School Group Tours

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Field Trips at Roanoke Island Festival Park

The museum community has made a conscious effort to create bridges between the classroom and cultural institutions. Crafting a variety of dynamic education programs at Roanoke Island Festival Park does more than bring history to life, it invites students to explore specific abstract ideas they learn in school in a very concrete way.

It is our job to take standard state curriculms and make them concrete and interesting for students. This is why we let students pump the bellows in the blacksmith shop or use a cross-cut saw to cut a log. They become a tradesman, even if it is for a few minutes. We’ve gone as far as fashioning a set of 16th century handcuffs so we can “show” the students what crime and punishment was like in the days of the Roanoke Voyages. Of course, we don’t stop with social studies nor have we stopped with North Carolina history. We incorporate science, math and the arts to integrate subjects and teach a broader curriculum in our programs. This is where it gets fun and allows us to create new programs such as Culture and Society in 16th Century Europe, or Math Mysteries and The Roanoke Voyages.

Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a discounted group rate when their tour is booked at least one week in advance and consolidated payment is provided. If you've missed the one week booking window, please contact us directly by phone at 252-423-5200. We look forward to hosting your group at the park.

Teacher' Field Trip Guide

The Teacher's Packet is a field trip guide that contains important information you need to know before you arrive. Our comprehensive 29 page guide includes the "Nitty-Gritty" need-to-know information, Highlights of the Park Experience, and Pre and Post Material. For more information, call Anna Davis 252-423-5204 or email anna.davis@ncdcr.gov

Download Teachers Packet/Field Trip Guide PDF

School Program

We offer several Curriculum Based Tours, partially fulfilling curriculum standards and compliment units focusing on early North Carolina colonization, cultural influences and economy.

During a school tour, a group has the option to visit the Adventure Museum, American Indian Town, Settlement Site, or the Elizabeth II, which is a representation of one of the seven ships sent from England to the New Worlds in 1585. For more information, download our school programs guide for lesson plans you can use in the classroom.

Download School Programs PDF

Explorer Bags

Take home a keepsake of Roanoke Island Festival Park! Our Explorer Bags are the perfect souvenir for your group or organization. Get ahead of the game by preordering and prepaying before your visit.

Explorer Bags Order Form PDF

"Thank you so much for the tour of the park that you provided for our field group group. We truly enjoyed learning about the history of Roanoke Island and about the native people and settlers who lived there. Thanks again for a very educational and memorable experience!" - Western Middle School from Elon, NC