For Educators

Educational programs by interpretive rangers and trained docents are available for schools and other educational groups. Contact the BLM at blm_wy_trailscenter@blm.gov or call 307-261-7780 for more information or to schedule a program.

Field Trips

Bring your classroom to the National Historic Trails Center for an educational tour! Reservations are required at least two weeks prior to the tour date. To facilitate learning, a maximum of sixty (60) students may participate per tour.  One chaperone for every ten (10) students is required.

School tour times are scheduled for the morning and afternoon as follows in April and May (tour times are flexible for other months):

  • Wednesdays and Fridays: 9:30-11:30 a.m. and Noon-2:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Classroom Visits

Trails Center staff are available to make classroom visits and other group presentations within the commuting area of Casper. Talks are offered for all grade levels and community organizations. Topics include emigrant trails and trail life, natural history of the trails, aspects of Wyoming history, and information on the Bureau of Land Management.

Virtual Programs

The Trails Center offers the following free virtual programs as staffing allows: 

  • Bison Trunk (Grades 2-4): What do bison and the grocery store have in common? Survival! Students will explore bison parts used by Plains Tribes for survival.
  • Children on the Trails (Grades 3-4): Interpreters recount emotional and realistic stories from children's accounts of trail life. Discover how children endured trail monotony by playing games with bison chips, exploring, and working.
  • Trail Basics (Grades 3-4): Why did the pioneers move west? Students will investigate how this migration impacted our nation.
  • Ask a Ranger (all ages): What do you want to know? Interpreters at the Trails Center are knowledgeable about many topics on the Overland Historic Trails and love to share their experience with the students. Student inquiries lead the conversation during this program.

Lesson Plans

Engage your students with the following hands-on lesson plans:

American Indian Wars

Battle of Red Buttes (4th)

Bozeman Trail Game (4th - 6th)

Plenary Power and the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 (8th)

Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail Lesson (3rd +)

Creating a Community Guidebook (2nd)

Oregon Trail Coordinate Grid Game (4th - 6th)

Overland Trails in Numbers (4th - 6th)

Mormon Trail

Mormon Trail Lesson (3rd +)

California Trail

California Trail Lesson (3rd +)

Pioneers & Packing 

Famous Pioneers Logic Puzzle

Packing the Overland Trail Wagon (3rd - 5th)

Needs vs. Wants: Packing the Overland Trail Wagon (K - 2nd)

Pony Express 

Pony Express Trail Lesson (3rd)

Homestead Act

Homestead Act Lesson (4th)

Homestead Act Lesson (8th +)

        Homestead Map
        Declaratory Statement of Preemption
        Declaration Statement of Intention
        Preemption Homestead Affidavit
        Notice for Publication
        Testimony of Witness One
        Testimony of Witness Two
        Testimony of Claimant
        Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimant 

Transcontinental Telegraph

Morse Code Secret Message (Elementary)

Transcontinental Railroad

Transcontinental Railroad (4th +)
        Railroad Personalities (PowerPoint)

Culture Clash! Transcontinental Railroad (4th - 6th)

The Race is On! Transcontinental Railroad Simulation (4th)