What Education Programs and Events Does Friends of Minidoka Offer?

Friends of Minidoka offers two main categories of public programming: school-focused education programs that reached 1,527 students and teachers in 2026, and public events including an annual Civil Liberties Symposium and a Distinguished Lecture series held both in person and online. The organization is the donor-supported nonprofit partner of Minidoka National Historic Site, and its stated mission is to preserve, protect, and educate about the history and legacy of the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans at the Minidoka War Relocation Center during World War II.

Education Programs for Schools

According to the organization's own reporting, Minidoka's education programs reached 1,527 students and teachers from across the country in 2026. The programs are delivered through four formats:

• School tours — class visits to the site
• Classroom visits — programming brought to schools
• Teacher trainings — professional development for educators
• Virtual learning programs — remote sessions for groups that cannot travel

The 2026 season illustrates the seasonal rhythm to plan around: the Visitor Center at Minidoka National Historic Site closed for the season on Sunday, September 27, 2026, but education work continued after the doors closed. If you are an educator planning a visit or a virtual session, that pattern suggests confirming availability and scheduling directly with the park's education team rather than assuming year-round on-site access.

Public Events and Lecture Series

Civil Liberties Symposium

The 2026 Civil Liberties Symposium is themed "Law, Civil Liberties, and the Continuing Pursuit of Justice: From Wayne Collins to Today." It connects the legal history of Japanese American incarceration to present-day civil liberties questions.

Distinguished Lecture Series

The 2026 Distinguished Lecture is titled "Mass Deportation, Detention, and ICE: How We Got Here and What We Can Do." It is offered in two formats:

Both listings include an RSVP option, so advance registration is the practical step for attending either version.

How to Take Part

• Educators: Ask about school tours, classroom visits, teacher trainings, or virtual programs through the park's education team; plan around the seasonal Visitor Center schedule.
• General public: Watch the Friends of Minidoka events listings for the annual symposium and lecture dates, and RSVP for the in-person or Zoom option that fits you.
• Supporters: The organization describes itself as donor-supported, so contributions fund this programming; check the site for current giving options.

The site does not publish a single consolidated calendar of all programs, so the events section and news updates are the places to confirm dates, formats, and registration details before planning.