Colonial Williamsburg Offers New Student Group Planner

Student groups planning a Colonial Williamsburg visit can choose a specially created package or customize their own experience with the help of a new School and Group Planner booklet.

“The planner, available by mail or downloadable online, identifies several ways a group can get the most out of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and world-class museums,” said Nancy Brisbane, director of ticketing sales and operations. “It’s full of helpful itinerary planning and site visit suggestions.”

Synchronized with the introduction of the new School and Group Planner booklet, Colonial Williamsburg’s school group tours have been redesigned to better address state and national standards in history and social studies. The Foundation also has lowered the youth price (ages 6-17) for guided tours.

Professional tour guides present age-appropriate history of the years between 1700 and 1781 and lead groups through public buildings, colonial homes and trade shops while discussing daily life in the 1700s. The tour guide will highlight information related to the National Social Studies Standards for government, citizenship and colonial life in the British colony, and they will visit sites and engage in hands-on activities that bring those standards to life.

Other special programs for school and youth groups include:

• Band and Choir Groups. Band and choir groups of 25-75 students may be permitted to perform at specific public locations, including Merchants Square and the courtyard at Colonial Williamsburg’s Visitor Center.

• Youth Organizations. Scouts, clubs and parks and recreation centers can customize their tours to immerse them in the 18th century.

• Homeschoolers. Colonial Williamsburg designates several weeks during the year as homeschooler experiences. The fall program focuses on government, politics and the American Revolution. The spring program emphasizes family life, education and the apprenticeship system. (800-228-8878, www.history.org/grouptours)