Field Trip Planning Guide

I chaperoned numerous class field trips during my kids’ public school years. These outings hold some of my favorite memories of their early education. I loved the opportunity to engage with the students in a unique learning environment, to see their eyes light up when an exciting discovery was made, and to hear their laughter as they worked together to accomplish a task.

Our elementary school provided a wide variety of learning experiences in and around the city where we live. Through guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences these trips introduced new and exciting ideas, helped solidify scientific concepts, and brought history to life. If I had to pick a favorite field trip, I’d probably go with the Baltimore Museum of Industry, followed a close second by the Baltimore City Trip which included a tour of Camden Yards… and where I learned the Fells Point streets are not paved in cobblestone, but Belgian Block. If you are ever in the area, check out the Federal Hill playground, you won’t be disappointed!

I believe field trips are a valuable part of every child’s education. Exposing kids to a variety of unique learning opportunities makes learning fun, encourages exploration and discovery, and builds social skills. Engaging the senses – sight, sound, touch, smell, and even taste helps students better comprehend and retain what they are taught. Many of these learning activities cannot be replicated in the classroom or home.

As a homeschool parent it is my responsibility (and privilege!) to plan our learning activities. I love the freedom which home educating allows, the flexibility to pursue activities tailored to my children’s interests, as well as our family’s budget and time schedule. Since my kids are teens, I decided to take a collaborative approach. I present options to them and together we determine which trips would be most beneficial to their interests and future career aspirations.

To keep track of our activities I created a field trip planner page. This log includes space to write relevant information such as the trip date, the location’s address, cost, parking information, timed entries, meal plan, and more. I keep it in our portfolio review folder for reference should I need it. If you would to purchase a copy of this Field Trip Log, it is available here in the Wildrose Media store.

Here is a step-by-step process for planning field trips that may be useful to those new to homeschooling or unfamiliar with planning an educational excursion.

Steps for Planning a Field Trip 

1. Set Up a Field Trip Budget

For many of us, cost is an important factor in deciding which learning activities or experiences to pursue. The fun and excitement of exploring new and exciting locations must be balanced with the reality of our financial situation. To avoid the burden of debt, allocate some money either monthly or annually to fund field trips and outings.

Once you have determined your budget, use it as a guide for choosing the places you wish to visit. We often mix free or low-cost events with pricier ones. Here are some tips to make your field trip budget stretch further:

• Seek out free events and locations. Many museums or art galleries are free or accept donations as an entrance fee. Join homeschool groups online to learn of inexpensive adventures in your area.
• Use a coupon. Sites such as Groupon and Living Social offer deep discounts on all types of activities- from horseback riding, to bowling, to city tours. You may want to bookmark the sites and check back regularly as these offers change often.
• Take advantage of special homeschool days and events. Many venues offer discounts to homeschool families on specific dates. Places such as zoos, museums, and science centers offer deep discounts once or twice per year. Be prepared to act quickly on these tickets- they sell out fast! Check the location’s website for dates, prices, and ticket availability.
• Sign up for a class. Classes which are taught in locations such as museums or science centers often include free admission to the venue. Arrive early or stay after the class and explore the location for free.
• Create or purchase a homeschool ID card to gain access to teacher and student discounts. Don’t have an ID? Here’s my blog which contains a step-by-step guide to creating your own ID cards. The blog also offers links to purchase ready-made ID cards, if preferred.
• Join a homeschool co-op or gather friends and church members to qualify for a group discount. This takes some planning and coordination, but a little effort can save you tons.
• Attend high school or college plays, sports matches, and dance recitals. These free and low-cost alternatives to the professional venues can be amazingly well done and enjoyable. Bonus- it gives you an opportunity to connect with and support your community as well!

2. Decide Your Destination

Traditional schools typically return to the same locations year after year. (As a former chaperone, I know this to be true!). These field trips usually follow certain learning objectives which complement the curriculum being studied for that grade level. While a fun way to reinforce what students are taught, it is difficult to find an activity which engages and appeals to all students in a class full of unique personalities, strengths, and interests. As a homeschool parent you can tailor your outings to the specific interests, as well as the social, emotional, and physical needs of your child. The needs of the family as a whole must also be addressed in the decision-making process.

