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The Limberlost swamp was the perfect laboratory for author Gene Stratton-Porter to study nature. In a time when most women were homemakers, Gene created a lasting legacy of northern Indiana’s vanishing natural history through her published novels, nature studies and photographs. Help bring history, science, art and education to life for your students with a one-of-a-kind field trip experience. Students will learn about the home and natural environment that inspired Gene Stratton-Porter to write her bestsellers. All state historic sites support Indiana Academic Standards, and feature a variety of academic topics.
Call 260.368.7428 to schedule your field trip to Limberlost State Historic Site.
Free Admission
Free for preregistered, accredited schools of 10+ K-12 students, teachers, bus drivers, and one additional adult per five students. Additional chaperones pay the group admission rate.
Free Admission
Free for preregistered groups of 10+ students, including one free adult per five students. Additional adults pay the group rate.
Pre-Registration
All field trips must be booked at least two weeks in advance. This ensures a personalized, engaging experience for your students.
Group Size
A minimum of 10 students is required for field trips.
Lunch
Picnic areas are available, and there are nearby restaurants for students and chaperones.
Accessibility
The site is fully accessible, including the cabin and hiking areas.
Contact
Call 260.368.7428 or email [email protected] to schedule your field trip to Limberlost.
Take your students’ learning experience to the next level with hands-on, interactive educational programs designed to complement classroom lessons. All programs fulfill select Indiana Academic Standards.
Customize Your Visit
Educators may request a specialty program or activity for an additional fee. Programs include art, history, nature, science, engineering and multidisciplinary learning.
Bring the Experience to Your Location – Outreach Program
Can’t come to us? We’ll come to you with a variety of activities from one of our programs below.
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Maximum Group Size
25 students
Cost
$2/student
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Maximum Group Size
20 students
Cost
$4/student
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Maximum Group Size
25 students
Cost
$4/student
Program Length
45-60 minutes
Cost
First session: $100
Additional sessions: $75
Travel Fees
30-60 miles: $20
60-90 miles: $40
90+ miles: $60
*Dependent upon staff availability
Take a look at our collected educator resources from across the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.
Our programs are designed to engage students with art, history, and nature in an integrated way. We focus on core educational themes that meet Indiana Academic Standards for multiple grade levels, including:
The school group tour includes a guided tour of the Limberlost cabin where your students will learn about the home and natural environment that inspired Gene Stratton-Porter to write her bestsellers. Discover Indiana’s original ecosystem and Gene’s role as a naturalist, and see how technology, culture and family life has evolved since the late 19th century.
Available: On-site
Indiana Academic Standards: Social Studies: 4.1.9, 4.2.8, 4.5.4, 4.5.5, 5.3.11, 6.1.19, 6.1.20, 6.3.13, 6.3.16, 6.5.5, 6.5.7, 6.5.9, 8.1.27, 8.1.28, 8.1.31, 8.3.9, 8.5.3, 8.5.6, SS 8.5.7, SS 8.5.8; Language Arts: 6.2.3, 8.3.7; Science: 4.1.7, 4.4.7, 4.6.4, 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.6, 6.1.5, 6.3.16, 7.1.5, 7.1.6, 8.1.8; Art: 4.1.1, 4.3.2, 4.12.2, 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.12.2, 6.1.1, 6.12.2, 6.13.1, 7.1.1, 7.12.2, 7.13.1, 8.1.1, 8.12.2, 8.13.1; US History: USH.9.1, USH.9.2; Language Arts: 9.3.12, 10.2.1, 10.3.12, 11.2.5, 12.2.5; Biology: B.1.39, B.1.41; Environmental Science: ENV.1.2, ENV.1.4, ENV.1.5, ENV.1.6, ENV.1.30; ART: H.1.1, H.1.2, H.12.2, H.13.1
Students will discover the plants and animals that inspired Gene to become a leading naturalist of her time.
