Chaperone Guide

Welcome to Plimoth Plantation! Here are some helpful reminders for our chaperones.

Chaperones are responsible for student behavior and safety.

Our Mandatory Chaperone Policy ensures every guest has a wonderful and fulfilling experience. To make the very most of your day, all students (including high school) must be with a chaperone at all times while on museum property.

Help us avoid hurtful Native stereotypes.

Please guide your students’ behavior while you are visiting our staff at The Wampanoag Homesite. The staff you meet here are actual 21st century Native people. We request you avoid stereotypes like war “whoops”, saying “How” or using “Chief” and “Squaw”. These are not historically accurate and are taken as disrespectful and hurtful to Native people. We thank you for your help in this matter.

Restrooms are located at the Hornblower Visitor and Crafts centers.

Food and drink are available for purchase at the Patuxet Cafe. If you brought lunch, you are welcome to eat at the Peabody Pavilion or picnic on the grass near the parking areas.

The Museum Shops welcome school groups that are escorted by their chaperones.

Lost and found is located in the Hornblower Visitor Center.

And Finally…Have fun and learn new things as you explore all that Plimoth Plantation has to offer today and the rest of the year.

Making the most of your day:

Hints for asking questions and getting answers:

In the English Village, the people you meet are living back in the year 1627. Ask any questions you wish but remember the answers are from over 380 years ago.

At the Wampanoag Homesite you are meeting 21st century, modern-day Native people. This may be confusing to smaller children because the clothing and homes presented here are of the Wampanoag’s 17th century Native ancestors. The people are of today!    

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The following are some fun ways to focus your students during their visit to the outdoor sites of the museum.

Imagine what it would be like to live in the Wampanoag Homesite or the 1627 English Village. Where would you acquire food, clothing and what might you do for work and play?

Notice the differences in the housing from the Wampanoag shelters, 1627 English structures and your own home. What are the materials and tools used to build these homes?

Look for objects the English or Wampanoag use in their daily lives. Try to find out how these objects were made and used? Compare them to objects we use for the same purpose today.  

Close your eyes and see if you can identify the many smells and sounds you are encountering. How are the sounds and smells different at different places as you travel through the museum sites? Do you have these smells and sounds at your home?

Questions, comments or concerns, please contact bemery@plimoth.org, kcurtin@plimoth.org or kvanwormer@plimoth.org or call (508) 746-1622 extension 8281.

Education Programs

hours: Plimoth Plantation's Administrative offices, Education Department and Creative Gourmet are open 9 AM to 5 PM, M-F
address: 137 Warren Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360 USA
telephone: 1 + 508 746 1622