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Tours and Education Programs

Guided Tours For Field Trips

Led by trained Mission guides, this tour leads guests on a journey through Mission history and highlights important features and architecture including the Serra Chapel, exhibits, gardens, and the Ruins of the Great Stone Church (Tour aligns with CA HSS 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6).

Offered: Monday through Friday
Duration: 1 hour
Capacity: Up to 25 people per Mission guide, 15 guests minimum
Cost: $14 per person

Audio Tours For Field Trips 

Available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian and features music, history and storytelling bringing to life the “Jewel of the Missions.” Small group audio tours available for groups of up to 4 or up to 8 people at a time (Tour aligns with CA HSS 3.2.1 ,3.2.2 ,3.2.4 , 3.3.1, 3.3.2; 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6).

Offered: Daily
Duration: Check out for up to 2 hours
Capacity: Up to 150, 15 guests minimum
Cost: $12 per person

Mission Matters: Adobe Brick Making *LIMITED CAPACITY

Join us as we explore historic life at the Mission in this hands-on program where students use their senses to dive into the past and learn about jobs and duties that were an important part of building the Mission. The adobe walls tell the story of the Acjachemen. Students will have a greater appreciation of our Indigenous people’s contributions. Students will each make their very own adobe brick to bring home (Presentation and activities align with CA HSS 3.2.4, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.5) and NGSS (Earth Science 3-ESS3-1, 4-ESS2-1). 

Offered: Monday through Friday
Duration: Up to 30 minutes
Location: Picnic Area, unless raining
Capacity: 15 people min. to 150 people max.
Cost: $5 per student
*Call for special pricing if group is smaller than 15 people.

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Educating with Partner Programs Onsite

Seismic Shake Up Presented by Discovery Cube Orange County

Join Discovery Cube educators as we explore the forces and processes that shape the Southern Join Discovery Cube educators to explore the forces and processes that shape the Southern California landscape.  Students will engage in hands-on activities as they discover engineering solutions used to help humans live in such a dynamic location.  The presentation and activities will also investigate how these forces have affected the Historic Mission while students build arches, test model buildings, and analyze maps (Workshop curriculum correlates with NGSS Earth Science 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-2, 4-ESS3-2 Engineering Design 3-5 ETS1-2, Physical Science 4-PS4-1).

Offered: Tuesdays & Fridays
Duration: 1 hour
Start Time: 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
Location: West Gardens, unless raining
Capacity: 15 people min. to 120 people max.
Cost: $6 per student/chaperone

Journeys to the Past Presented by Jacque Tahuka Nunez, Native American Educator – Road Trip to the Past

Featuring Native American history and storytelling, Orange County Educator of the Year for 2009, Jacque Tahuka Nunez, takes students on a journey into the lifestyle of the early indigenous people of California. Children experience lively music, storytelling, songs, games, and dance with opportunities to participate.  Students leave with an appreciation of environmentalism and what it means to be “keepers of the earth” (Presentation aligns with CA HSS 3.21., 3.2.2 and 4.2.1).

Only Offered: April 18, April 19, April 20 and April 21, 2023 and May 16, May 17, May 18 and May 19, 2023
Duration: 1 hour
Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Central Courtyard, unless raining
Capacity: 15 people min. to 250 people max.
Cost: $6 per student/chaperone
Program not guaranteed to be private or exclusive to one school.

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Field Trip Chaperone Policy

The Mission requires and limits its chaperones to 1 adult for every 10 students who come onsite. These adults are admitted to the Mission for FREE with their onsite field trip group. In accordance to our student safety policy all adults with a school group will be given a special sticker indicating that they are part of a school group as either a teacher/aide or chaperone. 

Teacher/Aide – Free with students

Chaperone – 1 chaperone for every 10 students. Parents over the 1:10 ratio wishing to accompany the group are welcome to visit the Mission on field trip days and pay admission. However, these parents will not be allowed to join the tour unless special permission has been granted at the time of booking and verified or approved by lead teacher.

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Payment Information

Group Tours/Field Trips: Full payment or purchase order must be received at least 30 days in advance of the tour date or upon booking for any reservation made less than 30 days in advance. All field trips and tours are tentative holds until payment is received to complete a guaranteed reservation. At 30 days out, tentative holds will subject to cancellation if payment has not been received.  Please send check by mail, email purchase order, or call Group Bookings at (949) 234-1306 to pay by credit card. Make check payable to Mission San Juan Capistrano. 

Cancellation/Late Tour Policies

Onsite Field Trips
Cancelling tours requires speaking or emailing directly with the Group Bookings Department at (949) 234-1306 or emailing bookatour@missionsjc.com. Cancellations must be completed no less than 30 working days in advance in order to receive a refund. Late cancellations due to weather will not be refunded but may be rescheduled. A $25 rescheduling fee will be assessed for administrative work. If your program cannot take place due to the COVID-19 restrictions or unforeseen circumstances, field trip funds will be reallocated toward a distance learning program, Mission Store merchandise, or toward a rescheduled onsite field trip for the following school year. Otherwise, all payments are nonrefundable. Schools will be charged for 100% of any tours and education programs that are cancelled the day of the tour resulting from a no show. Programming may be cancelled if arrival is more than 30 minutes later than scheduled start time. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled start time for check in. In addition, the Mission does not provide any day of arrival adjustments or refunds based on number of attendees. If student count is lower than purchased amount, vouchers for free admission will be provided to all students that were paid for but did not attend. 

Distance Learning Field Trips
All Distance Learning programs are nonrefundable. Rescheduling is permitted when done at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled program.

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Program Pricing

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Content Standards

Mission San Juan Capistrano is dedicated to providing students with the highest quality, standards-based field trip experience. All of our distance learning and onsite programs support the California History-Social Science Content Standards and Framework (CA HSS). In addition to this, many of our education programs also align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Our educational experiences are geared toward 3rd and 4th Grade learning, however, they can be adjusted to be appropriate for any grade level if you let our staff know when you book your field trip. To learn more about our standards-based field trips please look at the chart below:

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OC Superintendent of Schools Endorses Mission Programming

“With its rare artifacts and treasures, Mission San Juan Capistrano serves as a connection to Orange County’s historic past and a symbol of its enduring and multicultural character. Year after year, this venerable landmark presents our students with rich educational experiences and memories that will last throughout their lives.”

Al Mija​res, Ph.D.
Orange County Superintendent of Schools​

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Educational Staff

KENDRA FLUHR Group Bookings Manager
Phone: (949) 234-1306
Email: kfluhr@missionsjc.com

JANE TACKETT Group Bookings Coordinator and Educational Outreach
Phone: (949) 234-1358
Email: jtackett@missionsjc.com

GUEST SERVICES Gate House and Field Staff
Our friendly and knowledgable staff help facilitate a positive field trip experience, welcome students and review safety expectations.  They will be available to help you find your way around the Mission, and have an inspired learning experience. Our staff is committed to ensuring an excellent guest experience through service, stewardship and safety.

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