Diorama of Oregon Trail pioneer woman gazing into distance

School Field Trips

Immerse your students in history during a field trip to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, where hands-on exhibits, interactive storytelling, and panoramic views bring the trail to life! Inspire curiosity and critical thinking by exploring the challenges and triumphs of westward expansion.

Register for a Field Trip

Field Trip programs are available - for free! - throughout the school year, with breaks around some major holidays. We are able to accommodate groups on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

Please submit a registration request* to initiate the booking process. Download and complete the fillable PDF and email it to [email protected].

*Spaces are limited, and registration is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit requests at least two months (four months if you hope to come between late-April and June) in advance of your preferred date.

New in 2026, our Field Trips have been enhanced to maximize fun and learning!

  • Field Trip programs are two hours long. Teachers are welcome to supplement this time with a self-guided activity, hike, or visit to the gift shop.
  • Field Trip groups may range in size from 24 to 48 students. Please seek to combine or divide classes as necessary to meet this requirement before registering.
  • Groups are responsible for bringing one adult chaperone per six students. These adult leaders play an essential role as active facilitators for student breakout groups. This highly-interactive model allows us to reach more audiences and provides the best possible learning experience for students – and chaperones as well!
  • For more details, see Additional Logistics below.

Field Trip Programs

Kids in pioneer clothes stand next to covered wagon

Daily Life on the Oregon Trail

Grade Levels: 2nd and 3rd

What was daily life on the Oregon Trail like for children and families? Join us to explore the everyday lives of Oregon Trail travelers — their food, clothing, possessions, chores, and fun!

 

 

Covered wagon without canvas, with snowy mountains behind

Survival and Success on the Oregon Trail

Grade Levels: 4th and 5th

What did it take to survive and succeed during a journey on the Oregon Trail? Join us to explore the challenges, choices, and circumstances faced by the travelers, as well as the Indigenous peoples who call the region home.

 

 

 

diorama depicting Native Americans trading with settlers on the Oregon Trail

Whose Land Is It?

Grade Levels: 6th - 8th

The promise of free land drew hundreds of thousands of Americans to the West. But what does "free" land really mean, and how did pioneers engage with the Indigenous peoples already living on this land? Join us to explore how emigrants and Native Americans thought land in the West should be used, shared, and owned.

 

Additional Logistics

What does the Trail Center provide?

One or two Trail Center educators facilitate each field trip, providing content, instructions, learning supplies, and synthesis. This model – where rangers support chaperones in leading small-group explorations and discussions – promotes deep and interactive learning and rich community connections.

What do the teacher and sending school provide?

  • Transportation: School groups are responsible for securing transportation to and from the Center. Please look into transportation funding and logistics before registering.
  • Chaperones: The school is responsible for recruiting enough chaperones for an adult-to-student-ratio of 1:6. During the field trip, students work in groups of ~6 with a teacher or chaperone facilitating the learning and ensuring behavior management. Chaperones play leadership roles for the entirety of the two-hour field trip, but they do not need to be Oregon Trail experts before they arrive. Trail Center educators provide all the materials and instructions that chaperones need to succeed.
  • Permission slips: The school is responsible for adhering to requirements for field trip liability coverage.
  • Food: Given transportation time, it often makes sense for students to bring sack lunches. Sometimes the best option is for students to eat – and leave food – on the bus. There is also a picnic area in the Center that can be used by request.

How are the Field Trips free?

School Field Trips are offered by National Historic Oregon Trails Interpretive Center with support from Friends of NHOTIC. Donations support our ability to offer these programs to all participants for free at this time - please contact us for details and thank you for your generous support.

How do I contact the Center if I have questions?

Contact us anytime at 541-523-1843 or [email protected]. We no longer take field trip bookings by phone, but we're happy to answer questions.