fun cheap field trips

Field Trip Ideas

Field trips are something I’m passionate about, and that’s why I’m sharing all of my best field trip ideas today.

When I first began homeschooling 17 years ago, there were fewer resources for homeschoolers, so I just created what I had grown up — school at our kitchen table. But I wanted our homeschool to be better than what I had grown up with, only I couldn’t really define better. I thought and researched, and the only I idea I could come up with for “better” was more rigorous.

So I bought mountains of textbooks and curriculum, overjoyed at the thought that we’d all be speaking Latin and solving multivariable equations by Christmas!

I laugh about it now!

The one thing I did do right that year was join a field-trip group full of more experienced homeschoolers. 17 years ago is a little blurry for me, but I do remember attending their first meeting, where they were organizing field trips for the year, and thinking to myself, “We can’t take off school every Friday!”

I was probably wondering how it would affect our Latin syllabus.

During that first meeting the group leaders assigned out dates for field trips (each mom had to plan and execute two field trips during the year) and I received an assignment. And then I talked with a few other moms about their ideas, which sounded fantastic. How I could not join?  

Why Field Trips Matter to Your Homeschool

That decision ended up drastically influencing my homeschool for the better — and not just because we attended field trips every Friday. That field trip group helped me to see, through experience, that my kids learned more from a fascinating, two-hour, Friday morning tour of a water treatment plant than from an entire Geological study of the water cycle.

It was our first foray into delight directed learning!

Children are born with boundless curiosity. They want to learn about and make sense of the world around them. You can only stop them by, well, forcing them to sit in a desk in a classroom.

When you take a child someplace interesting (I call interesting place question-pullers) you are opening a whole new world of rabbit trails for that child. To you, it might look like your child is hopping back and forth, criss-crossing a landscape in no particular order.

But your child is learning all about everything to do with that new place, digging deeper into the things that particularly interest him, just scratching the surface in others, and just generally creating an immense file in which to organize all of the things he is learning about this wide, wondrous world — all the things that help him to make sense of it.

My kiddos weren’t all that excited about their textbooks, but they would ask five million questions before, during and after each Friday field trip. Those questions always led to voluntary research and learning, followed by more questions, and more research and learning.

We once visited a beaver farm. While visiting, we learned that Beavers particularly enjoy wood from fruit trees. My kiddos wanted to run right home and chop limbs off our fruit trees to bring back for the cute beavers, so we were able to discuss proper pruning techniques and learn about how fruit trees grow and why we prune them, which led to a discussion about blossom pollination and bees and other pollinators.

When we closed the books after school M-Th, they stayed closed until the next lesson. But Friday field trips would lead to continuous, voluntary and joyous, nonstop learning. It was truly the kind of learning that can be described as passionate.

One of the best parts of homeschooling is seeing that “ah-ha moment” when our children truly understand the importance of what we are teaching them. It’s like the circuit is finally connected and the light goes on. That was happening as a result of our field trips, and not as a result of our day-to-day learning.

Luckily, I was able to see the difference in the two types of learning, and make necessary changes to our M-F homeschool. That’s not to say we gave up our Latin. I might still be a little obsessed with Latin declensions.

Nothing will make learning come alive for your kiddos like field trips. It’s one thing to learn about the history of the U.S. by reading about it, it’s another thing entirely to take a US History Road Trip and visit those historical sites in person.

While field trip opportunities will vary from place to place, every family has access to unique field trip opportunities. So use the list below to brainstorm as you are deciding what field trips to add your homeschool schedule.

How do you get started?

First, you need someplace interesting to visit.

25 Field Trip Ideas for Homeschoolers:

Here are some field trip ideas that will help inspire a love of learning in your homeschool.  

1. Visit Historical Sites

As you learn history together, you’ll find historical sites (either local or not) to visit that pertain to the current curriculum you’re studying at home. We’ve visited battlefields and monuments all over the United States, but some of the very most interesting historical sites we’ve visited ( Mesa Verde , Chaco Canyon , Hovenweep and Dun Angus ) are from ancient history rather than modern history — so don’t forget all the historical periods.  

2. Attend A Reenactment

Bring history to life by attending a war reenactment or renaissance fair. My state, Utah, has a Golden Spike (the transcontinental railroad meeting) reenactment, a mountain man rendezvous and so much more. One year, we visited Boston April 19, which is the anniversary of the ‘shot heard round the world’, and watched their incredible Patriot’s Day reenactment . Google the events you are interested in (historical events you’ve studied) coupled with the word reenactment to see if something is available.  

3. Visit a Birthplace or a Cemetery

Visit the birthplace of a famous person from your state. Google settlers, presidents, politicians, military heroes, inventors, artists, musicians or any person who correlated with your own interests.  

4. Tour Your State Capitol

Most State Capitol buildings offer free tours. The public can even observe legislation sessions, if you schedule your field trip accordingly. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how government works and some historical facts about your state.  

5. Take a Civic Field Trip

Tours of your local police or fire department, post office, airport, or campaign headquarters can usually be arranged for groups of a certain size. It’s fun to team up with other local homeschoolers to have access to these tours. We like to bake homemade cookies in advance to thank our civil servants.  

6. Visit a Museum

Science museums are fun because they typically provide so many hands-on exhibits for kids, which will really get your kiddos thinking and asking questions. Natural history museums, art museums, and historical museums all over the place. Our local children’s museum has a reciprocal agreement with other children’s museums, so we can get free admission other places with our annual pass to our own museum. Just Google Museum+your city for a list of all the available museums. I’m always surprised at the number of museums in my are I haven’t even heard of!  

7. Watch a Star Show in a Planetarium

We have a big planetarium with displays and all sorts of star shows (and IMAX shows) but our local university also has a small planetarium with a very nice telescope and star shows. The university planetarium is staffed by enthusiastic astronomy students who want to share everything they have learned and who are willing to spend hours (okay, that’s an exaggeration) helping my kids find things with the telescope.  

8. Explore Your Community

Call around to local restaurants, eye doctors, dentists, and veterinarians and ask if they give tours. Once we took a tour of a local pizza place, and they let each of the kids make and bake a pizza to take home. Be sure to consider unusual community offerings, too, such as mining operations, movie studios, newspapers and such. Many business owners love to talk with children about what they do and your students just might discover a future career.  

9. Visit a Farm

We live on a farm, and my kids have their daily farm chores, so they are not particularly enthralled with farm animals. But before we bought our farm, one of their favorite places to visit was a local farm with a small petting zoo. It’s funny how kids want to milk cows until they have to.  

10. Visit the Zoo or the Aquarium or a Pet Store

Kids and animals just go together, don’t they? Our local zoo has several free days during the winter, and the aquarium has one homeschool day each year when homeschoolers can get in free with an affidavit. If you don’t have a local zoo or aquarium, even the pet store can make a really fun and educational field trip.  

11. Learn About Bees

Speaking of animals, wouldn’t it be interesting to visit a beekeeper and learn all about bees?  

12. Learn About Your City’s Public Works (Water, electricity, sewage…)

I don’t know if all water treatment facilities are as interesting as ours, but we really enjoyed touring our local water reclamation facility. Some more favorites have been touring the hydroelectric dam below Lake Powell and the Bonneville Lock, dam and fish hatchery on the Columbia River near Portland, Oregon.  

13. Factories are Fascinating

Factories will often offer educational tours. We’ve toured several, from Sweet’s candy factory and Don Julio’s tortilla factory (both give out free samples!) to an Intel factory that produces computer chips, to the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford, Ireland.  

14. Try to Visit All the Parks in Your County

I don’t know about you, but we have some awesome parks nearby. One is a giant reservoir where we can swim, canoe and paddleboard during the summer and ice skate and sled during the winter. A couple of our parks have phenomenal rope climbing equipment. We have skate parks and bike parks, and a few of our parks have amazing splash pads. Parks can be just as interesting during winter as summer.  

15. Hike in a National Park

As a resident of Utah, National Parks are one of our favorite places to learn. It’s amazing how much you can learn from hanging out in a national park!  

16. Tour a Bank

We toured the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. once, and watched their process for creating and destroying money. That was interesting. But it could be really interesting to tour a local bank, too. They probably won’t show you their vault or anything that requires security clearance, but they can show you how the tellers work, how the automated tellers work, and talk about the jobs all of the employees do. It would be fun to let your kiddos open a savings account at the same time.  

17. Shop for Groceries

Touring the grocery store is one of our favorite homeschool field trips EVER. They took us back into the bakery to watch their big mixers at work and taste bread samples, then through the refrigerator where the kids learned about produce and picked out an apple, then through the freezers where all the kids got to sample some ice cream. If your kiddos help you menu plan (learn about good nutrition), budget (learn about personal finance), and actually purchase your groceries (they learn about money and arithmetic) this can be an incredibly educational field trip!  

18. Learn How Your Favorite Foods are Made

Speaking of groceries, wouldn’t you like to learn how your favorite foods are made? Is there a creamery near you? How about a bakery? Or maybe you’d like to visit a cheese factory and see how cheese is made. We visited a fascinating maple syrup farm in Vermont a couple of years ago.  

19. Visit a Hospital

This is especially meaningful if you have a friend or loved one in the hospital. But make sure you call ahead and see whether a nurse will have time to show you around. The hospital has really cool machines they can tell you all about!  

20. Base Your Field Trip on Your Children’s Interests

Do you have an animal-lover in your house? Call your local animal shelter for a tour. Do you have a young artist? Visit an art gallery or two. Young thespians will be inspired by the theater and young cowboys by the rodeo. Don’t forget to check sports venues — I know most of the big ones offer paid tours. Or find an active archaeological site and volunteer to help dig! Using your child’s interests to generate field trip ideas guarantees a successful field trip.  

21. Don’t Forget the Library!

After all, isn’t the library a homeschoolers best friend? I’m sure your local librarian would be happy to give your family a tour of the library and show your kiddos how it runs.  

22. Check out Science and STEM festivals

Here in Utah, all of the STEM-related industries get together and put on a STEM fest every October. Each company hosts a booth where they explain and demonstrated something related to their business. There are always hundreds of booths, each with hands-on experiments, demonstrations, cool gadgets and lots and lots of information for your kiddos to wonder about. Both of the major universities in my area also host science weeks. One holds a chemistry week and invites the public to view classes and displays put on by the students, another holds a biology week and even opens the cadaver lab to families who sign up in advance. Google will help you look for things like this in your area.  

23. Look for School Days at Cultural Events

You can often find discounts to the symphony or to see musicals or plays. We’ve been to the symphony for free, and we were also able to go backstage and see several instruments and talk with the musicians. We also had the same experience at the ballet. Just google a local event with school days (e.g. ballet+west+school+days) because most of those events have time set aside for schools. Homeschools are schools and are able to reserve free tickets as as such.  

