School & Scout programs
We offer several programs for students pre-K through college. Because we only host one class or group (up to 50 students) at a time, we can tailor our programs to meet the group’s needs. Contact us if you'd like to learn more about or discuss any of these programs at mail@montclairhistory.org or 973-744-1796.
In Person Field Trips (for 2023-2024)
One chaperone is required for every 10 students. That chaperone receives free admission. Each additional chaperone is $12.50.
Cost is $12.50/student. Pricing is subject to change based on program requests and supplies. $180 minimum per group.
Our Littlest Historians
Pre-K to Kindergarten
For many of our littlest visitors, this is often their first introduction to history. We want it to be fun. Storytime, a scavenger hunt, a visit to the hearth kitchen. Approximately 1 hour in length.
Life In Early New Jersey
Grades 1 through 5
Students will discover life in early America by touring the Crane House and Historic YWCA, experiencing our 19th-century school room, and visiting our historic hearth kitchen to see how cooking was done over an open hearth fire. This program is approximately 90 minutes in length.
Discovering Black History through Primary and Secondary Sources
Level 1: Grades 5 through 8
Level 2: Grades 9 through 12
Using primary and secondary documents such as the bill of sale of an enslaved person, redlining maps, newspaper advertisements, and first-hand accounts from women of the segregated Montclair YWCA, students will explore Black history spanning over 200 years. This program opens the doors to dialogue pertaining to the value of research materials in relation to our understanding of history. This program is approximately 90 minutes in length.
The Roots of Historic Preservation
High School and College students
In 1965, when the Crane House a& Historic YWCA was saved from demolition, moved, and restored to tell the story of its earliest occupants, historic preservation was in its infancy and there were no standards to guide these preservationists. Through a short introduction and tour of the Crane House and Historic YWCA, students discover the Roots of Historic Preservation, putting in context some of the decisions made by the early preservationists who restored the Crane House in the 1960s. Approximately 1.5 hours in length.