Education & Outreach

The Presidio Museum offers educational opportunities for professional educators, homeschoolers, and family groups from October-April.  All programs are by reservation only. Contact Ginger Thompson, Education and Outreach Manager, at gingert@tucsonpresidio.com for more information.

While the Morning Muster program also supports Common Core curriculum for Arizona 3rd and 4th graders its small size allows for flexibility, it can be adapted for 3rd through 12th grades or to focus on a specific topic. Teachers will work with a Presidio Museum staff member to customize a program that best suites their students. You will receive educational materials prior to your scheduled program to use to prepare your students for their field trip.

UPDATE: As of the 2023/2024 season (October-April) Morning Musters will only be offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be at the Presidio or Fort Lowell Museum.

During your on-site visit your class will be broken into smaller groups to rotate through 4-6 stations that may include the following:    

• Tinsmithing  (Presidio)  
• Games and toys of the Presidio (Presidio)
• The life of a Presidio soldier (Presidio)
• Archaeology (Fort Lowell)
• The Telegraph Arrives in Tucson (Fort Lowell)
• History of Baseball in Tucson (Fort Lowell)

The minimum grade level for the Morning Muster is 3rd grade and no more than 3 classes per school due to the high interest in our programs. The cost is $5 per student and chaperones are free. Information on our need based scholarships available upon request.

Click here to register online.

Or contact Ginger Thompson, Education and Outreach Manager, at gingert@tucsonpresidio.com for more information or to schedule your Morning Muster at the Presidio Museum!

Program 2: Friday at the Fort

Approximately 3.5 Hours

Accommodates 50-75 Participants-not including chaperones
$5 per child and chaperones are free

A Presidio Museum staff member/volunteer will make two appointments with your group. The first will be for an in-person or virtual visit at your location for a 30-45 minute age-appropriate presentation covering the Presidio Museum and its history. The second will be for the on-site portion of the field trip. This field trip supports Common Core curriculum for Arizona 3rd and 4th graders.

For the on-site portion of your field trip your group will arrive at the Presidio and receive a brief recap of the history of the Presidio and Tucson. Then your group will be broken into smaller groups to rotate through several stations for approximately 4 hours. Stations may include the following (based on volunteer and staff availability): 

• Children’s chores of early Tucson settlers     
• Tinsmithing activity and blacksmithing demo     
• Games children played before screens
• The life of a Presidio soldier
• Calligraphy
• How to make adobe bricks
• Tortilla making 

Friday at the Fort is restricted to 3rd and 4th grade students. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly. 
Program Contact Jean Baxter, Education Director: tbaxter559@aol.com

Program 3: Portable Presidio

Field Trip Format – At YOUR Site– Temporarily Unavailable

Approximately 1.5 Hours

Accommodates 12- 40 participants (including adults).
$5 per student (for supplies and transportation of kits). Chaperones are free.

Can’t make it to the Presidio? Then check out our Portable Presidio! This is similar to the Morning Muster program but we come to you.  You will work with an Outreach Specialist to schedule your program. You will receive materials to use to prepare your students AND volunteers for their field trip. You may also request an in-person 30-45 minute age-appropriate presentation (dependent on volunteer/staff availability) about the history of the Presidio Museum to take place prior to your visit. 

On the day of your program two Presidio Outreach Specialists will bring the required supplies for your students to rotate through 4 stations.  

Activities may include:

• Children’s chores of early Tucson settlers  
• Tinsmithing
• Games children played before screens
• Calligraphy
• Art

Only two Presidio staff members will be on-site. Activity stations must be supported by school staff or parents. Tables, chairs, and an open air site must be supplied by school or homeschool. Presidio staff will need at least an hour to set-up and prep the parent/teacher helpers.    

Program Contact: Ginger Thompson, Education and Outreach Manager, gingert@TucsonPresidio.com.

Program 4: Museum in a Box

Week-long box checkout for up to 30 students
FEE PER BOX: $30 a week

In this program, you can rent an activity box that will have a teacher packet, materials, and the supplies for the registered number of children (up to 30). Some kits require some items to be supplied by the school. Provided directions will help teachers/parents to run an activity with their participants. Two box themes are available. Theme 1 is conducted without Presidio Museum staff interaction, however Theme 2 requires an in-person presentation when the box is delivered. Both themes must be scheduled in advance.

Theme 1: A Day in the Life of A Presidio Child

Boxes available for rental are:

This theme is conducted without in-person Presidio Museum staff interaction.

Theme 2: Historic Hats of Arizona 

Your group will identify the hats in the box and do further investigation on the individual who would have worn that hat.  Your group will learn about the individuals from four different time periods:

• Early peoples  (Before 1500’s)
• Spanish Period (1500’s – 1821)
• Mexican Period )1821 – 1854)
• American Period (1854-present)

And will learn about the roles of

• Women
• Military
• Workers and merchants of various ethnicities
• Religious individuals

**This theme requires an in-person presentation by a Presidio Museum staff member when the box is delivered.

Program Contact: Ginger Thompson, Education and Outreach Manager, gingert@TucsonPresidio.com.