24. Look for Discounts to Try New Things

If you search Groupon locally, you’ll find all kinds of things you never even knew were things. Maybe not all of them are worth your time, but some of them could make really fun, educational field trips!  

25. Worldschooling Field Trip Ideas

Okay, this field trip idea is not even close to cheap, let alone free. But it will be well worth the investment! Plan a vacation around something your family is studying. After studying Geology and volcanoes, we visited Mount St. Helens, Crater Lake , and bowling ball beach . After studying Marine Biology, we visited various tide pools in California. After studying Chinese history and culture, we visited China . Because these field trips are more costly, you probably can’t take them as frequently, but they sure are fun to intersperse with local, free field trips!

Pin these fun field trip ideas for later!

Please share your field trip ideas in the comments below!

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• Homeschool / Travel

25 Budget Friendly Homeschool Field Trips

by Elizabeth Dukart ·

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Trying to figure out some budget-friendly homeschool field trips and need some tips? I can help! Whether you’re looking for low-cost or even free homeschool field trips, I have a bunch of ideas and resources for you to check out! Homeschool field trips certainly don’t need to cost a lot of money to provide a lasting impact!

Ok, so, before we get to all the homeschool field trip suggestions, let me just give you a virtual high-five for even thinking about planning some homeschool field trips! The whole process of planning and then actually DOING the field trips isn’t for the faint of heart and can sometimes be overwhelming. I mean, you have to figure out the timing, the budget, how to relate the field trip to the content area that you and your kids/students are working on. It takes time and effort.

You know what though? All that time and effort spent planning your homeschool travel certainly won’t go to waste. When I was a student in the public school setting, we’d go on one or two field trips a year. I can 100% tell you that the few field trips my classes went on have left a lasting impact on my life. When I think back to my education, I don’t remember all the spelling tests or the math reviews (I do remember that time I got a 26% on an essay in 7th grade, though…holy moly). I remember the field trips.

On of my favorite things about homeschooling is that I get to allow my kids to experience hands-on learning as much as they want. It’s the way I learn the best, it’s the way they learn the best, and I’m willing to bet so many of your children learn best with hands-on activities, too. Homeschool field trips are PERFECT for hands-on learning!

In our home, we tend to do our book learning Monday through Thursday. Every day, the kids will get their lessons done and then they’re free to play outside, play in our toy room, and might even join me in running some errands. Many of their lessons are hands-on activities, but they can be done at home, so, unless there’s a change in schedule, we’re really not doing any homeschool field trips those days. Friday, though? Friday is “Fun Friday!” We’ll try to venture out of the house to do some sort of activity on Friday. It’s a day we all look forward to! Where do we go? On one of our homeschool field trips, of course!

25 Ideas for Budget-Friendly Homeschool Field Trips

Here are some of our favorite field trips that won’t break the bank! Be sure to check out our tips for saving money on these homeschool field trips (and more) at the end of the list!

• You know how I said I remember the field trips from when I was in school? Well, truth be told, I currently live within walking distance of a cemetery I visited on a 4th grade field trip…almost 3o years ago! Find some locations that are important to the your state or town history and visit them! Towns will often have websites with tourism information, so go check yours out and learn about where you live!
• Most state capitals will offer free tours and some will even let you sit in on legislative sessions. What better way to learn about local government than to experience it first hand? Check the website of your State Capital for more information. If you don’t see information about tours or how residents can witness decisions being made, give them a call!
• This, of course, will depend on where you live but chances are that there is a farm within driving distance of your home! Check their social media or website beforehand for hours and any hands-on experiences they may offer. I know our farms are usually more than happy to accommodate a class or homeschool group as long as plans are made in advance. The kids will get to see where their food comes from and might get to see a farm animal or two!
• I promise, this is NOT as lame a field trip as it sounds! You could plan a special meal and then let the kids shop for the ingredients, give them a budget and let them do the weekly family grocery shopping, or even do a scavenger hunt through the grocery store. Some grocery stores offer free or reasonably priced cooking classes, will have a free family movie night, or could offer some sort of behind-the-scenes tour if planned ahead.
• When I was a special education teacher, visiting a restaurant was one of my favorite life and social skills outings to do with my class. Give the kids a budget and let them make their own meal choices at the restaurant. Kids can order their food on their own and be in charge of paying for their meal when they’re done.
• When my kids were tiny and I didn’t feel like making drive into Philadelphia to their zoo, I’d take them to our local pet store. They’d get to see animals of all sorts, would visit the adoption section to see the available cats, and got to interact with the employees at the store. Before we got our first family pet, I took my kids to the pet store so we could do a mock shopping trip for a hamster and a dog. We went through the store and would write down the price of each item we’d need to purchase for “our” pet and, at the end of the trip, we compared the approximate cost of having a hamster versus having a dog. I like to think that doing this helped them to realize what a big financial responsibility it would be to get a pet.
• I’m telling you, my kids would probably be super happy visiting a different factory each week. It’s fun to get to see how some of our favorite products and such are created. Among many, we’ve visited the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, PA (the brand that makes my favorite ice cream!) and have learned about the process of making chocolate in Hershey, PA. The Utz Potato Chip Factory and the Jelly Belly Factory are definitely on our list for the future!
• When we need a moment to reconnect with nature, my boys and I hit the trails! As much as I love my flip flops, closed toe shoes are a must! Wear a hat to prevent ticks from moving in their new home (aka: your body) and fill up a water bottle to stay hydrated. You could identify native plants and animals, look for signs of termites or erosion, look for (and stay away from) animal homes and more. I always make sure my phone has a full battery charge so I can Google photos of leaves and, not gonna lie, so I can use the GPS to find my way out of a trail if need be!
• Contact a local bakery ahead of time and see if they might be able to provide any sort of tour for a homeschool field trip! Some bakeries may offer decorating classes, too!
• There are museums of ALL sorts all across the world. Find one that is local to you and check their website for pricing information and specials. Some might offer educational discounts or even have a designated day/time for reduced price entry.
• Ok, this one is probably more fun than educational, but I distinctly remember going to Six Flags in 8th grade for a field trip! You could work in some sort of mathematical equations about the speed or height of roller coasters, do a competition to see who can walk the most steps throughout the park, or even have a photography challenge (photograph representations of certain letters throughout the park for a project?). However you decide to make a visit to a theme park educational, it’s pretty much a given that the kids will have a great time!
• When I was in high school, I participated in the “Adopt a Grandparent” club. Every week, we’d take a bus over to an assisted living location to chat with the residents and play games with them. The residents enjoyed these visits so much! Call ahead to an assisted living home and see if they accept visitors and, if so, ask about their visiting hours. Maybe you could host a game or crafting event?
• Don’t forget about the library! In addition to borrowing books, so many libraries offer free or reasonably priced community events. Some even have recurring classes for kids! Check your library’s website or information desk for details and make some plans!
• Whether you’re in the market for adopting a pet or not, it seems that the shelters near our home can always use some help! Many of them have an age minimum for volunteering, but that doesn’t mean your younger kids can’t crochet blankets for the animals or collect food and supplies from the community. Call the shelter ahead and mention that you’re a homeschooling family – they may be able to provide a tour of the facilities and let you (safely) interact with the animals.
• When the warmer weather arrives in our area, my kids would be completely happy spending their days at the playground. Not only does it provide them with some physical activity, but, when other kids are around, it could result in some problem solving, critical thinking, and more. Plus, a visit to the playground is a great way to get some energy out!
• Take a visit over to your local bank and learn all about money! Of course, call ahead to schedule your visit and make sure that they can accommodate your visit, but how much fun would it to be to see the giant safes in the bank? The kids can learn all about the various ways to save and invest money and, while you’re there, you might even consider opening bank accounts for the kids if they don’t already have them.
• A bit morbid, I know, but death is a part of our lives, and one way to learn is to visit a cemetery. If you’re not familiar with the history of tombstones, there’s a lot to learn! Some tombstones have figures or such that could have a surprising meaning behind them, some caskets are buried underground while some are above ground, etc. You could teach the etiquette of visiting a cemetery, look for the tombstones or monuments of local figures or people of historical significance, and even see the results of erosion over time.
• Garbage and Recycling? Water Treatment? Electricity? All are services we often take for granted, so it’s totally worth it to go to the source and learn about these important services! Of course, call ahead and make sure they can accommodate your homeschool field trip. I have been meaning to contact our local Garbage and Recycling services to schedule a visit because trash pickup day (Friday) is pretty much a weekly holiday over here – my boys LOVE seeing all the vehicles come by.
• It’s a place we we find treasures…for less! You never know what you’re going to find and it’s always a good time! Give everyone a set budget and set off to find a certain something – you could require everyone purchase something to be used for a holiday, something in a certain color, something to be flipped for profit, etc. Try your hand at refinishing furniture to sell or use in your home. Some flea markets even encourage making offers/haggling, so the kids could learn the art of the haggle first hand.
• Make it a day to shop small! Visit those little boutiques on Main Street, eat lunch at a mom & pop shop, enjoy some candy from your local candy shop, and more.
• These are often seasonal, but, as a self-proclaimed foodie, these are the events I look forward to each and every year. When we lived in Florida, we’d enjoy fresh Strawberry Shortcake at the Strawberry Festival each year. In NJ, we can’t wait for the Cranberry Festival and Apple Festivals in the fall. Have a taste test “event” with the kids and try out a few different foods while at the festival. Some festivals will even have cookbooks for sale at the event – consider purchasing one and trying out the recipes with the kids at home.
• One of our local universities (my alma mater!) has a planetarium on site and will host very reasonably priced events. Sometimes the events are your typical “let’s look at the sky” events, but sometimes…sometimes…there are laser light shows set to music. The light shows are my favorite and, bonus, every time we’ve attended, there has been a more “typical” educational aspect at the end of the show when a college student will show us how to find constellations in the night sky and such.
• Of course, your options will certainly vary depending on your location, but we are 100% the family that’ll visit the beach whether it’s sunny, raining, or snowing. It’s one of our happy places, so we try to visit often. Whether you spend the day at the beach or a lake, there’s plenty of native wildlife that could be observed and most likely picturesque scenes that could inspire some artwork or poetry!
• Here in South Jersey, we are within driving distance of so many caves. Make a day trip out of it and explore what’s beneath the ground. So many caves offer reasonably priced educational tours and, since you’d be going underground, it could be a great way to beat the heat of the summer sun.
• Sure, we get our mail delivered daily, but do we really know how a piece of mail gets from one location to another? Contact your local Post Office and see what they can offer for a homeschool field trip.

