Chitactac School Program
Learn about life in the village of Chitactac, where the ancestors of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band lived for thousands of years.
In person
Living in Balance: Life in the Chitactac Village
Class information
Location: Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park, Gilroy, CA
Grade level(s): 3rd and 4th
Maximum number of students: 35
Maximum number of chaperones: 10
Program duration: 2 hours (10:00am-12:00pm)
Program fee: Free
Overview
Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park is a special place to discover the traditions of the Indigenous People who lived along the Uvas Creek for thousands of years. Students will explore the plants, wildlife, and community of what was the Chitactac village through activity stations. The site is a wealth of cultural artifacts including bedrock mortars and petroglyphs found throughout the grounds. A visit to the park will explain how the Indigenous People lived and respectfully managed the land, and why it is still important to the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band today. We encourage you to review the Chitactac Teaching and Activity Guide and visit the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band website to familiarize your class with the local tribal region.
Virtual
Keeping Traditions Alive: Life in the Chitactac Village
Location: Virtual
Grade Levels: 3rd and 4th
Maximum number of students: 35
Platforms supported: Zoom, Google Meet
Program duration: 60 minutes
Program free: Free
Overview
During the Chitactac virtual school program, students will discover traditions of the Indigenous People who lived along the Uvas Creek for thousands of years. Students will view photos, replica tools and a video as evidence of the Chitactac village during their 60-minute virtual field trip. During the presentation, students will use visual examples and creative movements to understand and appreciate how the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band stewards share their cultural traditions and heritage with the community.
We encourage you to review the Chitactac teaching and activity guide and visit the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band website to familiarize your class with the local tribal region.
Teaching materials
Get ready for your visit
Review our teaching and activity guide, pre-field trip video, and site map with your students before your visit.
After your field trip
Explore additional post-field trip videos How to play hoop and pole or the Staves game.
Traveling trunks
Bring Chitactac field trip activities to your class room. Check out a traveling trunk.
Volunteer docents
Programs are led by interpretive staff and supported by volunteer docents. We are always looking for enthusiastic school program docents. If you're interested in becoming a docent, please visit our docent recruitment page to learn more and sign up.