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Study Tours |
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Archive What stories unfold as you walk through the Sotterley landscape? How have African and European Americans etched their cultures into the natural features of river, wood, and open field? What do the buildings, their locations, and the modifications made to them, reveal about the inhabitants who have existed here over several centuries? Sotterley illuminates the relationship of people to each other and to the land and tells the story of how they shaped and were shaped by a particular place.
Today, Sotterley offers a variety of educational programs in cultural and environmental studies for groups of all ages both on and off site. Programs are offered from April through December with advanced reservations. Call our Education Department today at 301-373-2280 ext. 116 or e-mail the department at education@sotterley.org for information and reservations
The Sotterley Education Department provides thematic study tours and interactive programming for all grade levels. Most tours run approximately 3 hours, and teachers should allow extra time for lunch and walking the grounds and trails. For most tours, teachers will receive a "Teacher Resource Packet" to use in the classroom when their field experience date is reserved. What to Bring to Your Outdoor Learning Lab
Tips for a Successful Field Experience · Arrive on time. Instructors are scheduled specifically for your tour. We at Sotterley know unforeseen problems can occur; therefore, we ask that you supply a cell phone number for someone traveling with your group. In this way if you are running late, Sotterley is able to contact you regarding your delay. Arriving late causes programs to be shortened and information is sacrificed; we want everyone to get the most out of your visit. · Prepare for the trip. Children are more positive about their field experience when they are given some instruction ahead of time. If possible, explain how the trip relates to what they are learning and let them know this is a hands-on educational program. · Please thank your chaperones and let them know we appreciate them. We also want them to understand they are chaperoning to help preserve the grounds of Sotterley as well as managing behavior in their respective groups. · Because of time constraints, restroom breaks as a group are not available. We ask chaperones to quietly leave the area and take a child to the restroom and quietly return to the group in progress. Children are required to have a chaperone with them at all times. · As a courtesy to the program instructors, we ask that electronic devices not be carried during the tour, and that all ringers on cell phones be turned off. If a call must be taken, please have the chaperones walk away to a distance that they are not distractive to the tour.
For information about our Education programs,
call (301) 373-2280
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In
1723, the Act for the Encouragement of Learning - was passed
in Maryland in order to provide a liberal and pious education
to Maryland's youth. The Act stipulated that one school in each
county within the Maryland Province would be erected under the
direction of an appointed Visitor for each county. Sotterley's
then owner, Mr. James Bowles, was nominated, appointed and named
VISITOR of St. Mary's County, thus beginning a long tradition at
Sotterley of commitment to the education of youth.
Historic
Sotterley Plantation offers a variety of educational programs
in cultural and environmental studies for students of all ages.
Groups of children are invited to come and learn about more than
three centuries of Tidewater plantation life through visits and
outreach programs. Sotterley's resources include an estuarine
shoreline, woodland trails, meadows, Colonial Revival gardens. It has authentic 18th and 19th century architectural
holdings that highlight plantation life, including a customs warehouse,
smokehouse, corn crib, brick necessary, and plantation schoolhouse.
Since
much of the tour takes place outside and requires some walking,
students should wear comfortable shoes and weather appropriate
clothing. 