3 Ways to Save Money on Homeschool Field Trips

Now that you have a ton of ideas for homeschool field trips to take your kids on, I bet you’re wondering how to make these field trips as cost effective as possible, right?

When I’m looking to save money on field trips, these are three things I look for:

• Some locations will offer a homeschool or educators discount on admission. If a website or social media site do not list any discounts, don’t be afraid to call and ask them directly. It never hurts to ask!
• We have enjoyed SO many family-friendly activities and homeschool field trips by purchasing tickets through Groupon. Even better? If you have a Rakuten account you can earn a percent back on Groupon purchases. Gotta love when we can double dip on savings!
• Many places requiring admission will often offer “night hour” pricing or have a certain day of the week where admission is a little less. While planning your homeschool field trips, be sure to check websites for this info. As I mentioned previously, if this information is not available, call them and ask!

I hope you enjoy taking a bunch of homeschool field trips with your kids! If you have some fun suggestions that should be added to this list, as always, send me an email and I’ll add them! I’d love to hear about the homeschool field trips you and your kids have gone on so I can plan for even more adventures with my own kids! Until next time, stay safe and enjoy quality time with your families!

Elizabeth Dukart is a proud Georgia-based born and raised Jersey Girl, wife, and mom of 2 human boys & 1 canine boy.

Created in 2021, Elizabeth owns and publishes  That Homeschool Family : a free resource for homeschooling parents and beyond! A seasoned blogger, Elizabeth previously published a popular location-specific family resource blog, but decided to “Pivot!” her blogging focus after she started homeschooling her two boys in 2020. In addition to this blog, you can follow Elizabeth’s homeschooling and family adventures on Facebook , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube , and Pinterest . She can also be found in her Facebook Group: That Homeschool Family Hangout .

When she’s not busy taking over the world or homeschooling, Elizabeth can be found listening to music (especially The Beatles & Harry Styles!), being silly with her boys, watching movies with family, shopping, or traveling!

Have a question or want to work with Elizabeth? Send her an email!

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50 Fun & Educational Field Trip Ideas

• Katie Layne Contributing Writer
• Updated Aug 29, 2023

Homeschool Field Trips

Sometimes our homeschooling needs "something," some spark, something new and different, something that doesn't necessarily involve pencils and paper, something that gets our bodies moving and our spirits refreshed. Sometimes, we need a field trip!

Field trips can be used for wide and varied purposes. Sometimes a field trip is just what is needed to kick off a unit study or to pull everything together at the end of a period of study. Field trips can spark interest in various topics, fields of work, or study, which may lead to our students making a new invention or getting interested in a field that may one day become their life's work.

Get our awesome PDF of the Ultimate Field Trip Bucket List to print out and check off the ones you do!

Have you ever wondered why so many public school classes take field trips in the spring? Could the students and teachers be tired of being cooped up all year in a classroom and just want to get out and about in the fresh air? Oftentimes, the field trips are not even what you could consider "educational," but nonetheless, everyone in the class gets on a school bus, and off they go for the day. Therefore, I believe we can add one more purpose for field trips to our list above--fun! Field trips can be taken just for the fun of it.

If you are going to tour a facility that is not normally open to the public, or anywhere else that you will require a tour guide, be sure to call ahead to set up a time for your tour and find out if they have any special instructions for you.

Here are 50 awesome field trip ideas! 

1. Manufacturing facility . This would include any factory where cars, equipment, tools, toys, packaging or anything else is manufactured. The mechanized equipment and assembly lines are fascinating to watch and it is interesting to learn which raw materials are used and how they are used to make the final product.

2.  Farm. This could be a "specialty" farm that grows some specialty crop, a dairy farm, a farm that grows more ordinary crops such as wheat or corn, maple syrup farm, apple orchard or anyplace where food is grown. Think about the best time of year to visit each type of farm based on what operations may be going on at the time-planting, harvesting, cider making, sap gathering, etc.

3. Fire Department. Learn a bit about fire safety, how firemen fight fires, the gear they wear, and how they live.

4. Daily Newspaper . See the huge rolls of paper used and how the printing process works.

5. Post Office . When we toured our local post office, we were told to bring along postcards addressed to ourselves and were able to watch the postal workers process our own cards, which we then received at home in the mail a day later.

7. Military or National Guard Installation. Learn about what their duties are, what gear they use, what training they receive, and what types of situations they respond to.

8. A State or National Park . Learn about nature, plants and animals of the area. (Note: In these types of parks - as well as in the other science-oriented places listed in this article - the theory of evolution is usually presented as fact. This can provide a good opportunity for your family to study the Biblical account of creation and the scientific basis for the Christian viewpoint.)

9. Museum. There are large, well-known museums, but there are often small, little-known museums around as well that are quite interesting to visit. Check around your area to see what is available. Again, be prepared for evolutionary content. In addition, some museums (particularly art museums) may contain displays that don't fit your family's standards. Use appropriate parental caution when planning a field trip to these types of places.

10. Lock and Dam. Often there is a display area showing the history of the area and displays where you can learn how a lock and dam works. Plan your visit around a time when a ship or ships are due to pass through.

11. Pioneer Day Events. Many places across the country have special festivals or events where the lifestyle of the pioneers is the main focus. Here you can see pioneer craftsmen, equipment, cabins, clothing, animals and "experience" life as it was in our earlier history.

12. Jewelers Shop . Find a jeweler in your area that creates or repairs jewelry and plan a visit to see the tools and skills used.

13. State Capitol . Visit when congress is in session and sit in the visitor's gallery for awhile. Tour the building looking especially for pictures or plaques commemorating our Godly heritage. As you pass through the halls, pray for our leaders!

14. Lumber Mill. See how lumber is milled and hauled.

15. Ceramics Shop . Learn about the craft and how a kiln works.

16. Veterinarian . Learn about the profession and pet care.

17. Library. Learn about the Dewey Decimal System and how to use it. Learn to use the card catalog or computerized cataloging system your library uses.

19. Bank . Visit a local bank or credit union to learn about the different types of accounts and services they offer. This is a great way to follow-up #18 above. If your children don't already have savings accounts, this may be a great time to open one!

20. Recycling Center . Learn about what they recycle, how they do it and what their end products are used for.

21.  4-H Fair. See the different projects 4-H kids are involved in, from crops and animals, to baking, crafts and more.

22. Zoo . I've always enjoyed trips to the zoo! A word of caution, however: You may want to avoid the zoo during the spring season when many animals are "active" in ways you may not want to view as a family.

23. Old Cemetery . Make rubbings of old markers. Find the oldest marker. Look for interesting names and dates.

24. Planetarium . Watch out for evolutionary content here as well.

25. Local TV Station . Plan your trip to coincide with the News program. A trip to the TV Station ties in nicely with a unit study on weather, especially if you can talk with the weatherman and learn more about his job.

26. Dental Lab . See the different tools and methods used to make or fix teeth or dental appliances.

27.  Botanical Garden . This is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of plants.

28. Power Company. Learn about how power is generated and supplied to your area.

29. Wood Worker's Shop . Learn about the different tools and skills involved in making fine furniture or crafts.

30. Eye Doctor. Learn about eye care, diseases/problems, diagnosis equipment and treatment.

31. Print Shop. See the huge printing presses, trimmers and other equipment in operation.

32. Historical Sites . Most areas of the country have a variety of historical sites. Some are well-known (historical buildings, etc.), while others may just be an obscure marker commemorating some event that happened there. To supplement your historical ramblings, visit the local library to see if you can learn more about the people or time period.

33. Wildlife/Nature Preserve . Learn all about plants and animals native to the area.

34. Blacksmith. Sometimes you can actually find a working smithy shop, other times blacksmithing is part of a special pioneer or old-time event (see #11).

35. Local Bakery. This would be an operation on a much smaller scale than a food processing plant discussed earlier in this list, but can also be very interesting.

37. Pet Store. See a wide variety of pets, learn about their habits and care.

38. Symphony Orchestra. See if you can visit during a rehearsal, then go to the actual performance as well.

39. Historical Society. You can often obtain a wealth of information about your area at a local historical society.

40. Paper Mill. Learn about the paper making process from trees to tissue paper.

41. National Weather Service. Learn about how they predict weather and the science behind weather, what equipment is used, and how the public is informed of the upcoming forecast.

42. Basket Maker. Learn all about the various materials and tools used.

43. Fish Hatchery. Learn about different types of fish and how area lakes and ponds are stocked.

44. County Courthouse . Learn about what goes on in a local courthouse, enjoy the oftentimes beautiful architecture and look for pictures or plaques showing our godly heritage.

45. Nursery or Lawn/Garden Shop. Learn about different plants for your area, plant and soil care, insect control and beneficial insects.

46. Police Station . Learn about what policemen do, K-9 units, technology used, etc.

47. Make your own "old-fashioned day." Go out to a pretty park (or even your own backyard), and try to do everything the "old-fashioned" way. Gather wood and cook over fire, do without electricity, read, play string games like cat's cradles, whittle, sing, use your imagination and travel back in time for a day.

48. Water Treatment Plant. Learn about where your water comes from, how many gallons go through the plant, water purification and testing.

49. Exotic Animal Farm. Look around, there may be a farm in your area raising mink, llamas, ostriches, mini-burros, African pygmy hedgehogs, emus, cockatoos, iguanas, rheas or other unusual animals.

50. Caverns.  Learn about the geological history of your area and have fun exploring the caves!

One last note: don't forget the educational value of family vacations! Even if your family can't take a two-week trip across the country, check out opportunities for day trips within a 2-3 hour driving distance of where you live, or in a neighboring state. We took many such trips during years when we couldn't afford a "real" vacation. It provided an opportunity to see some things beyond our immediate area with much less expense.

I hope I've been able to spark your imagination and give you some new ideas that your family will enjoy. Have a fun (and educational!) summer!

------------------------------

This article was originally published in the May/Jun '05 issue of Home School Enrichment Magazine. For more information, visit http://HomeSchoolEnrichment.com . To request a FREE sample copy, visit http://homeschoolenrichment.com/magazine/request-sample-issue.html .

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55 Simple and Memorable Field Trip Ideas

We all know that field trips are fun- we have all been there. But when you are on the side that you have to plan them, it becomes a bit less fun, and a lot more stressful. It does not really need to be, though, because there are so many fun things out there that your middle schoolers will love to do.

In this article, we will give you 29 excellent field trip ideas. And remember, these are just ideas- there are tons more out there! Get creative!

