Three action-packed days led Foothill’s third-graders and their parents through California’s history with stops in Sacramento, surrounding countryside, and San Francisco. Day one included a stop at the State’s capitol building in Sacramento where students heard about Senate and Assembly chamber activiities and legislative history; afterward, they viewed several capitol-ground memorials.
Then it was off the hill country where students visited a camp along the Merced River for a gold panning experience. Cries of “Eureka” could be heard along the banks as students staked their claims and found gold flakes with the help of able gold-panning guide “Rusty.”
The students then made butter, created their own leather pouches, enjoyed a picnic dinner and heard historical stories from a Mountain Man and Native American speaker, Morning Star.
The next morning the group was off the Sutter’s Gold Mining Company where they toured a working gold mine. Parents and students descended 550 feet underground to compare today’s gold mining operations with the past and explore gold’s role in California’s journey to statehood.
Other stops included Sutter’s Fort to view Patty Reed’s doll, hear a cannon blast, and examine many antiques from pioneer days. Student were in awe of the historical railroad car and engine display, with life-size re-creations depicting the building of the transcontinental railway. A visit to an old school house and several candy stores topped the afternoon before students boarded the bus for the trip to San Francisco.
On the final day, students toured the streets of Chinatown and visited a working fortune cookie factory where they sampled fresh cookies. The group also enjoyed hands-on science at the Exploratorium, a cable car ride (the only moving National Monument), lunch on Fisherman’s Wharf, and a tour of Alcatraz.
Although not one student struck it rich (in the money sense), all agreed the trip truly enriched their understanding of California history.
