Tours for Kids

We expanded our youth program, called “Tours for Kids,” to include not only the tours we take with adults, but also trips to livestock and horse ranches, nature walks that include plant and insect identification, days on the farm for pre-schoolers, career days where we focus on careers in Natural Resources, gold panning and water resources education. We also do classroom presentations on the life cycle of trees with a program called Talk About Trees, and we demonstrate the complexity of the mining industry with a fun activity called “cookie mining.” All of our “Tours For Kids” and the related presentations are correlated with content standards for grade level appropriateness. We actually give teachers lesson plans which can be used before, during and after the field trips and presentations, that were prepared by certificated teachers and meet the educational expectations of schools districts.

To Book a tour, Follow this link:

https://forms.gle/SQJVJAmaGfZAdRvVA

Tours For Kids Facebook Page

TuCARE wants to support YOU!

In an effort to promote environmental education and hands-on learning, a new initiative is being created to provide free transportation during the 2025-2026 school year! This program, spearheaded by Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment and partnered with the George James Memorial Fund at Sonora Area Foundation, aims to eliminate transportation costs- a common barrier that prevents many schools from offering enriching outdoor learning experiences.

The initiative is open to all k-12 Tuolumne County Schools and allows teachers to apply for a fully funded bus to use to transport their class to a variety of locations around Tuolumne County. Funding for the program comes from a combination of grants, community donations, and TuCARE educational funds. By removing logistical and financial hurdles, this initiative is opening the door to impactful educational experiences and helping cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.

All classes, from all k-12 schools in Tuolumne County are able to apply. The 2025-2026 school year is a pilot program for this initiative, and therefore, TuCARE has not determined a maximum amount of funding available. The maximum will be determined based on the need in Tuolumne County and how well the program works. Please be patient with us as we review applications for funding and determine how much we can support.

To Apply: Email Toursforkids@outlook.com

For questions about this initiative, please contact the TuCARE Education Coordinator, Amy Dunlap, at 209-352-6510 or toursforkids@outlook.com.

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About the George James Memorial Fund:

George S. James was born in Hazen, Nevada in 1908. At age 6, his family moved to Sutter County, California. Following high school, George entered the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in engineering in 1933. After working in many different natural resources’ fields between 1933-1975, He became a founder of TuCARE, and was a large supporter of educating the public on the wise use of natural resources. This belief was based on the historic multiple-use philosophy governing the management of the National Forests. To honor his belief and dedication, TuCARE established the George James Memorial Educator Tours Fund to be administered by the Sonora Area Foundation. Because of his involvement with TuCARE’s Tours for Kids program and with much of his family involved with education. it Is fitting that this fund was established in his memory to educate teachers about our natural resources.

Learn About Natural Resources In the Mother Lode

RANCHING & LIVESTOCK

Visit a Horse Ranch – 1st grade & up
Tour a Working Livestock Ranch – 1st grade & up
Groveland Ag Days—3rd grade (May)

WATER, POWER & ENERGY

Tour Hetch Hetchy Powerhouse— 3rd grade & up
Tour the Moccasin Fish Hatchery- learn about native fish and watersheds-3rd grade & up
Visit a biomass facility -Wood chips become Energy!—3rd grade & up
Tour A Powerhouse and Dam—learn about a renewable source of Electricity—3rd grade & up
Tour the Twain Harte Community Services District water treatment plant to learn about local water- 5th grade &up
Tour the Tuolumne Utilities District water treatment plant to learn about local water- 5th grade & up

MINING & LOCAL HISTORY

Try your hand at 49er style Gold Panning (spring)—4th grade
Cookie Mining! Own and operate a mine…Then eat it!—Classroom presentation 3rd grade & up (May)

FORESTS, FIELDS AND MEADOWS

Tour a local saw mill—3rd grade & up
See High-Tech timber harvesting in action – 3rd grade & up
Learn how a forest grows and how people help rebuild the forest—3rd grade & up
Have a hands-on “Talk about Trees” presentation in your classroom— grades TK & up
Take a nature walk at Pinecrest and learn about plant and wildlife preservation- 1st grade & up

TOURS ARE FREE AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS

Pre and Post-Tour Classroom Presentations Available
Natural Resource Curriculum Boxes available to complement the tours
Don’t see what you want? Call us. We love to customize for your classroom.

TuCARE tours are free of charge!

All tours can be customized with your needs in mind. Tour materials are available for all age groups/grade levels. Additional activities, nearby recreation facilities, parks, public restrooms and picnic areas can be suggested if needed.

Please remember these facilities are businesses

Note: Some locations do not allow children under the age of 5-6 (with rare exceptions), especially in lumber mills, the biomass plant, the mine and the dam. Sierra Pacific Industries requires all participants to sign a waiver of release of liability before attending the tours. Weather is a big factor for most tours. Cattle ranch trips are only available when cattle are not on high country ranges (usually after October 15th and before April 15th). Jamestown Energy (Previously Ultrapower) is usually closed for tours 2 months out of the year. Tulloch Dam does not allow tours on outage days. So please understand, your dates may not work with theirs, but we will try our best to find a day that works for everyone!