I don’t know what it is about the zoo, but there is just something about the zoo that makes it one of the best places on earth. And this is true for most ages, not just preschoolers. Running around, finding favorite animals, discovering new ones, and learning more about animals that may be endangered is so fun.

Your middle schoolers will think so, too. Many zoos offer free (or at least discounted) admission for field trips, as long as they’re booked in advance. ( Source )

2. Water Park

Visiting a water park is a great way to either say goodbye to warmer weather or to celebrate the return of it. The best thing about many water parks is that they have arcades too, so those who do not like swimming can just try to win the giant plushies and lava lamps that we all envied as children.

3. Art Museum

An art museum is a great way to infuse culture into middle schoolers. Most are old enough to know museum etiquette, and the museum can introduce them to so many different art styles, types of people, and countries. They may come out thinking about art in a completely different way.

4. State and National Parks

If you live by a state or national park, consider yourself incredibly lucky, and then go get in there! This is a great way to expose middle schoolers to nature, and it helps them to love the outdoors if they do not already. State and national parks are beautiful, and they give the perfect opportunity to teach about the importance of taking care of the environment!

5. Movie Theater

You can never go wrong with a movie. All kids like movies. As long as it’s rated G or PG, and you have parental approval, the employees will be ready with popcorn and drinks in excess for your middle schoolers to enjoy.

6. Aquarium

Like the zoo, it is impossible to go wrong with a trip to the aquarium. Many aquariums have rehabilitated animals, which presents a great opportunity to teach about the importance of picking up after ourselves, and not throwing trash in the ocean. It is never too early to help kids become environmentally conscious.

7. Botanical Gardens

Botanical gardens give the wonderful chance to be outside, and it provides a controlled environment to do so. They are beautifully landscaped, and they usually have pretty fountains and waterfalls that provide a really calming atmosphere.

An added bonus: it is easy to reinforce what your middle schoolers have been learning about plants in science classes with what you see!

8. An Actual Theatre

Exposing middle schoolers to the arts should be considered an essential part of their education. And, what’s more, going to plays just makes kids feel mature and important. Maybe it is just because of the way the phrase “going to the theatre” sounds when someone says it with a British accent. If that wasn’t enough, then the fact that education in fine arts is proven to increase students’ self-confidence, self-understanding, communication skills, and cognitive abilities. ( Source )

9. Go on a Hike

This is a good field trip for many reasons. Exercising is an important thing to get in the habit of at a young age, and nature is something that everyone should appreciate. And, as if that was not enough, learning about rocks and rock formations is fascinating, too. This is a great way to combine what you’re teaching in class with what the kids are experiencing in real life.

10. Planetarium

The planetarium is another one of those places that are impossible for someone to not enjoy, even if they are starting to act more and more like a teenager. Besides, middle schoolers will understand the concepts and words used at the planetarium a lot better than elementary schoolers would.

11. Local High School

If there is one thing middle schoolers love, it is that they are going to be in high school soon. Take advantage of that! Take them to high school productions of plays, on tours of the high school they will be going to, and to other high school concerts and athletic events.

12. Local Colleges

While college is still far off for middle schoolers, it’s never too early to give them a good impression of college. Communicate how important a college education can be, and do not forget to mention how fun college life is, either. Get them excited about college before the application process rolls around. The best part about this trip: it’s free!

13. Library

Going to the local library is always a good idea. There is so much to learn (Dewey Decimal System, anybody?), and it is a great way to encourage kids to read. Making this trip coincide with a book report project or readathon might help them to check out books, too!

14. Government Buildings

A government building may be fun to tour. This includes things like the state Capitol building, or maybe even a local government office. There are often tours of the bigger buildings, and these are great opportunities to help students learn more about the government system in our country.

15. Local Festivals

Taking your middle schoolers to local festivals is another great field trip idea. Every town has some sort of interesting festival that they are known for. Take advantage of teaching the kids about the history of their town! Some examples are music festivals, farmers’ markets, local races, and holiday events.

16. Railroad

Local railroads may be hard to come by, but if you are lucky enough to have one in your area, they have tons of history. In addition to this, taking train rides is so much fun. Middle schoolers will love learning about the history of the railroad, taking a ride, and let’s be honest- the concessions on the train will help, too.

17. Local Factories

Going to local factories or businesses is another really great opportunity for middle schoolers. Exposing them to how things work is a great way to help them on the path toward finding out what they want to do in their life. When they see how many types of businesses work, they can better figure out what they like and what they don’t.

18. Amusement Park

Amusement parks are tons of fun. That said, they do require a bit more effort as a field trip. Especially if you are a public school teacher taking 20-30 kids with you, you will need chaperones, permission slips, and plenty of focus, because middle schoolers can wander off.

19. Just a Regular Park

This one is almost effortless, and it is still so much fun. Going to a park, sitting in nature, having a picnic, and then just playing exploring is so good for kids. Getting that time to just relieve stress is key to creating a balanced lifestyle for middle schoolers.

20. Historical Monuments

Historical monuments are there for a reason. They exist to teach us about the people and events that came before us. So why not introduce your middle schoolers to these amazing monuments? They are beautifully built, and being in a historical spot to learn about something that happened before is such a cool experience. What if there is not a monument in your town? There probably is, but if not, a neighboring town will definitely have one.

Caving is such a blast. If you live near a cave, taking middle school students caving would be a fantastic field trip. Before you go, make sure you check the difficulty level of the cave, so that everybody can participate. This is a great way to either introduce or just reinforce what students are learning about rocks, erosion, weathering, and more.

22. Historical Buildings, Homes, or other Sites

This is a great way to learn about specific people that may have had a huge influence on your town, organizations that shaped how your town functioned, or just other historical events that may have caused your town to be built in the first place.

Middle schoolers will love seeing places that appear in books they have read or movies they have seen, and if they are not familiar, they will just enjoy seeing the collection of old things.

23. Local Fire Station

Visiting the local fire station would be a very fun field trip for those who have dreams of being a fireman, but it will also be fun for those who don’t. Kids find it fascinating to learn about the process of it all: seeing the fire station, the fire trucks, and asking the firemen what their typical day looks like is a great way to get them engaged.

24. Local Police Station

It’s the same for the local police station. Not only will kids learn a lot about the government and what police do, but they’ll also learn that they don’t have to be afraid of all police officers. This is a great way to help middle schoolers become more comfortable around police and other emergency personnel. In addition to this, seeing the inside of a police officer’s car is sure to keep middle schoolers occupied: there’s a lot there!

25. Pottery Studio

There are several commercial pottery studios sprinkled around the country that anybody can use. So why not make a field trip out of it? Middle schoolers love working with their hands, and one thing that always makes field trips extra special is a souvenir that they can take home at the end of the day.

26. Fish Hatchery

If you live near a fish hatchery, this would be a really interesting field trip for middle schoolers. It does smell weird, but kids will love seeing the process that they go through in the hatchery. They will get to see a couple of different kinds of fish, and this field trip also gives the added benefit of some outdoor time.

27. Aviation Museum

An aviation museum is another excellent idea for a field trip for middle schoolers. Even if some students are not obsessed with planes and vehicles, the things that one can see at an aviation museum are undeniably fascinating.

Students will get to see several different types of planes, learn about famous pilots and wars, maybe see a rocket, and learn how aviation has changed since it first came into practice.

28. Local Power Plant, Dam, or Locks

This is another information-filled field trip. Though many dams and locks may not have tours, they usually have plenty of signs with blurbs to read that will provide for a lovely, self-guided tour. A lot of power plants will offer tours, though. In these places, middle schoolers will learn so much about modern technology, how things are powered, and more.

29. A Walking Tour of Your Town or City

Obviously, if you live in a big city, this may not be the safest idea, but if you feel you can conduct a safe walking tour of your town or city, do it! Even if they have lived in the town or city for a long time, many middle schoolers may still learn something about the town, and they may find something new to do. Pick a few destinations beforehand so that you can show your students the best-kept secrets of your city.

Remember that these ideas only scratch the surface of possibilities for fun field trips for middle schoolers. Students will appreciate any effort to add variety to their learning, so get creative!

30. Farmers Market

The Farmer’s Market is a great way for students to become involved in the community. Beforehand you can teach them about farming and how important it is to support your local farmers. Then you can take them to the market and let them pick something out or learn about all of the different produce. There are also sometimes animals there that they can pet.

Many communities host Farmer’s markets on Saturdays, so you might need to find out if your local farmer’s market takes place during the week!

31. Animal Shelter

The Animal Shelter is an awesome field trip not only for the kids but for the dogs and cats as well. The animals in animal shelters have often been neglected and abused. All they want is some love, which the kids will gladly give. It may inspire some families to adopt and give the animals a loving home.

32. Recycling Center

Learning about recycling is important. Visiting a Recycling Center might not be the most entertaining for the kids, but they will learn a valuable lesson about the importance of recycling and why we do it. They will also learn how to recycle and what can be reused, from plastic to paper to clothes.

33. A Hospital, Clinic, Dentist’s Office, etc

It is always a great idea to take the children to certain places where they can learn about different professions and what they could be when they grow up. Some kids may be scared of the hospital or doctor, but this way they can learn that doctors and nurses are here to help them.

If you can’t get the hospital to offer a tour, consider a tour of just any local clinic of a medical professional. Perhaps even a parent of a student in the class could offer a tour so that kids can learn about different professions.

Going to the bank may not sound the most fun to elementary school students, but they can learn important information that isn’t being fully taught in schools. Kids can go behind the scenes and possibly get a tour of the vault as well as learn how to write a check and what the purpose of a credit card is.

35. News, TV, or Radio Station

These field trips are fascinating because you can see the behind-the-scenes of the studio that the online viewers or listeners don’t get to see. The children will love to see the cameras and recording equipment, maybe even meet the people that their parents watch on TV every morning. Some kids could decide that this is the career path they want to move towards. The world always needs people to tell stories and report on what’s happening.

36. Local Business

It’s always important to highlight and remember local businesses. Local business owners would love to give back to the community by giving a tour to the students, inspiring them to chase their dreams. You never know which field trip is going to spark interest and help a kid decide what they want to be someday.

37. Restaurant or Bakery

Going to a restaurant or local bakery is something that children will love because they can get a behind-the-scenes tour, as well as some sampling of the food or treats. It will probably end up being one of their favorites since food is involved. Many local businesses will offer tours free of charge. ( Source )

38. Senior Care Facility

Taking the elementary school students to a retirement home is a great opportunity to teach them about the importance of service and learning from their elders. Children can oftentimes be egotistic because their brains aren’t fully developed. Volunteering is a great way to teach them compassion and kindness, and it will make the residents’ day as well.