• If you have a young child or person with physical limitations in your group, do some research online to determine whether a location is wheelchair or stroller-friendly, if there are on-site restrooms, or other amenities you may need.
• Ask around. Friends, family, and other homeschool parents are great resources for field trip ideas and recommendations.
• Read online reviews from past visitors to get a sense of the environment and perceived value.
• Decide what the learning objectives and goals are for this adventure. In addition to reinforcing school lessons, you can use these trips to teach life skills, develop and strengthen social skills, or even discover new interests in sports and activities.
• Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Sometimes the trip is the adventure. My kids loved it when my mom (their Oma) would take them for a ride on the light rail. She’d treat them to ice cream at the last stop, then they’d head home, full of stories of who and what they saw.
• For a list of field trip ideas, see my blog post,  Field Trip Ideas for Homeschool Families.

3. Contact the Venue

If you have any additional questions, are unsure about parking, have specific requests, or need special accommodations it is best to contact the venue directly. The website will often provide a field trip coordinator email or phone number.

When traveling with a group or even as a family, tours or even special behind the scenes access can sometimes be arranged through this coordinator – it doesn’t hurt to ask!

4. Arrange Transportation

While most of us are used to driving our personal vehicles to wherever we want to go, there are times when this is not desirable or even practical. Some locations have limited parking or the cost to park is outrageous.

In these instances it may be fun to try something new. One of my daughter’s favorite fieldtrips during her time in public school was to St. Mary’s City, MD. Interestingly, her memories are not of what she saw while touring this historic town but rather of the journey to get there. Her school had chartered a tour bus complete with tv screens, a bathroom, and plush reclining seats. Hanging with friends on this luxurious bus was great fun, an experience she looks back on fondly.

While I am not suggesting you charter a bus for your next field trip, you might consider alternative travel means such as walking, biking, or public transportation. If you wish to bike, be sure to take bike locks and determine if helmet storage and on-site or nearby bike parking is available. Bus routes and schedules are available online, and you can print it out or have a route map and summary sent to your mobile phone. Hiring a car and driver (such as an Uber) may also be an option.

If you do decide to drive your personal vehicle, it may be wise to determine where you will park before you leave home. Once this is decided it is smart to purchase your parking ticket in advance, especially if traveling a long distance to visit. Popular destinations may have limited spaces and once these are gone, drivers will be turned away. Families with larger vehicles such as RVs will need to determine if the desired venue offers sufficiently sized parking. If not, and no alternative is found this activity may not be feasible.

In addition, information about parking availability will help you plan your route. Some sites offer multiple entrances with larger lots or side street parking available at one entrance but not the other (such as the National Zoo in D.C.).

Occasionally off-site parking is necessary with buses or trams transporting visitors to the front gate. Being aware of this will help you properly prepare for your day. Packing a backpack with all your needs will be a lifesaver if you are unable to return to your vehicle easily or in a timely manner.

5. Make a Meal Plan

Food choices may be limited at certain venues. If you are on a special diet or are traveling with small children, it may be wise to check with the website or field trip coordinator for meal options prior to visiting.

For some families, a bagged lunch is the perfect plan while others include a meal as part of the experience. The Bible Museum in Washington, DC for instance offers an authentic Israeli menu. If you do decide to pack a lunch, make it special by including a treat or favorite snack.

Some venues have outdoor picnic areas while others offer a lunchroom option. Strollers or backpacks provide a convenient means of toting along a bagged lunch. I confess to using a stroller a bit past the ‘need’ stage, for the storage and convenience it provided!

For those who prefer, lunch box storage may be an option as some places offer lockers for storing items such as packed lunches during your stay. An alternative is to pack your food in a cooler and leave it in your vehicle –of course, this is only practical if parking is on-site or nearby (another reason to research parking before you leave!)

