A Fresh Look at an ‘Olde’ Favorite – Plan Your Student Trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown

Virginia’s Historic Triangle is one of those sweet destination memories that recall lazy summer family vacations or first-time middle school field trips with friends.  Photo ops in the stockade or a steamy stroll through Jamestown’s Powhatan town may color your reminiscence.  But if you haven’t been there recently, it’s time to take a fresh look at this ‘olde’ favorite and plan your student trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a charming spot on the Virginia Peninsula.  Its nearly 325 years of American history are proudly on display throughout the shell-covered streets and 88 original 18th-century structures that make up Colonial Williamsburg.  The quaint town shops, magnificent College of William & Mary campus, and outdoor adventures beckon visitors to explore another time and place.

Jamestown

The Jamestown Settlement is a magnificent living history museum tucked into the woods along the James River.  As America’s first permanent English settlement established in 1607, it has quite a story to share!

Yorktown

Yorktown rounds out the trifecta of historic highlights with the impressive American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Battlefield Visitors Center, and a stunning riverwalk that’s easily accessible via a free trolley.

A More Inclusive Narrative

Each of these national treasures is meticulously preserved for future generations to study and enjoy.  However, what’s refreshingly different are the stories that they tell.

It’s clear that all three are committed to changing the narrative from an exclusively European focus to one that is inclusive of Native American, African American, and European cultures, as well as the roles women played.

Visit any of the museums or explore the interactive, live exhibits for an authentic understanding of our history. The caretakers of these tales don’t hold back – embracing and sharing truths that aren’t always easy to digest.

Engaging Educational Programs

If it’s been a few years since your last visit with students, you’ll notice a renewed emphasis on educational programming.  There are countless ways to engage student groups.  Here are a few ideas to inspire your itinerary…

Consider a tour of Berkeley Plantation – General George McClellan’s headquarters which supplied 140,000 Union soldiers in 1862.

Or travel back in time a little further at the Jamestown Settlement. Here students learn about the new colonists’ daily struggles and the lives of their Powhatan neighbors.

Colonial Williamsburg encourages interactive, on-site learning through programs that meet your group’s needs.  Delve into 301 acres of authentic, colonial day-to-day living!

The American Revolution Museum allows students to explore life in the latter part of the 18^th century.  They’ll see firsthand how a typical 1780s Tidewater Virginia farm operated. Or they can take on the role of Private and learn what it took to survive in wartime.

Teaching Slavery in the Age of Revolutions addresses tough conversations about our past in a thoughtful and thought-provoking way.

And here’s one that will get the attention of your teens and tweens!  The Colonial Medicine program instructs students in the sometimes-terrifying 18th-century medical procedures (reproduction tools included!) AND make an herbal remedy to take home.

Check out the latest STEM programs at Busch Gardens, take a college tour of William & Mary, or plan a sustainable outdoor adventure.  There are so many new and exciting options for students!

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Uncommon Performance Venues

If you’re tired of jumping through hoops trying to plan a big theme park performance, it might be time to re-think your venue.

Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown have something the big parks don’t – individual attention and amazingly uncommon performance venues.  There’s really no other place that encourages ensembles to perform on the perimeter of a Native American village or surrounded by world-class coasters. 

But here’s what makes your visit really special.

The good people of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown are thrilled to have you here! And they want your visit to be extraordinary. They’ll work with you to create the perfect performance opportunity for your talented students – whether that’s the portico of the oldest active educational building in the U.S. or a revolutionary battlefield. 

Check out the Wren at Ten… William & Mary’s iconic weekly A capella performances at the Wren Building

If you can dream it, the local destination experts can probably make it happen.  Bet you won’t find that kind of attention in the big parks!

Fantastically Fresh and Fun

While much has changed in the Historic Triangle, it’s still a fantastic place for students to have a great time!

Hop on a “spirited” ghost tour for the spookiest stories and hundreds of years of haunts.  Or tap into a new virtual reality at the VR64 Arcade.

MUST READ: We’re Going Where?? One Teen’s Trip to Williamsburg, VA

Keep it real on the high-flying attractions at Busch Gardens, voted “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” for 29 years in a row.  Then keep the adrenaline flowing just a few miles down the road at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park.

There’s always something fresh and fun for everyone to enjoy!

Cherish the Old Memories… But Get Ready for A New Adventure!

As you think about planning a student trip, take a fresh look at an old favorite.  Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown are working hard to retell the stories we thought we knew from different, more inclusive viewpoints. 

They’re leading the charge to offer student groups dynamic educational programming and experiential learning. 

And they’re creating bold, unconventional performance opportunities with the kind of individual attention directors dream of!

As you turn the pages of a dusty old photo album, cherish the sweet memories of past visits. But get ready for intriguing new adventures that compel you to embrace the 21^st century!

PLAN YOUR STUDENT ADVENTURE TO WILLIAMSBURG, JAMESTOWN, AND YORKTOWN