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.
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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