6. Prepare for the Experience

I’m a firm believer in the saying, ‘anticipation is half the fun’. Garner excitement about your upcoming field trip by reading books and watching videos related to it prior to your visit. Gaining a basic knowledge or expectation of the intended destination will help your children appreciate what they are seeing and, by thinking ahead, give them time to formulate questions they’d like answered during their visit. For example, children may benefit from a short art lesson on painting styles or techniques prior to visiting an art gallery, or a lesson about a historical figure prior to touring that person’s homestead.

Here are some additional field trip preparations you may want to consider:

• Set behavioral expectations. Talk to your kids about how they are expected to act during the excursion. If necessary, discuss the consequences disobedience or misbehavior will bring. In addition, tailor your discussion to the location you will be visiting. If touring an art museum, gently remind them the items on display are for viewing, not touching. A trip to a farm or animal sanctuary may require a quick reminder about keeping small fingers out of animal cages (and in my daughter’s case, yes – it will be stinky, and there will be bugs. Let’s just say ‘Farmer Stan’s’ is not her favorite memory!)
• Designate a meeting place should someone wander off or get separated from the group. (It may be necessary to decide this once you arrive and see the layout of the location or venue).
• Treats or souvenir purchases. Many locations have a gift shop or store on the premises. If you do not plan to buy anything, let the kids know this ahead of time to avoid drama or disappointment. If this is important to them, they may wish to bring their own spending money (with your permission of course!)
• Dress appropriately. Your visit will be much more enjoyable if everyone is warm, dry, and wearing well-fitted shoes. If the site is outdoors, plan for rain even if the sky is clear (especially if you, like me live in Maryland where the weather can change on a whim!)
• Other supplies. Consider packing additional supplies such as a ball and gloves, picnic blanket, or towels. You just never know when an unexpected opportunity for fun may arise! Years ago while visiting the inner harbor in Baltimore, my kids discovered the jumping water fountain and had a blast getting soaked. It was just what they needed on a hot summer day.
• Finally, if you have a tour planned, be sure to confirm that they are running as scheduled as sometimes times or dates may change.

7. Create a Schedule

For those of us who thrive on planning and lists, here are my thoughts. Create a list of your top priorities. Personally, I prioritize short-term or special exhibits and schedule them in first. This way we are sure not to miss out. The kids each take turns deciding where we head next. This works well for us.

If you prefer to play it by ear and leave your options open to discovering what interests your party once you arrive, this tip is probably not for you. Keep in mind however, that due to seating capacity, or perhaps COVID-19 social distancing, some locations are requiring timed entry tickets to events or exhibits. Details will be available on the venue’s website.

Make sure to have adequate time for lunch and potty breaks, especially with younger children. Try to alternate between reading didactic panels and quiet or “tame” exhibits with hands-on, interactive activities.

Have fun!

8. Evaluate the Experience

I usually cover this on the ride home. I ask question such as:

Did you have fun?

What surprised you the most?

What did you like best/least?

How could the trip be improved?

Would you like to have spent more time at an exhibit?

Were there items you didn’t get a chance to see?

Would you want to go back again someday?

Would you recommend this to others?

Do you have any questions about what we saw today?

If you prefer a more formal, written reflection of the trip – whether to fulfill portfolio requirements or for future reference. For younger kids I created a simple Field Trip Response Sheet. For a more indepth version, see Field Trip Response Sheet – detailed , available in Wildrose Media’s store. The Field Trip Log I mentioned earlier is included in the Homeschool Planner Bundle or as an individual purchase.

9. Dig Deeper

Capitalize on their peaked interest while you can!

Discover a shark tooth while on a nature walk? Spend time learning about sharks and round out your knowledge with a trip to an aquarium.

Find an interesting rock, do a unit study on the types of rock and geological formations in your area. Maybe invest in a rock tumbler and search out gemstones. The possibilities are endless!

When we visit museums, I encourage each of my children to choose one thing they saw and delve into it deeper. Following a trip to the Walter’s Art Museum in Baltimore, my daughter fell in love with an artist’s work and decided she wanted to learn more about his life and painting technique. I love that I can offer them the flexibility to decide what piques their interest and nurture a love of learning.

I hope this guide has been helpful. I’d love to read about your field trip experiences and recommendations, please share them in the comments below.

---