39. Sporting Game

Sporting games are purely an entertaining field trip, and the students will be very excited. Most areas in the United States have a sports team, but even if you don’t live near a major city, you can find some minor league teams as well. Taking the students to a baseball or soccer game is probably the most common sport for a field trip. ( Source )

40. Theatre

Going to a theatre to see a play is also very exciting and entertaining. Communities almost always have a local theatre putting on a play for all ages to enjoy. You could even take the students to a play at the middle school or high school in the area. Make sure to pick an age-friendly play that they are willing to sit through for a few hours since young kids have a hard time sitting for long periods of time.

Going to the movies is a great indoor winter activity and very exciting for the children. It can get expensive, but there are also oftentimes group rate discounts, especially for schools. Maybe the movie field trip can be at the end of a big test as a reward. Don’t forget to get popcorn!

42. Orchestra

Going to the symphony or orchestra is a very special experience that not every child would normally experience. Classical music is very healthy for the brain. These days, everybody wants to listen to recorded music, but it’s important to instill a love of live music in the newer generations as well.

43. Pumpkin Patch

Fall is always a fun time of the year, and there are so many activities to do! This includes going to the pumpkin patch. Oftentimes, pumpkin patches not only have pumpkins to pick out and carve, but hayrides, mazes, and fun foods to try. My favorite pumpkin patch treats as a kid were apple cider donuts.

Picnics are easy and simple, probably costing zero dollars to the budget. All you have to do is make sure that every student brings a lunch from home and a blanket to sit on. Then all you have to do is take the class outside, set up the blankets, and they can sit with their friends and eat their lunch. Field Trips don’t always have to be big and extravagant.

45. Waterpark

The waterpark could be a great end-of-the-year activity since it needs to be warmer weather to go swimming. This field trip idea would probably need the most organizing, but it will be much worth it when it all comes together and you can celebrate the year together with students, parents, and teachers. This activity is recommended for older elementary school students that know how to swim.

There are endless opportunities for elementary school field trips! These young students are excited and curious about everything. Many of these places are free of charge and are happy to give a tour or experience to the students. Just make sure to plan everything out in advance and find enough chaperones to supervise the kids alongside the teachers. Good Luck! ( Source )

46. Explore a Local Recreation Center

Another great local resource that students can explore is a local recreation center. Finding and understanding available resources in the community is an important skill for kids as they transition to adulthood. A field trip to a recreation center can also emphasize the importance of health and lifelong physical activity to students as they begin to have more control over their lives.

47. Volunteer at a Food Pantry

Field trip education can be about more than just the sciences; giving high school students opportunities to serve in the community can be an important way for young adults to build character.

Many local food pantries would welcome the assistance of a large group of high school students. Taking a field trip day to volunteer at a local food pantry can help students understand more about supply chain management, while simultaneously helping them to build empathy.

48. Visit a Technology Company/Area

Technology is another area experiencing lots of growth. Helping to expose more students to areas like this can help give them direction when they may have none, and can also help fill a societal need.

If possible, arrange for students to take a field trip to a local software company where they can have opportunities to see the background processes of coding, system networks, and other tech phenomena. Showing students something like a server room, or cable management practices could be beneficial as well!

49. Visit the Capitol or Other Government Building

Whether it’s for History class, Political Science, or just to increase students’ social understanding, taking students to visit a capitol building or other government building can be both interesting and thought-provoking. This can be beneficial for all students as citizens, whether they are interested in pursuing education or careers in government or not.

50. Plan a College Visit

With students looking to the future, being able to get them on a university campus can be extremely helpful in guiding them in their decisions. Planning to visit a campus—or multiple campuses—could be a beneficial experience, especially for those on the fence about going.

Many colleges love to welcome high school students for campus visits and tours. Additionally, students may feel more comfortable being able to do a visit with friends and other peers with similar interests. Since Juniors will be thinking about which colleges to apply to, plan these trips preferably during students’ Junior year!

51. Plan a Photography Trip

With the invention of smartphones, and the popularity of Instagram, all students like to be both the photographer and the model. You can provide a field trip for them by taking them somewhere unique to take pictures and teaching them about principles of good photography, like lighting, balance, and the rule of thirds!

Alternatively, you could take them to a studio and allow them to take portraits or shoot other professional pieces, such as jewelry.

52. Plan a Painting Trip

For your more artsy individuals, you could consider planning a day trip to somewhere scenic where they could practice their painting skills. They could practice landscapes, nature scenes, or even portraits in nature.

53. Plan a Geological Trip

Another trip that could be fun is a trip to a location of geological significance. This could be something visual, such as being able to identify different strata on the side of a mountain, or something more tactile, like digging in an area for pieces of archeological or historical significance. It could even be something as simple as comparing rocks and their features depending on the area in which they’re found.

54. Do a Service Project Using Just Serve

We mentioned service in some of the above ideas (food pantry or homeless shelter), but you could also consider planning your own service project! Whether that’s planting trees locally, visiting an old folks’ home to visit with the residents there, or picking up trash.

There’s actually a great free website called Just Serve that allows you to quickly find service project needs for local non-profits. You could probably find something easy.

Allowing students to plan and prepare their own service activity can get them more engaged and help them feel like they can make a difference themselves.

55. Visit an Escape Room — or Any Activity Just for Fun!

Finally, we’d encourage you to be okay with some field trips being just for fun. Let your students go to an escape room, an amusement park, or a pool just for fun. Students need a break sometimes too!

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE 2024-25 Printable Teacher Calendar! 🗓️

260+ Field Trip Ideas for Grades Pre-K Through 12 (In-Person and Virtual)

Get out of the classroom and explore the world!

Field trips are a quintessential school experience. You usually only get one or two a year so it’s important to do it right! Our roundups of unique field trip ideas have something for every age, subject, and interest. We’ve even got resources like permission slip forms and chaperone tips. Get ready to leave the classroom behind to take learning on the road!

Preschool Field Trip Ideas

Early-grade field trips help kids learn about the world and also teach them good field trip behavior. These are our top picks for the pre-K crowd, but many of the options on our kindergarten list are perfect for this age group too.

• Library: Not every student’s parents take them to story time. Schedule your own trip, and show kids that having fun isn’t hard when you have a library card!
• Farm: Whether you learn how vegetables are grown or where milk and eggs come from, the farm is always a hit.
• Grocery store: Go behind the scenes at the supermarket, and use this trip as the foundation for lessons on healthy eating.
• Park: From local playgrounds to majestic national parks, it’s always worth getting kids into the great outdoors.
• Children’s museum: This is the age group most children’s museums were designed for! They’ll love all the hands-on fun and excitement.
• Post office: Learn how mail is sorted and shipped, and teach students about stamps and other mail-related items.
• Bank: Money is a new concept for these kiddos, and they’ll be fascinated to step inside the vault and learn other bank secrets.
• Fire station: There’s just something about a fire truck that gets every little one excited.
• Nursing home: Is there anything sweeter than watching seniors and wee ones spend time together?
• Animal shelter: For kids who don’t have pets at home, this can be a good introduction to animals. Others will just enjoy the time with dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes.

Elementary School Field Trip Ideas

@mjdstoronto

These are the prime field trip years! Here are our favorite trips for every grade.

• 14 Kindergarten Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 First Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 Second Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 15 Third Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 23 Fourth Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)
• 22 Fifth Grade Field Trips (Virtual and In-Person)

Middle and High School Field Trip Ideas

@salinasvalleybasingsa

For this age group, you’ll need to step up your game a bit. (They’ve probably already been to the zoo, the aquarium, and the art museum.) Try some of these locations, which offer educational, social-emotional, and real-life learning opportunities.

• Food bank: Hold a food drive, then arrange a trip to your local soup kitchen or food pantry. Volunteering makes for truly meaningful field trips.
• Recycling facility: In a time when reducing landfill waste is more important than ever, a trip to a recycling facility can help drive home the message.
• Theater: Many theaters offer behind-the-scenes tours for schools and discount pricing when you buy tickets in bulk. (Want to go virtual? Check out the Hamilton Education Program !)
• Community college: Parents sometimes take kids on college visits, but a community college trip offers opportunities for even more students to see themselves getting a higher education.
• TV station: Kids interested in communications or technology will find this completely fascinating.
• Courtroom: There’s no better way to understand the justice system than to see it in action.
• State or county capitol: Every government class should visit a local capitol to meet with officials and see how the government works.
• Local business: This can be a cool way to learn about managing a business, working with customers, or discovering how products are made.
• Wildlife rehab facility: Introduce students to the people who help injured wild animals recover and live free once again.

Virtual Field Trip Ideas

@edtech_tusd

The terrific thing about virtual field trips is that they eliminate so much of the hassle. No need to collect permission slips, arrange for buses, or recruit chaperones. Plus, they’re usually free!

• 40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips
• 20 Terrific Virtual Art Museum Field Trips
• 18 Incredible Virtual Zoo Field Trips
• 15 Fascinating Aquarium Virtual Field Trips
• 3 Science Virtual Field Trips Let Kids Travel the World

Field Trips by Location

If you live in one of these cities, check out some of our favorite spots.

• 16 Cool Field Trips in Houston, Texas
• 21 Terrific Field Trips in Chicago, Illinois
• Top 10 Washington D.C. Field Trip Ideas

Field Trip Tips and Resources

There’s a lot to do when you’re organizing an off-site field trip. These resources are here to help.

• Preparing Parent Chaperones for a Field Trip
• Free Printable Field Trip and School Permission Forms To Make Your Life Easier
• Things To Do Before Taking Your Students on a Major Field Trip
• Mistakes To Avoid When Planning a Field Trip for Students
• Why I Hate Field Trips (And How I Learned To Deal)
• Help! Is There Any Way I Can Get Out of Our End of the Year Field Trip?

Bonus: Looking for a laugh? Check out  Ways School Field Trips Are Like The Wizard of Oz !

What are your favorite field trip ideas? Come share your thoughts in the  We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus,  virtual college campus tours to explore from home ..

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10 Free Field Trip Ideas!

Looking for some free field trip ideas ?

Homeschooling can be pretty expensive, and field trips (depending on the size of your family) can easily take over a large piece of your budget.

I have scanned through some posts for free field trips and they usually contained things like “visit the cultural section of your grocery store.”

That is not a field trip.

I try to avoid taking my kids to the grocery store and I would certainly not take them there and camp out in an aisle.

People already think homeschoolers are weird enough . Let’s not give them more material to work with.

Anyhow, I decided to get creative and think up my own free field trip ideas.

I came up with some pretty great out of the box suggestions that I think your homeschool is going to love!

But first, let’s talk about…

Basic Tips for Saving Money on Homeschool Field Trips

You are going to come across field trips that are a great fit for your homeschool, but they are far from free.

