K12 Education

Hands-On History

An onsite field trip to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage invites K12 students and educators to engage with the exhibitions, landscape and historic buildings of The Hermitage to enhance understandings and build on classroom experiences. A typical visit includes self-guided tours of the exhibitions, grounds, historic outbuildings and film as well as a guided tour of the Hermitage mansion.

Traveling Classroom

We know arranging buses, lunches and chaperones is a tough task. Let us bring a quality education program to your class with our Traveling Classroom. Programs include DBQ exercises, artifact exploration, inquiry, play and facilitated dialogue.

Know Before You Come!

• You will be sent a property map as well your itinerary in advance. PLEASE share this information with your teachers, chaperones and bus drivers before arriving!
• Areas like the classroom and the mansion are too small for your entire group to remain together at all times. Your group will be divided into smaller teams to rotate through all the activities. This will help maximize your time and enjoyment. Please plan your small groups accordingly.
• The itinerary will give you a time to GET IN LINE at the mansion. You can expect a brief wait before entering the mansion. The mansion admits approximately 12 people per tour, every eight minutes. If you miss your mansion line time, we may not be able to accommodate you at a later time.

Know Before You Book!

• Our staff will work with you to create an itinerary based on your timeframe.
• May and October are our busiest months. They often fill up as early as January and July.
• Field trips are held rain or shine. Rain dates will not be held. If severe weather prevents you from coming, we will reschedule you.
• A 20% deposit must be paid to reserve the date. The remainder of payment is due seven days before your arrival. No refunds will be given, so be careful with your head count!
• Chaperones are limited to one adult per ten K-8^th students or one adult to every 20 9^th-12^th students. This includes teachers, staff, and paraprofessionals. If additional adults are needed, please contact us to discuss.

Know Upon Arrival!

• Hermitage Educators will greet each bus, review the museum manners and direct bus unloading. PLEASE do not release students from the bus until instructed.
• Student backpacks must remain on the buses. Teacher/staff backpacks will be tagged with a green band to indicate they have been approved.
• Chaperones need to offload the lunches from the buses and place them at your designated picnic area. Staff will direct them to the location.
• At least one adult must accompany every group of students through the mansion.

For more information, please see our Teachers’ Guide to The Hermitage.