

Field trips can be more than just extras in your homeschool. They are one of the best tools you have in your homeschooling toolbox. Adding field trips to your homeschool will make learning come alive for your children and create lifelong memories. Field trips are the perfect example of hands-on, real-life learning and they are one of the best ways to enjoy learning in a fun way with a homeschool group or just with your own family. It’s great to use a field trip as a nice break after a busy week or use it as a way to complement a lesson you are already doing.
Benefits of field trips include real life learning beyond books, socialization, motivation, information retention, family bonding and exercise, and even future career exploration. Field trips can raise your spirits, renew your zest for learning, and give kids a break from the challenging tasks of day-to-day bookwork.
Field trips don’t need to be expensive. There are many community and public service type field trips ideas that are totally free. You can also check out our extensive Free Online Virtual Museum Tours.
BTDT Homeschool was created with a heartfelt mission: to empower and give back to the secular homeschool community.
Through our informative podcasts, blog posts, daily inspiration, and a wide range of free printable tools, we aim to empower you on your homeschooling journey.
New to Homeschooling?
Getting Started in Homeschool>>

There are also these two organizations that offer amazing reciprocal programs:
Basically, if you have a membership in your town to one of these participating museums or facilities or to the program itself, you can often use the benefits in other places. These programs are:
If you are a member of a science center or museum participating in the, you are eligible for benefits such as free general admission when you travel outside of your local area.
American Horticultural Society
A current membership card from here or from a garden participating in our Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP) entitles you to special admission privileges and discounts* at 345+ gardens throughout North America!
Are field trips expensive for homeschoolers?
How do you find unique field trips?
How do you organize a field trip?
Listen to our Field Trip Epidode for answers to these questions>>
Free Field Trip Pack
As you plan field trips for your homeschool, this resource will help you take full advantage of these natural learning opportunities. This homeschool field trip pack includes:
*Tips to planning a field trip
*100 field trip idea check-off list
*Review sheet to help your kids reflect on their experience. Give your children prompts for writing and drawing about their adventures.

100 Field Trips:
Public Services
1. State or Nation’s Capitol

2. Airport/Air Traffic Control Tower or radar facility

3. Fire Station

4. Police Station
5. City Hall

6. Safety town

7. Post Office
8. Library Tour

9. Local university tour
10. Recycling Center
11. Environmental Centers
12. Power plant
13. Water treatment facility
14. US Mint or Federal Reserve

15. Federal Buildings or monuments: National Archive

Transportation
16. Train Depot or Railway Museum/stockyard

17. Bus/Trolley station or museum

18. Boat/marina

19. Regional Airport/FBO/Heliport

20. Aviation Museum
Community field trips
21. Bakery
22. Pizza Parlor
23. Local Coffee Shop/Bean Roaster

24. Grocery Store
25. Factory Tours
26. Amazon warehouse

27. Ice cream shop

28. Science lab tours
29. Music recording studio
30. TV or radio station
31. Military base
The Arts
32. Symphony Hall

33. Opera House
34. Theater

35. Children’s Theatre or puppet theater
36. Local universities or community college arts performances, exhibits, or installations
37. Local community concerts/live events

38. Open Mic nights

39. Hands on art instruction classes or make your own places
Outdoor
40. Amusement Park

41. John Deere or farm Feed & Seed store
42. Pumpkin patch
43. Nature Hikes on local trails

44. Nature Centers/Wildlife Preserve

45. Beekeeper or Beekeepers convention

46. Christmas Tree Farm
47. Fruit Picking

48. Farmers Market
49. State and National Parks

50. Caves, mountains, other natural land formations

51. Lakes, rivers, creeks or canoeing or kayaking

52. Dams/bridges

53. Arboretum/Botanical Garden/Greenhouse
History

54. Local Landmarks
55. Cemetery tour
56. Battlefields/Birthplaces
57. Holocaust/Human Rights Museum
58. Historical Societies/Sites/Events

59. Colonial Reenactments or “Pioneer” Trips
60. Blacksmithing, Woodworking, Glassblowing, Pottery, Basket or Candle Making Demonstrations

61. Native American Cultural Centers and sites
62. Archaeological dig
Animals
63. Aquariums

64. Local reptile store

65. Zoo or Wildlife Refuge

66. Farm or Ranch

67. Veterinarian or Animal Shelter
68. Fish Hatchery
69. Marine Animal rescue or center

Museums/Galleries/Collections
70. Art/Sculpture Museum

72. Science Museum

71. History Museum

73. Military/War Museum

74. Music Museum

75. Flight Museum

76. Cultural Museum
77. Presidential Museum or Library

78. Planetarium/Observatory/Astronomy Club

79. Imax
80. Space center

Festivals or Cultural Activities
81. Renaissance Festival
82. Cultural festivals-Greek, Celtic, festival, Chinese New Year, International Festival, etc.

83. Church/Synagogue/Mosque/Temple

84. Balloon Festival
85. Gem and Mineral convention
86. Music Festivals
87. PowWows
88. Air shows
Fun stuff
89. Roller Skating Rink

90. Ice skating
91. Live sports game- baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer

92. Archery
93. Esports arena
Volunteering
94. Homeless Shelter
95. Senior Center

96. Refugee Community
Pop-up Travel Exhibits
97. Dinosaur Park
98. Global Water Center

99. Popular shows- Stranger Things, Friends, etc.
100. Kitschy tourist attractions
