Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Museum staff will explore the fascinating stories behind arts, letters, and artifacts from the battlefield's museum collection.

Homeschool Field Trip is organized for homeschool students in the area. All ages are welcome, but activities are targeted for grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Descriptions of the stations, schedules, and registration instructions can be found below.

 Chores, school, then playing games. Does that sound familiar? The activities of kids in the 1800s are in many ways the same and also very different from kids today. Join a park volunteer to learn and try your hand at games that kids played in the 1800s.

Consider how information is obtained today and how that has changed over the last 250 years of our nation. Take your place on a timeline and learn firsthand how fast we are learning new things. Presenters from the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation will take you on this journey of discovery!

Join friends from the History Museum on the Square to explore the history and culture of the Osage people. Explore tangible items and listen to stories.

Take a walk through the Ray famil home and learn what it was like to live, work, and grow up in the 1800s. Hear stories of the battle of Wilson's Creek, and how one family reacted to the fighting on their doorstep. 

Learn what an ecosystem is with partners from Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. Investigate living things that make their home at Wilson's Creek and explore what happens when plants or animals are removed from this place.

Join friends from the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network to learn about animals that live in our rivers and streams. Play a matching game to learn how to identify different types of critters. 

Can you think of more than 1 animal with gills? Learn which animals use gills to absorb oxygen to survive with a park scientist during this activity. 

When people think of Civil War soldiers, they picture battle. However, battle made up a very small percentage of a Civil War soldiers time. Learn about the camp life of a soldier and get some hands-on practice with what soldiers spent  much of their time doing, drilling!

Learn how cannons were used during the battle and work together with a team to simulate the firing of a cannon. Learn the job of each member of a cannon crew and imagine the pressure of firing in the heat of battle. 

Surprise attack, divide and surround, cut them off, take the high ground. There are many decisions to make before engaging in battle. Join a park ranger to learn about the tactical decisions that were made during the Battle of Wilson's Creek and employ your own skills of critical thinking to work through some military strategy challenges.

Take a hike through history on the Wire Road. Along the way, learn about different people and events that took place by investigating clues. The hike will be approximately one mile on gravel and rocky substrate with some steep portions. 

More than 1,700 soldiers were killed in the fighting at Bloody Hill on August 10, 1861. Take a hike along the trail to learn about the fight, and consider the importance of remembering these events as part of our history. The hike will be approximately one mile on gravel and rocky substrate with some steep portions. 

Schedules reflect the period of activities and includes time for lunch. Participants should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of their first program.

With Guided Hike

• 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
• 10:30 am - 3:00 pm
• 11:30 am - 4:00 pm

Without guided hike

• 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
• 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
• 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Send an email to wicr_education@nps.gov or use the contact us link below.

Include:

1. Your contact information.

2. Age(s) of your student(s).

3. Preferred schedule including multiple preferred start times. Please also include if your group will participate in the guided hike.

4. If you prefer to keep your children in one group or split into different age categories. If staying in a group, which activities you would like your group to do (k-2nd, 2nd-5th, or 6th-8th).

5. Accommodations needed for accessibility.

* Please note a responsible adult must be on site and within visual and hearing range of all children in your group.

After recieving your request, a park representative will get back to you with a confirmation, final schedule, map, and suggestions for what to bring on the day of your visit.

Wilson's Creek Education Team and partners look forward to welcoming your students out to the battlefield! 

Cannons were integral to the battle at Wilson’s Creek and now serve as a symbol and reminder of the brutal nature of the Civil War.

See the loading and firing of a cannon and learn about the jobs of each position at the cannon and the importance of working together as a unit.