A Legacy of Educational Programs
at Sutter’s Fort

For more than 40 years, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park has offered high-quality, low-cost educational programs for California elementary school students. Friends of Sutter’s Fort is committed to supporting these programs, which are managed by California State Parks.

Past Programs

The following are some of the programs that are no longer offered at Sutter’s Fort.

Trapper’s Camp

1983-2019

In 1983 volunteers from Sutter’s Fort wanted to see how closely they could live like 19th Century trappers. In the yard of Sutter’s Fort they built their dugout canoes from native trees, hauled the canoes to the river, and launched their journey north. Newspapers wrote stories of the trapper’s adventure and at each stop more and more people came to the trapper’s camp to see them and how they lived. It didn’t take the volunteers long to realize that trapper’s camp was a wonderful way to bring the educational programming of Sutter’s Fort to schools and families that might not be able to take a field trip to the Fort. And, Sutter’s Fort Mobile Living History (Trapper’s Camp) was born.

The number of volunteers participating and the quantity of equipment used for visitor activities long ago outgrew the dugout canoes. At its peak annual attendance was more than 3,000 students.

Friends of Sutter’s Fort was the primary sponsor of this program, providing critical funding for staffing, supplies and volunteer support.

Playing the Past Scouts at the Fort Events

2013-2019

The purpose of the Playing the Past Scouts at the Fort event days was to help Girl Scouts earn their Playing the Past badge. During this 2-½ hour program participants learned about life as a pioneer through hands on learning stations, including crafts, games, costumes and more. While this program is no longer offered at Sutter’s Fort, Troops may still find a visit to Sutter’s Fort helpful as they work to earn their badge. We do sell Sutter’s Fort patches in our Museum Store, or Scouts can purchase the Playing the Past Badge directly from Girl Scouts of America.

Friends of Sutter’s Fort was instrumental in developing this program at Sutter’s Fort and was the primary program sponsor, funding on-site staffing and supplies that made this program possible.

Sutter’s Fort or Bust

2015-2020

Sutter’s Fort or Bust was an interactive 50-minute experience that helped students understand how Sutter’s Fort was a business enterprise. By rotating through three different stations, students learned the role of Sutter’s Fort in California’s agricultural industry. By the end of the program, students understood that people came from all over the United States and around the world to California, by ship and by wagon; they joined thousands of Native Americans, Californios, and others already residing in the region.

This program was sponsored by Friends of Sutter’s Fort and operated by California State Parks.