Here are some awesome tips to get the best possible deal!

1. Don’t be afraid to ask about any homeschool/student deals

Many places will have special rates for students on a field trip.

Call ahead and ask if you can also get a special rate with your homeschool ID/homeschool approval paperwork from your state.

2. Check if there are lower rates in the off season

Last year we got an amazing deal going to a very popular farm festival because we went the day after Halloween.

Ticket prices were slashed by 50%!

Call ahead and ask if there is a discounted rate if you go a certain time of year or even a certain day of the week that is less popular.

3. Check for a lower group rate and invite friends

Field trips destinations often offer a group rate – you can do that too!

Ask how big your group would have to be to lower the cost and ask all your homeschool/co-op buddies to join in!

4. Always bring your own food

It is ridiculous how much food costs these days.

A couple of years ago we paid almost $50 for ice cream and water at the zoo!

If your dollars are tight, be sure to pack your own food and drinks.

***Make sure your kids understand this is the expectation. Maybe offer a special treat in the car for not whining for treats/food from the vendors.

5. Consider creative parking solutions

We went on a “free” field trip once, but the parking was exorbitant!

In hindsight, it would have been cheaper and less stressful to just take an Uber.

Do not assume parking is going to be available or that it is going to be free.

Contact the venue and ask if there are other options or suggestions.

Now without further ado…

10 Free Field Trips Ideas!

1. home depot/lowes saturday morning programs.

If you have a Home Depot or Lowes in your area, this is an amazing program for your kids!

Both companies offer FREE Saturday morning workshops once a month for kids.

Your child will get a free apron to wear and all the supplies to complete the project.

My daughter really enjoyed it and even came home with a little birdhouse!

This field trip is something you can do regularly and help your child learn many life skills.

For older children, there are also adult and specifically women’s classes you can attend together.

To check out more of Home Depot’s program, click HERE .

To check out more of Lowe’s program, click HERE .

If you have kids that are always excited to bake with you – you have to check out a bakery in your area!

My daughters all love baking with me, and they especially love frosting and decorating cakes for birthdays.

I had to call A LOT of bakeries, but I was finally able to get one to let my daughter come behind the counter and shadow a real cake decorator at a bakery!

She was given her own cupcakes to practice frosting technique.

We also got to bring home the cupcakes she worked on!

If you have a little baker in your homeschool, visiting a bakery is a super fun field trip to explore what goes into getting that baked item on a shelf.

3. Restaurants

I had no idea that 20 well known restaurants have nationwide field trip programs for schools and homeschoolers!

The programs vary, but they are definitely worth looking into!

Your kid can learn so much about food safety, job roles in a restaurant, and even get interested in new foods!

You can find out more about each program at this post from SoCal Field Trips.

If you don’t have time, here is a list of the restaurants the website lists:

• Auntie Annie’s
• Applebee’s
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Dairy Queen
• In-N-Out Burger
• Jamba Juice
• John’s Incredible Pizza
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
• The Melting Pot
• OutBack Steakhouse
• Panera Bread
• Papa John’s Pizza
• Peter Piper Pizza
• The Rainforest Cafe
• Red Lobster
• Souplantation

There are a couple more on the website that are unique to California if you live in that area.

IMPORTANT : Some of the restaurants offer free field trips, but many of them have a small charge for the food the child will eat or make.

3. Post Office

What kid doesn’t love getting mail?

Contact your local post office and ask if your homeschool can take a tour of the facility.

Many kids have a hard time conceptualizing how a letter gets from their mailbox to grandma’s house and all the steps needed to make that happen.

You children can learn all about how mail is picked up, sorted, and carried all over the country or the world.

It would be fun to bring a letter for a family member to drop off during the tour!

4. Police Department/Fire Department

I have never met a police officer or fire fighter who didn’t love taking time to talk to and educate kids.

They often already have lots of handouts for kids, coloring pages, etc.

Your kids can learn so much about fire safety, personal safety, and the heroes who step up to serve in their community

Older children may want to know more about how to pursue careers in these fields.

Regardless of ages, I highly recommend helping your children write down a list of questions to ask BEFORE you get there.

Kids can get a little shell shocked in these situations, so having questions in hand can be make everything go smoother.

***If you are a little shy about setting this up yourself, reach out to your homeschool friends or co-op buddies and do it as a group!

5. Historic Buildings/Landmarks/Churches

We are blessed to live in a place with lots of historic landmarks and buildings.

Some of them cost a pretty penny to visit, but a good number are free if you do just a little bit of research to find them online.

If your town has a historic society, that is the first place to start asking questions and researching a ton of free field trip ideas.

We live within driving distance of the church George Washington used to attend, and my kids got to sit in what historians believe to be the same pew he and his family sat in!

Such a neat experience for us and completely free!

6. Nature Hike and Talk with Park Ranger

This is by far one of the easiest AND most rewarding for kids of all ages.

You get to be outside in nature, move around, and not worry about being too loud!

Here are some ideas to make it work for your family:

• Hike on a trail with a book from the library to identify leaves/trees/insects
• Have your child choose something to take a picture of. Go home and draw it, then try to find out as much as you can about it online.
• Collect leaves, twigs, flowers to take home for an art project
• Contact the Park Ranger office for information about a guided hike or informational class

7. Library Programs

We love the library for our homeschool, BUT there is a lot more to a library than books.

I think the librarians are working double time these days to bring kids in the doors.

Look up your local library’s website or pick up a newsletter flier when you’re in there.

I think you’ll be surprised to find out that they offer a lot more than story time.

In a quick glance at our local library newsletter, I found that they offer

• Chess club (instruction included for free)
• History lectures
• STEM challenges
• Storytime with an associated free project to make and take home afterwards
• Family math game night
• Free tutoring for school age children by high schoolers
• Afternoons for kids to practice reading to therapy puppies

So these may not be your typical museum field trips, BUT there is a lot of learning and enrichment to be found in these FREE programs.

Make sure you’re not missing out on what your library has to offer!

8. Lake Shore Learning Craft Classes

If you have a Lake Shore Learning store in your area, you should absolutely check out their FREE Saturday morning craft times.

Crafts are not my strength, so I am all about letting somebody else plan, pay for the supplies, and instruct my child.

Did I mention you don’t even have to register?? Just show up!

Go to Lakeshorelearning.com to find a store near you and check out the crafts they are offering before you pile into the car.

***While you’re on the website be sure to check out their resources tab. They offer a ton of free printables like writing prompt calendars, make your own flashcards, and lesson plans.

9. Government Building

This may not be interesting to your younger students, but middle/high school age kids can learn so much from a free visit to your local government building.

Alea from Premeditated Leftovers has a phenomenal post about this with suggestions such as:

• Requesting an interview with the mayor
• Meeting the county prosecuting attorney
• And even attending a morning in misdemeanor court to watch justice in action

Not your average field trip for sure!

10. Pet Store

Don’t laugh, because my kids actually loved doing this!

We used to live in an isolated area that required quite a drive to get anywhere.

My kids wanted to see animals, but I wasn’t about to drive that far to go to the zoo. Nope.

We did happen to have a huge pet store 1 mile from our house though.

They spent at least an hour there and even asked to go back another day!

There were all kinds of amazing animals (that I would never consider getting for pets) that my kids were fascinated to see so close up:

• exotic fish
• exotic birds
• bunny rabbits
• guinea pigs
• chinchillas
• hermit crabs

My kids barely noticed the typical puppies and kittens at the front of the store!

There was so much to see and look at!

It might feel a little awkward to be on a field trip at a pet store, but I just told the employee that approached me that we would be browsing for a long time.

That was the last I saw him.

A great way to make this frugal field trip idea work for you is:

• Have your kids pick their top favorite animals. Take pictures of them, go home, and find out everything you can through Google and YouTube!
• Have your kids try to guess where these animals can be found in the world, what they eat, and what hunts them. Have a prize for who gets the most information right!
• Have your children pick the most beautiful or interesting animal and draw or make a craft with that animal as the inspiration.

More Fun Frugal Field Trip Ideas

These suggestions are not free, but they are definitely an inexpensive field trip.

Our curriculum has a focus on classical music and it had caused me to have to get creative in order to expose my kids to the arts.

Here is what I came up with:

1. High School Plays/Band Concerts

As a homeschool family, I would absolutely keep a finger on the pulse of the local high schools and community groups  for plays and band concerts.

For a fraction of the price of professional tickets, you can take your kids to hear great music and watch fantastic plays.

This is a great option to see if your kids are even interested in these things. If they are, then maybe consider getting more expensive tickets to a professional play or orchestra as an extra special field trip.

2. Dance School Programs

We were very lucky to hear about a group of local dance schools who put on a group production of the Nutcracker every year.

I could not believe how inexpensive the tickets were!

We had been studying Tchaikovsky that year, so it also fit in perfectly with our curriculum.

We now go every year as our Christmas tradition!

Go online and check out the dance schools around you. Don’t be shy about calling them up and just seeing what they are doing for recitals.

You may be amazed at how fun it will be for your kids to go and watch!

Recap of Free Field Trip Ideas + Free Printable!

I hope this list has you pumped up to try out some free field trip ideas you maybe hadn’t considered yet.

You do not have to spend a ton of money to take your kids on memorable, fun, educational field trips – trust me!

If you struggle with the planning aspect of field trips just as much as the financial part, you have to download my Field Trip Planning Printable!

It will help you get focused, motivated, and committed to getting field trips into your homeschool!

You can download it for FREE today when you subscribe to The Simple Homeschooler (unsubscribe anytime, no spam ever!)!

You will receive Monday morning emails full of homeschool support, encouragement, tips, blog updates, and laughs to start your week off with awesome!

Fill Out the Form Below and Get your Free Field Trip Planning Printable Today!

Free Field Trip Planner Printable!

Are you ready to get thinking, organized, and committed to the field trips you want this year? Download this handy free printable and get after it, Homeschool Mama!

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50 Fun Summer Activities, Crafts & Field Trips (from Pre-K to Teens!)

by Sharon Rowley 2 Comments

Are you thinking about ditching the high price of summer camp for your kids and doing your own DIY summer camp at home? Awesome! Here are 50 fun summer activities- including craft projects, backyard games, and field trips for you to make your summer fantastic!

Fun Summer Activities- For the Backyard!

The basis for your summer camp at home should be fun things that you can do in your own backyard. And ideally- you set them up with your kids at the beginning of the summer, and then you can let them head outside to play on their own- with their siblings or friends!

Fun Summer Activities- That Can Be Enjoyed Indoors!

