Field Trips
The Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park offers a unique field trip. Students step back in time and experience life on a working German-Texan farm at the beginning of the 20th century!
Planning Your Field Trip
Scheduling
Educators must schedule a guided farm tour in advance to ensure that staff and volunteers are available. Park rangers cannot give tours to groups that do not schedule in advance.
We offer guided tours for school groups on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays most weeks of the year. We do not offer guided tours during Spring Break, in December, or on major holidays.
We offer tours at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time and allow one hour for the tour.
Occasionally, staff may be able to accommodate groups outside of our normal schedule.
While there is no minimum group size for school tours, we do have maximum group size limits depending on the grade level of the students:
- K-2nd : Maximum of 55 students (class will be divided into three smaller groups)
- 3rd-5th: Maximum of 45 students (class will be divided into three smaller groups)
- 6th-high school: Maximum of 35 students.
- Homeschool groups: Maximum of 30 to 40 students, depending on their age range.
Directions
Costs
The farm does not charge tour fees for school field trips and the park does not charge entry fees.
We welcome donations to help with the operations and maintenance of the farm.
Chaperones
We require one chaperone and one teacher/aide with each small group. Chaperones and teacher/aides must remain with students during the entire program. These adults are responsible for student behavior while we are teaching.
Additional parent chaperones may attend, but they may not be able to fit into the rooms during the tour.
Making a Field Trip Reservation
Email us to schedule a field trip and/or ask any questions about guided tours. When you email, please be sure to:
- Schedule at least one month in advance. Available dates are limited.
- Include the number and grade level of students.
- Include three preferred dates and times for your field trip. The farm does tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
We will send an email confirmation once your tour is booked.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel or change your reservation for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible so we can release your date for another group. LBJ State Park and the Sauer-Beckmann Farm reserve the right to cancel tours due to inclement weather.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Park is across the river and operated by the National Park Service. Contact them directly to book a tour.
Field Trip Day
Your group must check in at park visitor center at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Please allow enough travel time. If you depart later than planned, please call park headquarters at (830) 644-2252.
Allow time for your students to use restrooms and fill water bottles at the visitor center or in the picnic area before proceeding to the farm. There are no restrooms or water fountains at the living history farm.
Late arrivals
We understand that extenuating circumstances may force a group to arrive late.
We have daily chores that must be done at this working farm. We also enlist volunteers to assist with programs. Their time, as well as ours, is limited.
We will wait up to 30 minutes. If you arrive after this grace period, you may not be able to visit the farm. We also reserve the right to shorten tours for late arrivals.
On Your Own
Take a walk on our nature trail to view birds, longhorn cattle and wildflowers (seasonally).
Become a Junior Ranger! Journals are available at the park visitor center. The journals are TEKS aligned.
Check out the visitor center, where you can view a short intro video, explore the exhibit hall and shop for souvenirs in the gift shop.
Pack a lunch! Our picnic area has picnic tables, restrooms and a small playground with plenty of space to run.