Available: On-site, Sept.-Oct. and April-May
Fee: $2.50/student
Indiana Academic Standards: Science: K.LS.1, K.LS.2, K.LS.3, 1.LS.3, 2.LS.1, 2.LS.3, 3.LS.1 , 4.LS.2, 5.LS.2, 6.LS.2, 6.LS.3, 6.LS.5, ES-2.1, ES-3.2,ES-3.8, ES-5.3, ES6.1; ENV.1.1.,ENV.1.2,ENV.2.1, ENV.2.3, ENV.5.1, ENV.5.2, ENV.5.5, ENV.6.3, ENV.6.4, ENV.8.2
Discover the many types of birds that Gene Stratton-Porter, who was known as the “Bird Woman,” studied and photographed while exploring the Limberlost Swamp. Students will explore skulls and feathers during this interactive program.
Available: On-site and Outreach
Indiana Academic Standards: Science: K.LS.1, K.LS.2, K.LS.3, 1.LS.1, 1.LS.3, 2.LS.1, 2.LS.2, 2.LS.3, 3.LS.3, 4.LS.3, 5.LS.2, 5.LS.3, 6.LS.2, 6.LS.3, 6.LS.5, 8.LS.5, 8.LS. 7, 8.LS.8, 8.LS.9, B.5.4, ENV.5.1, ENV.5.2, IS.1.38, IS.3.4, IS.5.82
Learn about the types of moths Gene featured in her book, “Moths of the Limberlost.” Then investigate moth-related items, such as cocoons and moth specimens.
Available: On-site
Indiana Academic Standards: Science: K.LS.1, K.LS.2, K.LS.3, 1.LS.1, 1.LS.3, 2.LS.1, 2.LS.2, 2.LS.3, 3.LS.3, 4.LS.3, 5.LS.2, 5.LS.3, 6.LS.2, 6.LS.3, 6.LS.5, 8.LS.5, 8.LS. 7, 8.LS.8, 8.LS.9, B.5.4, ENV.5.1, ENV.5.2, IS.1.38, IS.3.4, IS.5.8
This interactive program allows randomly selected students to choose a pocket on the mystery vest worn by the facilitator. As different items are unveiled, the facilitator will engage students through stories about each wildlife-related item.
Available: On-site and Outreach
Indiana Academic Standards: Science: 1.LS.3, 1.LS.4, 2.LS.1, 2.LS.2, 2.LS.3, 3.LS.1, 4.LS.3, 5.LS.1, 5.LS.3
Explore the life and career of Indiana’s most widely read female author. Find out how Gene’s works were influenced by nature and how she brought the Limberlost Swamp and nature to readers around the world.
Available: On-site, Outreach, Virtual
Indiana Academic Standards: Social Studies: 4.1.9, 4.2.8, 4.5.4, 4.5.5, 5.3.11, 6.1.19, 6.1.20, 6.3.13, 6.3.16, 6.5.5, 6.5.7, 6.5.9, 8.1.27, 8.1.28, 8.1.31, 8.3.9, 8.5.3, 8.5.6, SS 8.5.7, SS 8.5.8; Language Arts: 6.2.3, 8.3.7; Science: 4.1.7, 4.4.7, 4.6.4, 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.6, 6.1.5, 6.3.16, 7.1.5, 7.1.6, 8.1.8; Art: 4.1.1, 4.3.2, 4.12.2, 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.12.2, 6.1.1, 6.12.2, 6.13.1, 7.1.1, 7.12.2, 7.13.1, 8.1.1, 8.12.2, 8.13.1; US History: USH.9.1, USH.9.2; Language Arts: 9.3.12, 10.2.1, 10.3.12, 11.2.5, 12.2.5; Biology: B.1.39, B.1.41; Environmental Science: ENV.1.2, ENV.1.4, ENV.1.5, ENV.1.6, ENV.1.30; ART: H.1.1, H.1.2, H.12.2, H.13.1
Step inside the actual cabin where Gene lived — a 13-room Queen Anne rustic log cabin furnished in Victorian and Arts and Crafts styles that contains a must-see greenhouse room.
Hike through Loblolly Marsh to see many different types of birds and other wildlife that call the site home. Nature programs throughout the summer also offer visitors a chance to enjoy guided tours of the land surrounding the site with an on-staff naturalist.
Gene Stratton-Porter spent years documenting moths in the wild. Today, you can explore a portion of her moth collection, then take to the great outdoors and find out how many moths you can count and identify on the grounds.
We look forward to welcoming your students to the Limberlost State Historic Site, where art, nature, and history come alive. Call us at 260.368.7428 to book your trip or send us an email at the link below.
