Environmental Studies Program
Program Details
Take a trip back in time to early Mexican California in the 1840's and discover what everyday life was like at this incredible rancho.
The program at the Petaluma Adobe SHP follows the 4th grade social studies curriculum guidelines set by the State of California for the Rancho time period. Other topics include the Mission System, Fort Ross, Mexican Land Grants, the Bear Flag Revolt, and the Gold Rush.
The Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is offering hands-on interpretive programs for 4th grade students. We invite educators to enroll themselves in this one-of-a-kind six hour field trip! During the Environmental Studies Program, students learn about the lives and activities of Rancho workers in order to understand Mexican-era California. Students learn that they must practice teamwork, patience, craftsmanship, and a good work ethic to fully appreciate our program.
The Program
The Environmental Studies Program, or ESP, is an important and rewarding experience we offer to 4th grade classrooms. The program requires extensive preparation by the teacher, parents, and the students. We expect teachers to be working with parent chaperones and park employees to facilitate the program. An ESP program runs for six hours and sees a rotation of 4-5 stations with the following activities offered: cooking (required), wool spinning, basketweaving, woodworking, leathercrafting, and candlemaking. We also require a virtual tour of the Petaluma Adobe SHP prior to your program via PORTS (view PORTS website). The virtual tour is made possible by the passPORTS program, which also offers program scholarships to Title I schools (view PassPORTS Program details).
Teachers accepted into the program are required to attend a Teacher Training Workshop held in the fall of the current school year (please call the park for details). A teacher may participate in ESP for three consecutive years and then will be required to take a year off. Following that year, the teacher may re-enroll as a "new" teacher and must attend the Teacher Training Workshop again. The ESP reservation and training is held with the teacher, not the school.
Fees and Group Size
There is a $250.00 program fee. This fee covers the materials and labor provided by park staff. There is also a $10.00 per person Workshop charge for teachers attending the Teacher Training Workshop which covers food, materials, and a Teacher Resource Guide. A $50.00 non-refundable commitment deposit (part of your $250.00 program fee) is due at the time of the reservation. Scholarships are available via the PassPORTS program provided by PORTS. Please email Petaluma.Adobe@parks.ca.gov or view the PassPORTS website for more information on scholarships. The $250.00 program fee does NOT cover extra costs needed for a successful program (food and wood/leather if doing woodworking/leatherworking as stations). The maximum group size we can accomadate is 45 people. We encourage classes to bring no more than 35 students and 10 adults, excluding aides for students with disabilities. Parent involvement is required for a successful program.
Environmental Studies Program Reservation Form and Information
The reservation form for the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park Environmental Studies Program is available here: Download ESP Reservation Form
ESP Interest List Information
If you didn't make it into the ESP program for the current year and would like to apply for next year, please mail a letter containing the following information:
Your Name, School Name, School Address, School Phone, School Fax, E-mail, Home/Summer Mailing Address, and Home/Summer Phone
Mail to (exactly as follows):
Environmental Studies Program
C/O Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
3325 Adobe Road
Petaluma, CA 94954
You may also email us at Petaluma.Adobe@parks.ca.gov.
ESP Teacher's Resource Handbook
The 2006 edition of the ESP Teacher's Resource Handbook is available online. The Handbook is currently being reviewed and updated. The following link will download manual: Petaluma Adobe SHP ELP Teachers Handbook Cmprsd.pdf