EDUCATION
School Tours
The BCHM extends special invitation to school groups. With dedicated displays for our younger visitors, children’s eyes are sure to light up as they discover fascinating stories of the Valley’s history!
The BCHM is always available for class tours from any school system in Blaine County. If you have a classroom studying a certain topic, the Museum offers guided tours with a guest speaker to share holdings on the subject. In addition to Museum staff, local historians often share knowledge with students on many topics, such as mining, sheepherding, development of Sun Valley, and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Although the open season is June-October, BCHM staff are available on call to schedule tours throughout the year with advance notice.
If you are an educator and would like to schedule a class tour, please fill out the form below:
Schedule a Tour
Please fill out the form below to reserve a time for a museum tour. Museum staff will respond to confirm that the date and time is available.
Traveling Trunks Program
The Blaine County Historical Museum offers a Traveling Trunk Program to teachers and educational groups providing a hands-on learning experience that brings local history directly into the classroom.
What is a Traveling Trunk?
Put together by the Blaine County Historical Museum, Traveling Trunks contain curated collections of historic items designed to make history come alive!
Each trunk focuses on specific time periods and includes authentic or replica artifacts, lesson plans, and engaging activities With multiple trunks available, educators may choose the era’s that best fit their curriculum or area of interest.
Purpose and Benefits
The trunks are designed to make Blaine County’s history engaging and accessible beyond the museum walls. They offer tactile, interactive learning experiences that spark curiosity, storytelling, and deeper connection to local heritage.
Perfect for schools, homeschool groups, libraries, and youth programs, the Traveling Trunks bring Idaho’s past to life in a fun and memorable way.
Lesson Plans
Each trunk includes an optional lesson plan to help guide and enrich the classroom experience. The lesson plan may be adapted to any grade level or teaching style and is completely optional to use.
A password-protected PDF of the lesson plan is available below. You will receive the password when reserving a trunk through a BCHM staff member. The PDF may be printed for classroom use; however, we ask that it be used solely for the Traveling Trunks Program and not copied or distributed elsewhere.
Upon receiving your trunk, you will find a binder containing a printed copy of the lesson plan specific to your trunk. Please keep all papers in the binder. You are welcome to make photocopies for classroom activities.
Below, you can also enjoy a sneak peek at the lesson plan materials.
Is there a cost to borrow a trunk?
The Blaine County Historical Museum offers this program at no cost to our community. The Museum aims to make history accessible to students in an impactful way.
Who is eligible to borrow a trunk?
Trunks are available to any school classroom in Blaine County, as well as homeschool groups. Boy and Girl Scout troops and other youth programs are also welcome to borrow a trunk.
Option for Homeschool Students, Scouts, and Youth Programs
If you don’t have a suitable classroom to bring the trunks to, we’re happy to host your group at the Blaine County Historical Museum! If you’re interested, please make a note in the form below and select the box labeled “Hosted at Museum.”
How it Works:
1. Reserve a Trunk:
Fill out the request form below and wait for confirmation from a BCHM staff member.
2. Receive a Trunk:
Choose whether you would like to pick up the trunk at the museum or have a BCHM Staff Drop Off at your location.
3. Use the Trunk:
Explore the materials for up to two weeks. (Longer loan periods may be arranged as needed.)
4. Return It:
Bring the trunk back to the museum or arrange for staff pickup.
Order a Traveling Trunk through the form below to receive access to the lesson plan PDF.
Once you complete the form, a BCHM staff member will email you the password within 1-5 business days. By clicking the link below, you’ll be able to access the lesson plan PDF.
If you experience any trouble, please don’t hesitate to reach out! The password can also be found inside your trunk’s binder.
Sneak Peek into the Lesson Plan PDF!
Order A Traveling Trunk For Your Classroom:
To schedule a trunk rental, please complete a Trunk Request Form two weeks in advance of your desired Traveling Trunk reservation date. A BCHM staff member will respond to your request within 1 to 5 business days. Please note that your trunk rental is not confirmed until you hear from a BCHM staff member and have received a confirmation email. If you have any questions, please contact bchistoricalmuseum@gmail.com or call (208-788-1801).
Intern Program
If you are a student, and would like information on a museum intern position, please contact us. We offer internships that provide experience in:
PastPerfect museum software
archiving
photo cataloguing
museum docent training
collections care