.gov/passports/ . Once you are ready, book your in person field trip online.
Home Schools
Home school groups are welcome! You may book your self-guided trip through the link below. However, if you would like a guide, please do NOT book your guided field trip online, but instead send us an email at calaverasbigtreesSP@parks.ca.gov or (209) 795-7980 so we can book your field trip for you. This ensures everyone has an opportunity to visit the park.
Virtual Field Trips
PORTS, or Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students, is a program for classes to virtually visit Calaveras Big Trees during the school year! Teachers can sign up for 45 minute programs to visit the park live with our PORTS Interpreter. Each program focuses on a different aspect of our park but all include a look at a real giant sequoia.
Teachers can book programs here: https://ports.parks.ca.gov/
Can't book a live program? All are welcome to watch recorded Calaveras Big Trees programs on the California State Parks PORTS YouTube Channel under both the 'Live' tab and 'Videos' tab: California State Parks PORTS Programs - YouTube
Questions? Email the PORTS interpreter at calaverasbigtrees@ports-ca.us or call at 209-768-0411. PORTS scheduling means irregular availability so please be patient with the response time. Also keep in mind programs book quickly.
Self-Guided Field Trips (Grades K-12)
Self-guided field trips are FREE with advanced reservations. Reservations are required 30 days in advance. Groups arriving without reservations will pay full bus or car fare. Self-guided field trips can receive free bus parking and up to five free chaperone vehicles. ALL other vehicles must pay.
Self-Guided tours are only offered on Monday through Friday anytime after 11am. When booking, select the 11:00am timeslot but let us know in the form what time you will arrive. For questions, please contact us at calaverasbigtreesSP@parks.ca.gov or (209) 795-7980
Visit the online booking page to book a self-guided fieldtrip.
Resources for Parents & Teachers
Teacher Information and Grade Level NGSS Support
Giant Sequoia Book (1st Grade)