With many students eager to learn about our cultural and natural heritage, we are pleased to welcome schools, homeschool groups, and families to book an educational program at the Conococheague Institute. Our numerous outdoor areas provide safe and engaging environments where children can learn while having space to explore.
A paid educational program lasts 2 hours, and you are welcome to enjoy lunch in any of our picnic areas.
Winter programs are available for outreach bookings. Contact us for more details.
Pricing for program bookings is as follows:
Participants: $7
Teachers/Chaperones with large groups: Free
Click here to read the full Experiential Learning Catalogue
While we are able to offer programming to a range of sizes, a minimum of 10 paid participants is required. Larger groups (150-300+) require additional advanced notice to allow for staff coverage and additional presenters to be scheduled.
Discounts available to Title 1 Schools, provided by Patriot Federal Credit Union and M&T Bank Charitable Trust
A Colonial Farmstead – Recommended for your first booking, step back in time and experience daily life on an 18th-century frontier farm. This immersive, hands-on program introduces visitors to the essential skills early Americans relied on for survival, including fire-starting, water drawing, cooking, gardening, and animal husbandry. Set in and around our authentic frontier cabin and farmstead, participants will meet our animals and discover the vital roles they played. Guests will explore historic farming practices that remain surprisingly relevant today, especially for modern organic gardeners. Through an 18th-century lens, visitors will help manage the garden by turning soil, building simple garden structures, and planting the first seeds of the season using methods familiar to early American settlers.
This program gives a glimpse into 18th century life on a farmstead. While many of these topics will be touched upon during your program, please be sure to note if you would like any of the following highlighted:
Suited to annual re-bookings for large school bookings
18th Century Medicine and Herbalism – Pus, boils, enemas, and vomiting... amputations, trepanations, and bloodletting. Perhaps not the most polite conversation topics, but these were common occurrences in 18th-century life.
Discover the story of Hugh Mercer, a Scottish medical exile, local apothecary, friend of Washington, war hero, and a local legend in the town that bears his name.
Learn about Revolutionary-era physicians, the advancements in science, the origins of medicine, and the surgical tools they used. And explore the garden to discover women's knowledge of herbalism.
A fascinating blend of science, history, grossness, and entertainment! Please not, while programs can be tailored for various learning ages, some content will be cut for younger groups.
Nature Walks: Birds and Botany – Explore the beauty of nature and learn as a group about some of the wonderful facts regarding the flora and fauna at CI. We have plants that can be used as medicine and beautiful flowers that support our thriving pollinator population. Our birds range from wetland herons to bald eagles to tiny finches. Why do birds fly? What can a bird's beak tell you? Find out these answers and more.
From Civilian to Soldier, Enlistment in the 18th Century – This program provides an immersive experience as participants are transported back in time to the frontier during the American Revolution. Participants will learn about the civilian life of a farmer, and then follow several actions undertaken during a militia muster at the time of the revolution, including marching drill, musketry demonstrations, unit tactics, soldiers' songs, and a mock battle.
Women's Roles in Early America – Much of history focuses on the Founding Fathers, but what about the mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, and daughters, whose stories often go untold? In this program, learn about the daily life of women in the 18th century, including their clothing and dress, daily chores (such as child-rearing and caring for farm animals), skills and professions, and the restrictive law of coverture, which denied them equality.
Exploring the Past – Looking for something unique for your group? Have your group experience a small selection with this 'À la carte' option.
Select 2–3 programs, and we'll determine how they can fit together for your group in a shortened version. Premium experiences marked with * will bring the booking price to $14 per participant
Choose from any of the above or the following (and note it when you book): Maternity and Motherhood, Enslaved on the Frontier, Arrowheads and Archery*, Firelocks on the Frontier*, Farmstead Animal Meet and Greet
For more information on these and our other educational programs please contact visit@cimlg.org