Items to Bring

For All Students & Parents –

• (Optional) Ginger candy for the car rides is recommended in case you have any students prone to car sickness
• Snack – To eat at Reef Campground
• A Bag Lunch – For your arrival the first day
• Warm Sleeping Bag, Pad & Ground Cloth – You will sleep on wood floors in the fort buildings
• Eating Utensils – Cup, plate and/or bowl, knife, fork, spoon, and reusable water bottle
• Toiletries – Don’t forget sunscreen — the sun can be very strong, toothbrush and toothpaste, baby wipes – for cleaning up oneself at night
• Any Necessary Medications – Include written instructions for the teacher; give medications and instructions to the teacher upon school departure
• Pencil – For writing in journals and sketching
• Hat / Scarf – Scarf and / or a warm hat for night watch. Sun hats are highly recommended for students and adults alike, especially for spring or fall dates
• Change of Clothes and Shoes – Bring a second set of clothes as well. Even if the weather looks warm, evenings are always quite cold on the coast. Students' feet and clothing often get wet during the day’s activities therefore two pairs of shoes are essential. Black rain boots are highly recommended. Bring layers to prepare for all weather scenarios
• Warm Jacket / Sweater – Layers are important for the changing coastal weather
• Rain gear as needed – Be prepared so you’ll stay as dry and active, and as safe and possible

Recommended – We encourage each student to put their sleeping gear into a plastic garbage bag with a clear label of their name. This is a great way to make unloading, finding and moving gear easier, and most especially helps to keep sleeping gear dry.

For Teachers –

• ALL signed Liability Release Forms (media portion optional) – Hand in to ELP Instructor
• Signed Teacher Contract – Hand in to ELP Instructor
• Journals – As a class project, have students make a small blank journal so that they can write down their impressions of their time at Metini / Fort Ross
• Nightwatch Activities – Board games, cards, etc
• Flashlight – For safety it is a good idea for both the teacher and parents to bring flashlights. Students should not have flashlights
• Schedule – Bring copies of your ELP schedule for you and your parent chaperones
• Mail Call – Bring letters if you’re planning on doing mail call
• Spending Money (Optional) – If you would like to visit the Visitor Center, Bookshop and Museum at the end of your program, you may suggest that students bring spending money. And don’t miss the wonderful collection of baskets, kayaks and much more on display!

Teachers also check with the Parent Leads of each Activity Group to ensure they have the following items:

For All Activity Groups –

• Activity Group web page printouts – Some parents find it helpful to have printouts of their Activity Group web pages so they can refer to them when they’re on site

For Explorers Activity Group –

• Firewood – You must bring dry kindling and newspaper. FRC supplies some firewood for your program. If you have wood we appreciate donations to our supply. Each group can use up to a ¼ cord of firewood; this is about 8 boxes of wood. (Double that if you plan to use the indoor brick oven)
• Matches
• (Optional) Flint and Steel – Explorers may try using these to start the kitchen fires
• Explorers Journal – Use this in class and throughout your visit
• Mapping Tools – Tools include paper, writing / drawing implements, and a measuring tool
• Printed Metini / Fort Ross area map - Need one copy for each Activity Group -- so each Activity Group has their own map to use!
• Treasure – To hide on site, enough for the rest of the class
• Compass - One that you made or bought, can use Parent Lead’s phone compass
• (Optional) Thermometer - Weather observation tool
• (Optional) Cloud ID Poster – If you’ve made this in class, bring it with you to help read the weather at the Metini / Fort Ross
• (Optional) Group Banner – If you’ve chosen this as an in-class project

For Cooks Activity Group –

• Towels – You will need a good supply of dish-towels, towels for drying and hand towels for all
• Dish soap – For clean up
• Tablecloths – This is optional, but does make for a nice presentation in the kitchen
• Water – The tap water in the fort is safe, but it doesn’t taste very good. We highly recommend that you bring a few gallons of bottled water and have the children bring refillable water bottles
• Food – Food for your recipes and one half gallon heavy cream for churning butter (if planning on this activity), oil, salt, pepper, matches, nightwatch snacks and cocoa etc
• Oil – As needed for cooking, AND for seasoning cast iron pots
• Hand soap – There is no hand soap for washing hands, so please bring enough for all!
• Cheesecloth – For straining butter (if planning on butter churning)
• Food bins – We strongly recommend that Cooks bring food storage bins with secure lids to store food overnight safely and to keep the small critters out of your food stores. We also recommend bringing containers to take home any leftovers
• (Optional) Group Banner – If you’ve chosen this as an in-class project

PLEASE DO NOT BRING – Individually wrapped food items (no juice boxes or anything with straws, etc.) as it generates a lot of garbage and the wrappers often end up on the ground

Hunters Activity Group –

• Bait – Squid or any bait suitable for rock fishing at the ocean
• Fishing License – For adults only (a day use license is sufficient). Parent Leads must visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website to be familiar with any and all fishing restrictions at Fort Ross State Historic Park. Thank you in advance!
• If the group is doing rainy day projects, be sure to bring all needed materials listed in the project pages.
• Hunting Gear – Appropriate clothing for wet conditions, sturdy boots
• Soap & Carving Tools – For optional soap carving project
• (Optional) Group Banner – If you’ve chosen this as an in-class project

Artisans Activity Group -

• Project supplies – Paint, nails or whatever supplies they need for their craft project. This may be any combination of Wreaths, Bench, Lacquerware, Cordage or Jewelry etc
• Group Banner – Don’t forget your banner if you chose to make one

Clerks Activity Group –

• Trade Store Items – Any items ready for sale in the Trade Store
• Pay packets and class ledger – Depending on the Clerks chosen system of payment
• Critter-proof containers – for any food items being sold at the Trade Store
• Trade Beads and / or Scrip  –  Make these ahead for use in the store
• Petroglyph Project Items – several smooth rocks for each Clerk, acrylic paint and brushes
• (Optional) Group Banner – If you’ve chosen this as an in-class project

Farmers & Gatherers Activity Group –

• Plants and/or seeds – For planting in the garden
• (Optional) Hand tools – A few hand tools are provided, but you can bring more
• (Optional) Gardening gloves – To keep hands protected during gardening work
• (Optional) School sign – To put in garden plot
• (Optional) Bay Leaf Branches / Leaves (Optional) - this is a great ward against critters in your sleeping quarters but bay leaf gathering is not at Fort Ross State Historic Park
• Project supplies – Whatever is needed for your chosen project, such as the Acorn, Cordage or Species ID hike projects. Check the supplies list on these Farmers & Gatherers pages carefully, to make sure you have everything you need. Remember Farmers & Gatherer projects need to be done according to season, plan ahead to ensure you have all the materials you need
• Farmers & Gatherers Journals (Required for this group) – See the Farmers & Gatherers Classroom Projects page for details. You may also bring pens or colored pencils to do leaf printing in your journals at Metini / Fort Ross. You can bring leaves in preparation or look for fallen, non-toxic leaves at Metini / Fort Ross
• (Optional) Group Banner – If you’ve chosen this as an in-class project