Camillus Erie Canal Park welcomes public, private and homeschooled students to visit the park to learn about the Erie Canal. All the school tour activities are wheelchair/handicap accessible.

School tours operate from May through June and from September to mid-October. Summer visits are also available. The field trip is $3 per student. Scholarships are sometimes available. The visit takes about two and a half hours. Arrival time is usually 9:30 A.M. with tours ending around noon, just in time for lunch. A covered picnic area is available for lunch at the Park.

School tour groups rotate through three guided activities. Many guides are retired teachers and all guides are trained volunteers. The (3) forty-five minute activities are:

  • A boat ride on the Enlarged Canal
  • A visit to the 1850s Sims Store
  • A model lock demonstration, and hike

An Example of a Tour

If you have questions or would like to arrange a school tour, please contact Janet Conners at janet.conners17@gmail.com to get a date. Funding for transportation and student fee may be available through a grant called Ticket to Ride found http://eriecanalway.org

Boat Information – All of the boats have passed an annual NYS inspection for stability, safety, and passenger capacity. All captains are licensed by NYS to pilot a public vessel.


Important Information for Students/Teachers


Introduction

Erie Canal Primer for 4th grade


Midnight’s Canal Adventure Readers’ Theater
Reader Theater Script


Erie Canal Readers’ Theater
Reader Theater Script


Effect of the Canal
on the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

Haudenosaunee Historical Background

Haudenosaunee Land Dispossession Timeline

Haudenosaunee Land Becomes Erie Canal Land

Ely S. Parker Activity


Research Projects

Erie Canal Project Ideas


DBQs
Erie Canal Song
Digging The Canal
Distances & Fares
Erie Canal Cargo
Working On The Canal

Calling All Teachers

Please watch these 6 videos depicting life on the Erie Canal either before or after your visit. Videos were produced by our Education Committee and News Channel 9 WSYR.

Videos


More for Teachers!

Check out these downloadable activities to use before or after your school visit.

These activities were designed by teachers who used the activities in their own classrooms.

See what your Camillus Erie Canal field trip will be like.
Erie Canal Field Trip Into


Erie Canal Vocabulary
Erie Canal Vocab
Erie Canal Matching Cards
Erie Canal Vocab Book


Erie Canal Timeline
Erie Canal Short Timeline
Erie Canal Long Timeline


Maps
NYS Maps
Erie Canal Edible Map Recipe


Erie Canal History Cloze Activity
Erie Canal Cloze Reading
Erie Canal Cloze Answers
Erie Canal Cloze Going Through the Locks


The Erie Canal Fact Story
Erie Canal Fact Narrative
Erie Canal Fact Sheet
Erie Canal Fact Answers


Review Activity

“I Have” question and answer game


Fun Activities
Erie Canal Crossword Puzzle
Erie Canal Maze
Erie Canal Word Search