Back Aboard the Big Yellow School Bus

Remember school field trips? The permission slips, the anticipation, the break from routine to venture out into the world with your classmates? For nearly 50,000 students and chaperones a year in the Los Angeles area, one of those field trips is a free bus ride—sometimes crossing the whole city—to the Getty Center or Villa.

This year, however, the January Palisades fire caused the Villa to shut down for six months, canceling field trips for 10 months. Amidst the upheaval, the Education Department reached out to teachers who had registered for field trips and offered alternatives, like visits to the Getty Center or the Broad Museum or bringing Getty educators into classrooms through Virtual Art Explorations, an engaging hour of art and activities via Zoom.

After a long wait, school groups have returned to the Villa this fall, continuing a 48-year-long tradition. First, students board those famous yellow school buses. For many years, Getty has offered free transportation for Title I schools (where a high percentage of students are from low-income households). This initiative was recently strengthened by a transformative gift from the Camilla Chandler Family Foundation, the Mia Chandler Endowment for School Visits.

Once students arrive at the Villa, they are given lanyards, told where to put their sack lunches, and then met by Getty school docents. These volunteers come from many walks of life—some have had related careers in art and education, and others come from further afield, like acting, real estate, or law. But they are united by a love for art and history and an eagerness to share their enthusiasm with young minds. Some docents also live near the Villa, and a few were severely impacted by the catastrophic fire, losing their houses or needing to relocate. Despite the hardships, Education Specialist Marisol Garcia notes that many docents were eager to return.

“I love the sound of the kids’ laughter as they walk down the Outer Peristyle, challenging each other to find all the hidden birds, insects, and lizards in the frescoes,” says docent Stephanie Horn.

Docents welcome the student groups and guide them through the galleries—containing art of the ancient Mediterranean, with its rich mythological connections—and peaceful gardens growing grapes and olives, just like the Romans cultivated two millennia ago. The docents teach students to spend time closely looking for details in the artworks and lead activities that encourage students to use all their senses, like listening to the ocean waves in the distance, smelling the herbs in the garden, or touching a replica of a stone statue of Venus to explore texture and form.

Older students are encouraged to discuss the myths and symbolism of the Villa’s artworks. “I’ve had amazing debates in front of the statue of Venus,” says Horn. “I ask the students which goddess and associated gift they’d choose: Hera and power, Athena and wisdom, or Aphrodite [Venus] and love. After one middle school boy gave a robust argument for always choosing power, his friends gave him sideways glances and took a little step away. ‘Better watch out for him,’ one of them joked.”

During a typical tour, students might also make sketches, pose like a statue, or speculate about a figure’s emotions. Some of the groups’ favorite objects are the Mummy of Herakleides and the Mosaic Floor with Head of Medusa.

“The students are very familiar with Medusa, so a great activity I do with them is playing ‘I spy Medusa,’” says docent Agnes Amores. “It makes them look up, down, and all the way around the museum.” She adds that the children are astounded by how old some of the objects are, sometimes asking her, “Are they older than you?”