Before Your Trip

Scheduling

Field trips are available year-round and each season offers its own unique experiences. We recommend allowing at least three hours to tour the Village. If you do not have a full day to spend at the Village, we suggest an in-depth study of five or six exhibits rather than a cursory look at the entire Village in order to get the most out of the experience.

Funding

Your visit may qualify for full or partial funding from public and/or private sources. Assistance with transportation costs may be available through the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Big Yellow School Bus program. For more information on this funding opportunity, please visit the linked site directly. In addition, the New York BOCES program, the Connecticut Cultural Council and your local Arts Lottery Council for more information.

The Target Field Trip Grants program is another excellent source of funding for field trips. Registration for the Target Field Trip Grants program opens on August 1.

To learn more about funding opportunities, please contact us at 508-347-0285 or email us.

Payment

You may pay by credit card, check, or cash, or we will be happy to send an invoice. If paying by check, please use one check for the entire group, including extra adults. In case of overpayment, refunds will be mailed. If paying in cash, please collect money in advance. Large bills will speed the transaction.

Chaperones

A minimum of one adult chaperone is required for every ten students. Chaperones are admitted at the student rate of $8 within the recommended ratio. (Three adults per ten students) Chaperones above this ratio are admitted at the full admission rate of $24. Teachers are admitted FREE with proper teacher identification. We ask that you share our letter for chaperones and chaperone tips with those who will be joining your group in that capacity.

Curriculum Framework

Old Sturbridge Village works closely with the schools to explore key concepts and themes in early American history, technology, language arts, science, envirnoment, music and civics. To help prepare for you trip, see the Teacher Resources section.

Preparing the Students

All of our Self-Guides include pre-visit activities, additional suggestions include:

• Using a map, chart the route from your school to Sturbridge, Massachusetts. How many miles is it to Sturbridge?
• If you came to Sturbridge in the 1830s, you could take a coach or walk. If coaches averaged 6 miles per hour, and walking averaged 3 miles per hour, how long would it have taken you to get here from your school?
• Keep a travel diary, documenting your trip to Old Sturbridge Village; including descriptions of the transportation used, sites you see, and people you meet.
• Brainstorm your activities for a day. List chores, work, things you use, things you buy, and what you did to have fun. Use your list to develop questions to explore the life of someone your age living in the early 19th century.
• Imagine life without electricity or modern conveniences. Brainstorm how your lives would be different.
• Review the museum rules and brainstorm about how to behave in a museum setting.

Photo Galleries & Videos

To prepare students for what they will see at Old Sturbridge Village, view some of our photo galleries or videos showing some of the Village's events and exhibits about daily life in the early 1800s. After watching the slide shows and videos, have students make a list of questions they may have about the Village. If your visit is during another season, what do you think will be different, and what will be the same? What else would you like to know about life in the early 1800s?

Changes & Cancellation Policy

FOUR WEEKS' NOTICE REQUIRED: Groups needing to cancel or change the date of a museum program or tour, call 508-347-0285 or email us as soon as possible, but no later than four weeks prior to the program date. This helps us accommodate other groups. Please include your school name and zip code in your message.

On the Day of Your Trip

Access

Over half the historical buildings are accessible by wheelchair. For the best experience, leaders of groups with special needs will want to plan their visit with museum staff by calling 508-347-0285 or emailing us. You may also view our Guide to Access for more information.

Parking

Buses are sometimes asked to unload and then leave the Museum Education area and park in the main Village lot. As a result, access to the buses is not always available during the day. Ample free parking is available at Museum Education for chaperone vehicles. Please carpool whenever possible.

What to Wear

The Village buildings and exhibits are connected by dirt road and spread over a large area. Students, teachers, and chaperones should wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.

Food Service

There are several dining options available at our museum. The Bullard Tavern Cafeteria and Village Café offer several seasonal selections. You may pre-order boxed lunches from our food service department. Please see our menu and contact us at 508-347-0306 to place an order (at least one week prior to your visit).

You may also bring a bag lunch.* Limited, non-refrigerated, sheltered space is available on a first come first served basis. Outdoor picnic tables are available on a seasonal basis. *Because storage space is limited, please consolidate lunches into boxes or large bags.

Shopping

The Grant Store in the Center Village offers fresh-baked goods and unique gifts in a country store setting. The Museum Gift Shop and New England Bookstore, located near the Visitor Center, offer the most extensive selection of gifts, crafts, books, and educational materials. Groups are welcome at each shop. The Youth Gift Shop (located near the Museum Education building) is also open seasonally. You may pre-order student souvenir kits.

Inclement Weather Cancellation

Old Sturbridge Village rarely closes because of weather. If it is raining, we recommend dressing for the weather with comfortable boots or walking shoes. If school has been cancelled due to weather conditions on the day of your visit, please leave a voice mail message before 8:30 a.m. by calling 508-347-0285.

First Aid

Services are available at our Security Office.

Other Information

Please be courteous to others while in our museum and paty special attention to signs. The playground is intended for children age 7 and under. We ask that school groups not enter the OSV playground. In addition, school groups are not permitted in the KidStory play area. You may wish to preview the Village map you will receive on the day of your visit. Your program times will be available upon arrival.

After Your Trip

All of our Self-Guides include post-visit activities and here are some additional suggestions:

• Design a travel brochure for Old Sturbridge Village.
• Write a journal entry as a man/woman/child living in the 1830s.
• Write a Book of Trades documenting work opportunities in the early 19th century.
• Compare life today with what it was in the early 19th century.