The United States Gold Panning Association seeks to preserve gold rush history for the next generation. We have actively worked with the El Dorado County Historical Museum, El Dorado County Office of Education and other assisting organizations to develop educational programs and events for participating elementary schools.
Mini Miners Day provides an incredible opportunity for El Dorado County fourth grade students to have a one-day field trip experience to learn first hand about Californias Gold Rush history! Because of the extraordinary interest of the schools, this program will be offered at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds on two dates: Monday, September 12th or Tuesday, September 13th, 2016. [These educational activities are for the students only and are CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.]
This event will be hosted by organizations involved in preserving and sharing history in ways that make history come to life. It will be a unique opportunity to visit various learning stations (in named gold mining towns) that will offer world class activities. Many of these participating groups are normally not in a position to offer programs for schools, which makes Mini Miners Day a one of a kind opportunity!
Some of the organizations assisting will be Sierra Nevada Mormon Pioneers, Coloma Outdoor Discovery School, Marshall Gold Discovery Park, El Dorado County Historical Museum and “Kathy Drew, Interactive Entertainment”. Volunteers from these groups have worked tirelessly to create hands-on activities in order to teach students what life was like during the Gold Rush. This field trip benefits from the community effort and excitement that is building around the World Gold Panning Championships.
Learning stations may include historic games, doll making, roadometer, gold panning*, fire making, rope making, tin punching, storytelling, Gypsy camp, museum tours, lunch time theater and so much more!
*In addition as a highlight of the student experience, each school can compete for the honor of having the best panning team in the bonus school challenge (optional) on Saturday, September 17th, 2016. The top three students from each school will compete against other schools to win a banner that can be displayed at their school and each team member of the winning team will receive an award commensurate with their finished position (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). It will be an opportunity that they will long remember.