What is a traveling trunk?
Traveling trunks are a great way to bring props and materials that are otherwise hard to find to your classroom. There are ideas for stand-alone activities as well as materials that can supplement your own classroom curriculum ideas.

Death Valley National Park’s new traveling trunk program is for teachers in California or Nevada. This traveling trunk is based on a theme – Life in the 1930s. Inside are objects like clothes, music, games, pictures, books etc. that represent the time period of the Great Depression and Scotty’s Castle. Included in the trunk is curriculum for 4th grade California teachers (all subjects) and 8th grade Nevada teachers (history). Teachers can teach their students about life in the 1930s and Scotty’s Castle by using these objects and the curriculum that comes with the trunk. Trunks are loaned out for a period of two weeks. Then, if teachers wish, they can come to Scotty’s Castle and take a tour with a costumed Park Ranger representing the 1930s.

This program is still in the process of being developed and tested out on various classrooms in Nevada and California. If you are a teacher who is interested in testing out the trunk for free in you classroom, email e-mail us

To contact us:
Education Specialist
Death Valley National Park
PO Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
(760) 786-3226