You'll want to have some fun summer activities planned for indoors as well- not only in the event of rainy days, but some afternoons it's just too hot to be outside all day- and you'll want to cool off inside while still having fun!

Check out some of our family's favorites! Here's our list of the best Backyard Games This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and for those rainy days- here are our favorite board games This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

You can find more great resources for busy Moms over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

Fun Summer Crafts

One of my favorite things to do with my kids in the summer is crafting. I love to dig out all of the craft kits that they received as birthday gifts, but we never had the chance to make. And I especially love finding cool new ideas online and making them together!

Fun Local Field Trips

I like to plan outings that I think of as “local field trips” once a twice a week during the summer. These are places that are either free or don't cost a lot of money (especially if you purchase a family membership), and easy to visit for a couple of hours.

Summer Camp at Home Big Adventures

And no summer camp at home plans would be complete without some big adventures! Whether you save these to do on weekends with your spouse or join up with another family doing their own summer camp at home thing- these are the kinds of outings that will create lasting memories of a great summer together!

Looking for some great ideas for your DIY Summer Camp?

Please check out my DIY Summer Camp page for lots of ideas on how to host your own kids summer camp at home!

Here are some more great summer ideas for you:

• Why We Hold Our Own Kids Summer Camp at Home
• Free Family Summer Bucket List Printable
• Free Printable Summer Schedule

May 16, 2021 at 6:18 pm

Thank you SOOOO much! Love how this is organized!

Boyd Kobe says

September 29, 2018 at 1:15 am

So many fun activities you have here. it’s might be fun with my family. Thank you for sharing and inspiration.

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FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips—early childhood through college. Search for class trips by geographic area, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD Find class trips to children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
• HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES View history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
• LIFE SKILLS Find team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Philadelphia, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, trips to Austin, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

Top Field Trips for Schools, Groups and Families in Atlanta and Beyond

Great field trips build on classroom learning and inspire students. Make these destinations part of your 2024-25 school year plan.

[Featured Field Trips]

Table of Contents

Alliance Theatre

Alliance Theatre offers developmentally appropriate field trips for preschool through 12th grade. Working with the country’s top theater talents, these world-class productions create the powerful experience of shared theatre for a diverse audience. Title I and group discounts are available.

Atlanta History Center

Atlanta History Center offers multi- disciplinary and interactive guided tours for students of all ages that are educational and engaging. Students are encouraged to interact with historical objects while touring award-winning exhibitions, historic houses and gardens. Teachers and homeschool families have the additional option for self-guided tours.

Chattahoochee Nature Center

The Chattahoochee Nature Center has provided environmental education programs to metro Atlanta schools for the past 40 years. Programs are designed to engage students’ natural curiosity and provide experiential learning opportunities in nature. Whether you are studying water quality, fungi, mammals, or geology, CNC’s programs will add a vivid new dimension to your lesson plans.

Chick-fil-A Backstage Tours

Students will learn the story of the company’s history as well as the values and vision of S. Truett Cathy, an entrepreneur who launched one of the most successful chicken restaurants in the United States. Plus, on the Deluxe two-hour tour, they’ll get a sneak peek into the future and an inside look at Chick-fil-A’s test kitchen and Training center.

Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

Immerse students in the rich traditions and pageantry of college football while gaining valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership and hard work. With more than 50 interactive experiences, witness the greatness of legendary players and coaches. The free STEAM curriculum aligns with classroom learning, integrating real-world experiences and academic concepts.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

As Atlanta’s premiere destination for learning through play, Children’s Museum of Atlanta offers a wide range of programs geared toward students in pre-K through third grade. Led by the Museum’s professionally trained educators to support your curriculum, CMA’s programs bring learning through play to your students in fun, hands-on, immersive ways.

Creekwater Alpaca Farm

Embark on an immersive, educational journey and enjoy a truly hands-on encounter with Creekwater’s delightful animals. This charming animal sanctuary has over 100 rescue animals and is a haven for animals and animal loves of all ages.

Fernbank Museum

Interactive STEAM field trips at Fernbank Museum inspire curiosity through adventures in science, nature and human culture. Students can explore three floors of interactive exhibits, explore new places through science documentaries in the four-story Giant Screen Theater, and discover 75 acres of outdoor nature explorations in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest.

Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium’s school programs provide opportunities for students to discover the aquatic realm in an immersive, standards- based learning environment. Students discover conservation efforts and connect with nature through instructor-led programs. Other programs include: self-exploration or bring Georgia Aquarium to your school through Outreach or Virtual Programs.

Interactive Neighborhood for Kids

Interactive Neighborhood for Kids is a wonderful extension of the classroom. Museum exhibits re designed to complement and enhance classroom learning by providing experimental, hands-on learning opportunities in a realistic setting. Educators are given the tools to: encourage hands-on, interactive play, to develop and build new skills, to be eager and curious about learning together.

LEGO ® Discovery Center

Inspires students’ imaginations with educational play! LEGO Discovery Center’s workshops incorporate the LEGO Education BricQ Motion Essential sets to engage students in the exploration of physical science and help foster an understanding of forces, motion and interactions by providing easy hands-on learning experiences. Field trips offer a wonderful balance of learning and fun.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum

Immerse students in the vibrant world of art and culture at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum. Through interactive and interdisciplinary thematic tours, students explore Africa; ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East; ancient Greece and Rome; the Indigenous Americas; and South Asia. Highly trained docents facilitate inquiry and discussion by encouraging observation, analysis, communication and critical thinking.

Museum of Aviation

Take a flight through history! The Ask. Challenge. Educate. (ACE) field trip program offers 1st-5th grade students interactive STEM experiences highlighting goal setting and problem-solving skills. The programs feature grade-specific hands-on curriculum and activities correlated to the Georgia Science Standards of Excellence.

Museum of Design Atlanta

At Museum of Design Atlanta’s IRL and virtual field trips and workshops, students learn design and STEM skills so they can become tomorrow’s changemakers. Whether designing cities, learning about biomimicry, architecture or game design, or trying out new technologies, they’ll learn to think like a designer while honing problem-solving skills and exploring a diverse range of career fields.

The Pettit Preserve

Field trips at the Pettit Preserve include educational, hands-on, outdoor-based curricula, designed to teach about local environments and standards-based science concepts. The Preserve provides on-site Georgia Standards of Excellence aligned environmental education programs for PreK-12th grade, as well as programs for colleges, scouts, and individuals and families.

Piedmont Park Conservancy

Piedmont Park Conservancy field trips are STEM-based and aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence. From hands-on experiments to educational hikes and outdoor games, the Park’s carefully crafted programs will captivate students of all ages. Choose from an on-site field trip in the green heart of Atlanta, or have an environmental educator come to your classroom for an exciting outreach program.

Zoo Atlanta

Connect students to animals, careers, conservation, and all things Zoo Atlanta through a variety of field trip options, such as Self-Guided, Wild Walks, and Zoo Challenge Programs. Students can also take a trip to the Zoo without getting on a bus with Virtual Field Trips. All programs align with the Georgia Standards of Excellence and connect students to issues affecting wildlife and wild places.

Museum Field Trips

Atlanta History Center. Atlanta. Atlanta Preservation Center. Atlanta. APEX Museum. Atlanta. Bartow History Museum. Cartersville. Booth Western Art Museum. Cartersville. Chick-fil-A Backstage Tours. Atlanta. Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta. Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Atlanta. Computer Museum of America. Roswell. Fernbank Museum. Atlanta. Fernbank Science Center. Atlanta. Georgia Aquarium . Atlanta. Georgia Capitol Museum . Atlanta. High Museum of Art. Atlanta. Hudgens Center for Art & Learning. Duluth. Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, Inc. Gainesville. LEGO Discovery Center. Buckhead. Margaret Mitchell House. Atlanta. Michael C. Carlos Museum . Atlanta. MODA: Museum of Design Atlanta . Atlanta. Museum of Illusions. Atlanta. Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking.  Atlanta. Southeastern Railway Museum . Duluth. Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History. Kennesaw. Teaching Museum North. Roswell. Teaching Museum South. Hapeville. William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. Atlanta. World of Coca-Cola. Atlanta.

Nature and Science Field Trips

Atlanta Botanical Garden. Atlanta. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve. Johns Creek. Big Trees Forest Preserve. Sandy Springs. Chattahoochee Nature Center. Roswell. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Atlanta. Dahlonega Butterfly Farm. Dahlonega. Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve . Lithonia. Dunwoody Nature Center. Dunwoody. Elachee Nature Science Center. Gainesville. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. Buford. Johns Creek Environmental Campus.  Alpharetta. Jurassic World: The Exhibition (through Nov. 12). Atlanta. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Kennesaw. McDaniel Farm Park.  Duluth. Panola Mountain State Park. Stockbridge. The Pettit Preserve. Dallas. Piedmont Park Conservancy Atlanta. Sloomoo Institute. Atlanta. Tellus Science Museum. Cartersville. Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture. Atlanta.

Performing Arts Field Trips

Alliance Theatre. Atlanta. Center for Puppetry Arts. Atlanta. Medieval Times. Lawrenceville.

Historic Sites and Homes Field Trips

Bulloch Hall. Roswell. Funk Heritage Center. Waleska. Georgia Capitol Museum. Atlanta. Governor’s Mansion. Atlanta. Historic Mable House. Mableton. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site. Atlanta. Oakland Cemetery. Atlanta. Root House Museum. Marietta. Smith Plantation. Roswell. The Wren’s Nest. Atlanta.

Adventure Field Trips

Atlanta Braves Truist Park Tours. Atlanta. Illuminarium. Atlanta. Malibu Grand Prix. Norcross. Mountasia Family Fun Center. Marietta. Six Flags Theme Park. Austell. Stone Mountain Park. Stone Mountain. Treetop Quest. Buford and Dunwoody. VanGogh: The Immersive Experience (through Oct. 30). Atlanta.

Animals and Farm Field Trips

The Art Barn At Morning Glory Farm. Canton. Creekwater Alpaca Farm . Snellville. Georgia Aquarium. Atlanta. L&R Alpaca Farm. Douglasville. Pettit Creek Farms. Cartersville. Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Dawsonville. Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary. Lilburn. Zoo Atlanta. Atlanta.

Field Trips Beyond Atlanta

Anniston Museum and Gardens. Anniston, Ala. Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center. Mountain City. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Bryson City, N.C. Museum of Aviation. Warner Robins. North Georgia Wildlife Park. Cleveland. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Chattanooga. UGA Marine Center and Aquarium. Savannah.

