Field Trips

**We are not accepting field trip requests while closed during the shutdown**

Field Trips at Ocmulee Mounds

We love to educate students about the important history of this site. We ask all visiting groups to make a reservation request so we can manage large groups. We offer eith guided or self-guided field trips, depending on staff availability.

During a guided trip, a ranger will present a ranger talk about the history of the park in the museum. The group will also watch the park film, explore the museum and walk though the mounds. The outdoor walk portion of the guided field trip will still be self-guided. A self-guided trip can have the same activities, minus the ranger talk. Read below for more details about each activity.

*When making your reservation, please indicate you interest in a guided or self-guided field trip. (will depend on staff and date availability)

***Fall 2025 field trip dates are almost full! Please wait for confirmation from a ranger that your date is availabile.***

Inside the Visitor Center:

Orientation:

The Park Ranger can give a 20-minute orientation to the school group with the information adjusted to the grade level.

Film:

Our 17-minute film talks about the history of the park. It is recommended for 2nd grade and up. The film only fits 50 people at a time, so larger groups will have to split up and do rotations with the activities.

Museum:

While inside the Visitor Center doing the orientation and film, our park rangers on staff will let you know when you can walk around the exhibits with your students. The museum holds 2,000 original objects from the site dating back from 12,000 BCE through the 1800s.

Outside the Visitor Center:

Due to our small Interpretation and Education staff, all outside activities will be led entirely by teachers and chaperones. Information about the sites are included in the teacher's self-guided walking tour pdf at the bottom of this page and can also be found on signs along the trails.

Earth Lodge:

Even if you can't spend a lot of time at the park, going inside the Earth Lodge will give your students a good idea of the architecture used during the Mississippian time period. The Earth Lodge was the ceremonial council chamber. The 850-year-old clay floor is surrounded by a replica wattle and daub structure. It is a five-minute walk up a hill from the Visitor Center and is not wheelchair-accessible. Only 10 students can fit inside at a time.

Trails:

We have eight miles of trails but most groups stick to the one-mile round-trip path to the Great Temple Mound. This trail goes by the Earth Lodge, over the railroad cut, and past the site of the 1690 Trading Post. The Great Temple Mound is a five-story structure and the top is accessible by stairs. From the top you can see the Funeral Mound and downtown Macon.

Picnic:

We have outdoor picnic tables across the parking lot from the Visitor Center. The area is on a first-come, first-serve basis and can seat between 50 and 75 people. The picnic area is not covered and there is no indoor space for picnics, so in inclement weather you will have to eat on the buses or return to school.

Clay for sale:

The Ocmulgee Mounds Association sells 25-pound bags of clay that you can purchase for $20.00 (any form of payment is acceptable; if you purchase it tax exempt we must have a letter with the school's tax ID number; Checks are made payable to "Ocmulgee Mounds Association) and we include a pottery making guide. Clay must be taken back to school. We do not have the space or staff to allow you to make pottery here. One 25-pound bag will make pots for 25 students. If you would like to purchase clay, please let us know in advance.

Parking/buses:

If your school comes in a standard school bus you cannot drive to the mounds due to the historic railroad tunnel that has a 8-foot clearance. Bus parking is available in the grassy area between the visitor center parking lot and main park road. Access to this space is from the main park road. It is suggested that buses leave from the rear exit of the parking lot to access this space. Buses must be shut off while parked.