Students from Ben Franklin Elementary School explore the Mission grounds while listening to the student audio tour, "If These Walls Could Talk." Photo credit: @benfranklinbolts

As the school year draws to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to the many students, educators, and families who have visited Mission San Juan Capistrano this year. Thank you for continuing to choose Mission San Juan Capistrano as a trusted field trip destination for you and your students. Each year, more than 50,000 students visit our historic grounds and take part in hands-on learning experiences that bring California history to life. For many fourth graders, a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano is a meaningful milestone — bringing classroom lessons to life in a place unlike any other in Orange County. Through our Remember the Builders® education program, we are honored to support their learning, and we look forward to seeing you again next school year.

Planning a late spring field trip? Adopt-A-Class scholarships are still available for field trips on select days in May. This program allows students to choose their own adventure with our interactive student audio tour, "If These Walls Could Talk," and participate in a Mission Matters brick-making class. Availability is limited and restrictions may apply, so we encourage you to reserve your spot today.

Looking ahead, bookings are now open for the 2026-2027 school year. Our onsite educational programs — outlined in the 2025-2026 Educator's Guide — include partnerships with Discovery Cube and Journeys to the Past, offering live and immersive learning opportunities designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of early California history. A new Educator’s Guide for 2026-2027 will be available soon.

In this issue, you’ll also find highlights from our April Journeys to the Past program, a new student art exhibit, and a preview of our upcoming summer lecture series in celebration of the Mission’s 250th anniversary.

We hope you will join us in continuing to "Remember the Builders" as we celebrate this milestone year.

Sincerely,

Mechelle Lawrence Adams, Executive Director

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Fourth graders from Arborland Montessori participate in a hands-on, brick-making class. Photo credit: @arborlandmontessori

The Mission’s education program, Remember the Builders® focuses on sharing the many facets of history and ensures that we are celebrating the contributions of the original builders and founders. Since the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, Mission San Juan Capistrano has provided free funding for up to 300 students per day, through our Adopt-A-Class scholarship program. All schools are welcome to apply. We still have spots remaining on select days in May. Funding is limited, so we encourage you to book today. Students receive free admission, the self-guided audio tour, "If These Walls Could Talk," and our adobe brick making class. These scholarship funds come from private donations and fundraising. This combined experience is valued at $19 per student. Please contact our Bookings Department for more details.

Every student who visits this year will also receive a special commemorative 250th Anniversary bracelet.

DON'T MISS OUT - BOOK NOW FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in April for our Journeys to the Past education program, featuring Indigenous storytelling by award-winning educator Jacque Tahuka Nuñez. During the program, students and adults alike had the opportunity to learn about the lifestyle of local Acjachemen people, experience lively music, storytelling, songs, games, and dance with opportunities to participate. It is always such a treat to have Jacque visit with field trip students as part of Mission San Juan Capistrano's Remember the Builders® education program.

Journeys to the Past will return in Fall 2026.

Dates Offered Fall 2026: October 13 - October 16

Fall Start Time: 11:00 a.m.

What an incredible evening celebrating the creativity and talent of our local students. Last month, Mission San Juan Capistrano and the SJC 250 Committee welcomed young artists and their families to honor this next generation and their reflections on the theme, “250 Years of Legacy: Our City, Our Nation.”

Guests explored the historic Soldiers Barracks, now transformed into a vibrant gallery filled with thoughtful, imaginative, and deeply inspiring works of art each offering a unique perspective that made the night truly unforgettable.

“What we’re giving to the community in San Juan Capistrano is unlike anything else. We’re giving them beauty, art, and these children today inspire me so much,” said Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams. “If you look at each of these artworks, many of the subjects are the same. But the way they see it is different, and that is the beauty of childhood. A childhood that is shaped and forged by tradition, love, structure, community, and selfless actions by our educators and parents.”

Thank you to the students who shared their creativity, the families and educators who support them, and all who joined us to celebrate this special evening. And thank you to the SJC 250 Committee for bringing this exhibit to life. We are honored to host this showcase at Mission San Juan Capistrano. This exhibit is a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of San Juan Capistrano and its bright future being shaped by these young artists.

The exhibit is on view through May 25. Plan your visit to see these remarkable works in person!

Support the Mission by shopping at the Mission Store featuring many resources for your students back-to-school needs including report workbooks for those studying the California missions, learning kits and activities, water bottles, journals and more!

Net proceeds from the purchases protect the religious and historic significance of Mission San Juan Capistrano and further educational programs, exhibits, and preservation efforts.

Download our easy shopping forms to return to Mission San Juan Capistrano on your scheduled Field Trip Day and receive a FREE Mission San Juan Capistrano membership with a 10% discount at the Mission Store all year!

Support the Mission by shopping at the Mission Store featuring many resources for your students back-to-school needs including report workbooks for those studying the California missions, learning kits and activities, water bottles, journals and more!

Net proceeds from the purchases protect the religious and historic significance of Mission San Juan Capistrano and further educational programs, exhibits, and preservation efforts.

Download our easy shopping forms to return to Mission San Juan Capistrano on your scheduled Field Trip Day and receive a FREE Mission San Juan Capistrano membership with a 10% discount at the Mission Store all year!

Thank you to all of the incredible teachers who continue to bring their students back to the Mission year after year, and choose to take part in our Remember the Builders® education program. To show our appreciation, teachers who reach special milestones in their careers are presented with a commemorative lapel pin celebrating 5, 10, 15 and 20+ years. We also have a NEW first year visit pin for teachers on their first field trip to the Mission, and a "Vaya Con Dios" pin to honor those making their final field trip before retirement. Be sure to pick one up on your next field trip!

We are also able to show our appreciation for teachers by giving them a complimentary book "Romance of the Mission Bells: The California Missions in Art" on their field trip day. The books were generously donated by the Irvine Museum.

Thank you for educating the next generation and inspiring students to care for historic sites like Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The Mission offers a $150 value video library FREE to all educators for booking their field trip in the 2025-2026 school year. These additional resources support the “pre” and “post” field trip experience, and extend the learning experience. Our library consists of "In Our Voice: Native American Basket Weaving," "In Our Voice: Mission Bell Ringing and Native American Singing" and "In Our Voice: Native American Storytelling."

Join us all summer long at Mission San Juan Capistrano for a six-part lecture series in celebration of the Mission's 250th anniversary. Dive deeper into Mission history, preservation, archives, winemaking, and more!

📅Thursdays | June 25 - July 30, 2026 

🕑2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

🎟️FREE for Mission Members or included with paid general admission 

Please RSVP to Marissa Medina at mmedina@missionsjc.com prior to the lecture, as space is limited. 

Mark your calendars and celebrate 250 years with us! For more information on the lecture series, visit our website.

In celebration of our 250th anniversary year, we have planned many exciting events and programs. Mark your calendars now to save the dates for Field of Honor, Music Under the Stars, new exhibits, a special summer lecture series, our official 250th Anniversary Celebration, and more!

3 Ways to Book Your Mission Experience:

ONLINE Book Today!

Complete online registration and submit

www.missionsjc.com/book

Allow up to 3 business days for your request to be processed.

EMAIL bookatour@missionsjc.com  

Allow up to 3 business days for your request to be processed.

BY PHONE (949) 234-1306

For questions and assistance reserving trip.

Monday – Friday • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.