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Awesome Field Trip Ideas for Students of All Ages

There’s no question about it: students love field trips! Field trips are an exciting and unique way to get students out of the classroom and into the “real world” during the school year. Some of your best memories from your own school days might be the awesome field trips you and your classmates took. Are you looking for fun and educational field trip ideas to inspire students of all ages? Maybe you’re stumped on where to take older students or brainstorming homeschool field trips. Whether you’re teaching elementary, middle, or high school students, look no further than these great ideas for field trips!

Visit a Museum

Museums are time-honored field trip destinations for a good reason! They provide entertaining and educational talking points for classes of all ages and are already created to appeal to younger and older students alike. Check out these kinds of museums.

• Art museums
• Science museums (don’t skip the planetarium!)
• Maritime museums
• Archaeology museums
• Historic house/building museums
• Cemetery or gravesite museums
• Technology museums

Enjoy Nature

The natural world is an invaluable learning resource and a source of countless field trip ideas! These nature-based field trip ideas will be sure to keep your students entertained.

National or state parks

Go for a hike or tour the visitor’s center at your local state or national park. Supporting the national parks system helps it stay beautiful for years to come! You can integrate geography, biology, history, geology, and more into your visit.

Botanical gardens

Botanical gardens are beautiful and a great place to talk about science and art. You can even have your students do a photography project!

Sculpture gardens

While sculpture gardens are technically more art than nature, they are another fabulous field trip idea. Some are even interactive or encourage touching the art!

Meet the Animals

Whether you’re wrangling 35 middle school students or you’re a parent teaching homeschooled kids, you’d have a hard time finding a student without a favorite animal, and chances are they’ll see that animal when you visit one of these destinations!

Zoos or conservation centers

The zoo is another field trip idea that has stood the test of time. Many zoos offer group or student discounts and include built-in activities for your visit, such as scavenger hunts or guided tours.

Farms are not only a place to visit animals but also a chance to talk about history, biology, and even economics. Plus, you can never go wrong by supporting your local farmers!

If you asked students their favorite field trip idea on this list, many would vote for a visit to the aquarium! Aquariums engage students of all ages while providing helpful information about the natural world.

Fish hatcheries

A fish hatchery might not be the first location that comes to mind when you think about entertaining your students, but it’s actually a great field trip idea. Fish hatcheries are full of interesting information, often offer tours, and can provide a wealth of knowledge on your local region’s waterways.

Watch a Show

Taking your students to a show serves as a jumping-off point for conversations about literature, art, theater, music, and everything else under the sun. It also makes an ideal rainy-day trip as your students will stay safe and dry. These and more performances make great learning experiences for your students.

• Theater productions
• Acrobatic performances
• Magic shows
• Presentations (think TED Talks!)
• Book talks or poetry readings

Get Patriotic

The United States has many unique characteristics that you can talk about while teaching anything from history to archaeology to government. Visit these uniquely American destinations!

Capital buildings

Whether you visit your state capital or the nation’s capital in Washington, DC, there’s always something to learn about American history when you visit its source!

Historical sites

You don’t have to go to a museum to see historical artifacts and buildings — some of them are in your own backyard! Check out historical sites near you and see if any offer tours.

Post offices

The United States Postal Service is a venerable and uniquely American institution that’s been around for hundreds of years, and your students can learn about anything from history to commerce to government by taking a post office tour! Many post offices will be glad to help you arrange a visit with your students.

Teaching the value of ecological preservation? It’s always a good lesson for students to learn their impact on the world around them. Try these field trip ideas for a greener world:

• A recycling center
• An alternative energy plant
• The local landfill or garbage processing facility
• An ecological cleanup site (can also serve as an opportunity for volunteer work!)

Explore the Working World

It’s never too early to talk to your students about the future, which means career-based field trip ideas are always on the table. Explore the working world when you visit these destinations.

• TV stations
• Manufacturing plants or factories
• Science labs
• Technology companies
• Courthouses
• Healthcare facilities
• Food production facilities
• Colleges or universities

Reward Your Students

While field trips are about having fun as much as they’re about an educational experience, some field trips serve more to reward your students for their hard work at the end of the school year or after a particularly hard quarter or semester. Sometimes you can even sneak in a few physics, math, or English lessons, too! You’re sure to make students happy when you arrive at these destinations.

Bowling alley

Bowling is a great field trip idea for students who just need some time to have fun. You can often rent out a whole bowling alley to accommodate as many students as needed.

Laser tag/arcade

Everyone loves laser tag! Laser tag arenas often include arcades as well for students who don’t want to run around in the dark. There are often group and student discounts for laser tag, although it can be on the pricier side of field trip ideas.

Ice skating

Ice skating is a unique and fun field trip idea that is relatively easy to organize! It’s best suited for older students who view learning to skate as a fun challenge.

Sports game

Do you have a class full of aspiring MLB or NBA players? Trying to get your homeschooled kids interested in sports? Going to a baseball, football, basketball, or soccer game can be a fun class activity. Make sure you can book seats all together so your students can bond and relax watching the game while you keep an eye on the venue.

Amusement park

What list of field trip ideas would be complete without mentioning a visit to an amusement park? Amusement parks are designed to be fun, meaning there’s something every student can enjoy. However, they can be somewhat overwhelming, so be sure to check out these tips for an amusement park trip with kids before you go.

School Bus Rentals For Field Trips

Ready to take your students to a destination they’ll love? YellowBird Bus Company provides school bus rentals for all kinds of field trips, no matter where you’re headed! Contact us today, and we’ll get you and your students rolling!

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Field Trips

New Hampshire has many wonderful places to explore! Below are suggested field trip places; some provide student group discounts and educational resources.

Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center - Quincy, MA

American Heritage Museum - Stow, MA

American Independence Museum - Exeter, NH

America's Stonehenge - Salem NH

Amoskeag Fishways - Manchester NH

Battleship Cove - Fall River, MA

Beaver Brook Association - Hollis NH

Beech Hill Farm - Hopkinton, NH

Blue Ocean Discovery Center - Hampton, NH

Boston Harbor Islands - Boston, MA

Boston Public Library - Boston, MA

Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum - Boston, MA

Bunker Hill Monument - Charlestown, MA

Butterfly Place - Westford, MA

Canterbury Shaker Village - Canterbury NH

Camp Lincoln - Exeter NH

Capital Center for the Arts - Concord, NH

Cathedral of the Pines - Rindge, NH

Children's Museum - Boston, MA

Children's Museum of New Hampshire - Dover, NH

Colonial Theatre - Keene, NH

Currier Museum of Art - Manchester NH

Hannah Duston Memorial - Penacook, NH

Fort Constitution State Historic Site - New Castle, NH

Franklin Pierce Homestead - Hillsborough, NH

Freedom Trail - Boston, MA

Robert Frost Farm - Derry, NH

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Birthplace - Salem, MA

Historic Connecticut

Historic Sites of Salem - Salem, MA

House of the Seven Gables - Salem, MA

James House Museum - Hampton, NH

John Paul Jones House - Portsmouth, NH

International Cryptozoology Museum - Portland, ME

iRobot - Bedford MA

Liberty Ride: Lexington, Concord - Lexington, MA

Living Shores Aquarium - Glen, NH

Maine Historic Sites - Maine

Maine Narrow Guage Railroad Company and Museum - Portland, ME

Majestic Theatre - Derry and Manchester, NH

Mariposa Museum - Peterborough NH

Massabesic Center - Auburn NH (Audubon NH)

Massachusetts Historic Sites - Massachusetts

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center - Concord NH

Millyard Museum - Manchester, NH

Mommy Up: resource for playgrounds, hiking trails, and more - statewide

Montshire Museum of Science - Norwich VT

Mosaic Explore Enrichment Program - Manchester NH

Mount Kearsage Indian Museum - Warner, NH

Museum of Fine Arts - Boston, MA

Museum of Science - Boston, MA

New England Aquarium - Boston MA

New Hampshire Boat Museum - Wolfeboro Falls, NH

New Hampshire Farm Museum - Milton, NH

New Hampshire Historic Sites - New Hampshire

New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

New Hampshire Telephone Museum - Warner, NH

New Hampshire Veterans Heritage Learning Center - Boscawen, NH

Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, MA

Palace Theatre - Manchester, NH

Peabody Mill Environmental Center/Amherst Recreation - Amherst NH

Plimoth Plantation - Plymouth, MA

Portland Museum of Art - Portland, ME

Portland Science Center - Portland, ME

Portsmouth Anthenaeum - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail - Portsmouth, NH

Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center - Laconia, NH

Prudential Center SkyWalk - Boston, MA

Real Pirates - Salem, MA

Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm - Tamworth, NH

Paul Revere House - Boston, MA

Saint-Gaudens Memorial - Cornish, NH

Seacoast Science Center , Rye, NH

See Science Center - Manchester, NH

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center - Holderness NH

Stonyfield Yogurt Works - Londonderry, NH

Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth NH

Sub Zero Ice Cream (offers group demos) - Manchester and Nashua, NH

Taylor Mill State Historic Site - Derry, NH

Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe, VT

USS Albacore Submarine - Portsmouth, NH

USS Constitution - Charlestown, MA

Van Otis Chocolates Tour, Manchester NH

Vermont Historic Sites – Vermont

Woodman Museum - Dover, NH

Wright Museum - Wolfeboro, NH

Virtual Field Trips

Arts and Culture -- explore The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

Boston Children's Museum -- visit the museum without leaving your home

Colonial Williamsburg -- immerse yourself in the sites of Colonial Williamsburg

Conservation -- a virtual tour of the Amazon River basin and Guiana Shield in South America

Discovery Education -- a variety of virtual field trips and education materials

Ditch That Textbook -- a list of 25 virtual field trips and extension activities

Food Network -- learn how M&M candies are made

Louvre -- visit this world-famous French museum and the beautiful art, and don't miss the family-friendly online resources

NASA -- groups of 15 or more school-age participants can arrange for a variety of virtual field trips

Nature -- explore the world in several virtual field trips designed for ages 9 to 15

Open Culture – virtual tour of Russia’s Heritage Museum

Paris Museum – thousands of works available online

Romper -- Walt Disney World and Disneyland virtual rides

Scholastic -- take a virtual field trip to Ellis Island

Science Museum (UK) -- extensive online materials, featured exhibits and resources rotate periodically

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History -- explore the museum and all their exhibits

Team Building -- list of dozens of virtual zoo and aquarium tours

Title Max List of Virtual Field Trips - museums, landmarks, historic marvels, science adventures and more

Virtual Tours of Amazing Architecture Around the World 

Yellowstone National Park -- explore several areas of this national treasure

Our website will be revamped to – be easier for members to find exactly what you need – be more intuitive for new homeschoolers to start with confidence – build and support communities apart from social media platforms

We cannot wait to share this with you this summer.