Field Trips
Who says homeschooling has to happen at home? Most homeschoolers will tell you that they spend almost as much time out of the house as in it. Field trips are learning opportunties that offer fun ways to make every life experience a learning experience. You'll also find tips and strategies for planning, managing, and attending field trips with your homeschool support group.
Resources
Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking
With Jim Arnosky as your guide, an ordinary hike becomes an eye-opening experience. He'll help you spot a hawk soaring far overhead and note the details of a dragonfly up close. Study the black-and-white drawings -- based on his own field research -- and you'll discover if those tracks in the brush were made by a deer or a fox.
In his celebrated style, this author, artist, and naturalist enthusiastically shares a wealth of tips. Jim Arnosky wants you to enjoy watching wildlife. He carefully explains how field marks, shapes, and location give clues for identifying certain plants and animals wherever you are. He gives hints for sharpening observational skills. And he encourages you to draw and record birds, insects, shells, animal tracks, and other finds from a busy day's watch.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,180-mile footpath along the ridgecrests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in northern Georgia. It traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, it was built by private citizens and completed in 1937. The trail traverses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.
Community Field Trips in Pennsylvania
CiCi's Pizza Field Trips
CiCi's Pizza offers Lunch & Learn Field Trips for school groups. This is a hands-on workshop at CiCi's designed by teachers to help kids develop basic math skills. Students use pizza ingredients and other related items to solve problems, and in the process make and enjoy their very own pizza! They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced math level curricula.
Factory Tours in Pennsylvania
United States Mint Tour
The U.S. Mint at Philadelphia offers free tours of its production facilities. Touring the United States Mint is a fascinating experience for those of all ages and one that will be remembered for a lifetime. Tours cover both the present state of coin manufacturing as well as the history of the Mint. Learn about the craftsmanship required at all stages of the minting process, from the original designs and sculptures to the actual striking of the coins. There is a also a gift shop at this location selling commemorative coins, books, games, and other souvenirs. There are some security procedures associated with your visit. Be sure to check their website for their current security status.
Wilbur Chocolate Company
Wilbur Chocolate Company is located in Lititz, which lies in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home to the nation's oldest settlement of "Plain" people of Amish, Mennonite, and Brethern faiths. This historic company has been in the candy business since 1865. Enjoy a tour and a taste of some free samples.
Zoos & Wildlife
Erie Zoo
Set on 15 beautifully landscaped acres, the Erie Zoo is home to over 500 animals from the far reaches of the wild (and some closer to home)! Visit Kiboka Outpost - the African Grasslands for a savanna adventure. Take a ride on the Safariland express to a home where the buffalo (and mouflon sheep...and sika deer...) roam. Make new friends with domestic and exotic animals in the Children¹s Zoo. Sign up for an EdZooCation program and boost your eco-IQ.
ZOOAMERICA North American Wildlife Park
ZOOAMERICA in Hershey is an 11-acre walk-through zoo home to animals and living plants native to five regions of North America, featuring over 200 animals, representing 75 species. ZOOAMERICA is open year-round, allowing guests to view and enjoy native wildlife throughout the seasons. The Zoo is located just across the walking bridge from HERSHEYPARK.
Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
Clyde Peeling's Reptiland is a specialized zoo featuring high-profile reptiles and amphibians from around the world. The zoo is located on US Route 15 in Allenwood, Pennsylvania and offers visitors wild encounters in a modern educational setting. Explore the world of mambas, cobras, vipers, pythons and other rare and beautiful snakes. Giant alligators, gentle tortoises, curious lizards and colorful frogs also await discovery on this zoological adventure. An exciting multi-media show reveals the close-up world of reptiles on the big screen and live lecture demonstrations offer guests the chance to touch harmless specimens and speak with friendly experts.
Elmwood Park Zoo
Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown exhibits over 120 animals in naturalistic, animal-appropriate habitats. Among the most popular animals are the river otters, cougars, and our spotted and melanistic (all-black) jaguars. The Zoo also exhibits animals that are either presently endangered (like the jaguar, bison, and Chinese alligator) or represent successful returns from the endangered species list, like the bald eagle. One exhibit features the black-footed ferret, considered to be among the most endangered animals in North America.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Located five miles east of downtown Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is a 77-acre naturalistic habitat facility that is home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of diverse species. Highlights include the Asian Forest, African Savanna, Tropical Forest Complex, Cheetah, Valley, Aquarium, and more.
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo features more than 1,600 animals from around the world, picturesque Victorian gardens, outstanding art and historical architecture. Also offers special exhibits and educational programs.
National Aviary
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh is America’s only independent indoor nonprofit bird zoo. Located in historic North Side’s West Park, the Aviary is home to 600+ birds of more than 200 species. Many are threatened or endangered in the wild. The natural, planted exhibits allow visitors an up-close view of the bird world. From hummingbirds to Andean Condors, the birds represent nearly every continent, with a particular emphasis on rainforest and wetland habitats. The National Aviary also offers nearly twenty educational forums for both children and adults.
Field Trip Tips & Guidelines
A Field Trip Should Not Be a Free-For-All
A reminder of the importance of teaching children respect and proper behavior when out enjoying field trips.
5 Steps to a Successful Field Trip
Summer is a great time for field trips. Your schedule may be a bit more flexible, making it the perfect time to head out and explore! Field trips are an excellent way to enhance the learning done during the previous school year and inspire future learning. Planning and enjoying a field trip for a group or for your own family is easy. Here is a list of ideas to make the most of every experience.
Field Trip Guidelines
Some helpful guidelines from Home School Legal Defense Association. The guidelines could easily be adapted as a list for members of a homeschool group. There is also a helpful checklist for field trip planners.
Organizing Homeschool Field Trips for Groups
Organizing group field trips is becoming a highly desired activity in homeschool support groups and co-ops. Not only do they offer social interaction but learning experiences as well. But without good planning, a field trip can end up being just a glorified play date. Home education time is limited, especially with the increasing number of extra curricular options for homeschoolers. Parents are becoming more selective of outside activities and attendance on group trips will fall off if participants aren’t seeing an educational benefit in addition to social time. This e-book will describe how to plan and host a great group field trip that will leave
the participants anxious for more and perhaps even take a turn at planning themselves.
The Ideal Homeschool Field Trip
Guidelines for planning a great outing with your homeschooling kids. This post is written by an experienced homeschooler who loves to get out and about to learn in a variety of ways.
Field Trip Planning Form
Helpful form for getting organized when planning field trips. Free and printable.
Field Trip Report Form
This handy printable form lets your child record a written record of your field trip visit.
Planning Homeschool Field Trips: 10 Things To Do Before You Go
Children enjoy field trips because they’re able to explore new destinations. Parents enjoy field trips because they offer children hands-on learning and specialized information. Farms, museums, gardens, landmarks, industrial centers, battlegrounds, and businesses are great field trip destinations. Educational opportunities at these sites are plentiful, so homeschool parents will want to venture out so their children can glean valuable information. However, in order to experience a worthwhile field trip, some advanced planning is necessary. Here are ten things to do before you go on a homeschool field trip.
Field Trip Guidelines for Homeschool Groups
This letter can be used to establish an understanding about homeschool groups when you organize a field trip.
10 Rules for Taking Field Trips
At the beginning of each school year, it would be a good time to have a field trip manners lesson with your support group. Parents and children alike sometimes need to think about what it’s like to be a docent or tour leader. Perhaps your group would even like to consider creating some field trip rules. The rules in this article are ten examples.
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