2009 Teacher Appreciation Days:
Free Admission for Teachers on
2nd Saturday of the Month
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., December 18, 2008 – Mission San Juan Capistrano will extend its appreciation to California classroom educators for their dedication to their students throughout 2009. Beginning Saturday, January 10, 2009, and continuing on 2nd Saturdays through December 12, 2009, teachers with valid ID can enjoy free admission with each paid admission. Teacher Appreciation Days offer elementary and secondary teachers both an enjoyable experience, and provides them with useful information for their classrooms.
“Teacher Appreciation Days are a gift we offer teachers to thank them for their service,” remarked Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, the Mission’s Executive Director. “We also want to introduce them to or remind them of all the Mission has to offer, in hopes that they’ll return with their students.”
Audio Tour – Teachers can experience the new, self-guided digital “Voices of the Mission” audio tour, available in English, Spanish, French and German. A hand-held audio player is given to each visitor, and offers a 45-minute tour with history, interviews, music, and sound effects interpreting Mission San Juan Capistrano. The audio tour may also be downloaded for free at www.missionsjc.com.
The Mission also offers Saved by the Mission Bell: A Child’s Journey through California History, an audio tour designed for students. It features the story of Mission bell ringer Acu, a misplaced man in California’s history, who seeks the help of two modern-day 4th graders, Megan and Tommy, to return to his time in 1915. Along the way, the trio meets characters from the Mission’s past who open the children’s eyes to the change and challenges of the Mission.
Living History Days – Second Saturdays are also Living History Days at the Mission. Visitors have the opportunity to meet people from the Mission’s history portrayed by members of the Living History Society. Each member carefully studies the background of his/her character and creates an authentic costume.
Additionally, visitors may receive a free trading card featuring a Living History character. Characters featured on the cards include Fr. Junipero Serra, Don Juan Bandini, Jessie Benton Fremont, Christopher “Kit” Carson and many more.
“It’s our goal to provide our young people with an authentic place for inspired learning about California history,” continued Lawrence-Adams. “We hope that a visit to the Mission will help teachers see all of the ways in which Orange County’s only mission provides an inspired learning experience.”
Proof of being a current California teacher required; additional members of the teacher’s party must pay the regular admission rate. For additional information about the Mission, visit www.missionsjc.com or call (949) 234-1300.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. The Mission operations are funded by gate admissions – preservation work is funded by grants and fundraising efforts. To reach the Mission, take I-5 to the Ortega Highway exit to San Juan Capistrano. Admission: $9 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children ages 3-11, and under 3 free. Price includes self-guided, digital audio tour for adults and seniors. Information: (949) 234-1300. Mission address: 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. Website: www.missionsjc.com.
# # # #
