Being back in the United States has reminded me of how lucky we are to have such amazing programs available to us for free or cheap. Between story time, home school classes, hikes, museum visits, and Junior Ranger badges, we have been very busy lately! If you are looking for field trip opportunities – for a classroom or a home school family or just an educational weekend trip, consider these options:
1.) Libraries: Most libraries offer more than just the chance to check out books, they also offer access to computers and a myriad of different kids activities. At the Cartersville Public Library here in Georgia, my kids have attended story times, a snake visit, chess club, computer coding class and Lego building day. Some libraries also offer programs like book clubs and pairing up older and younger children for buddy reading. While you need a library card to check out books, most libraries don’t ask for your library card to attend these programs, making them a great “go to” field trip option for families on the road. Most of these programs are free, although a few may require a materials fee.
2.) State & National Parks or Monuments: Not only are state parks, national parks and national monuments great places to go and hike, they also sponsor amazing learning programs for kids. I have written before about the Junior Ranger program that the National Parks provide, but state parks provide lots of programs too. Some, like Red Top Mountain Park here in Georgia, even have lists of home school and weekend classes. My kids have attended nature story times, map reading classes, creative building sessions and art classes. In addition, these parks often host weekend festivals with historical re-enactors or musicians. Most of these programs are free, although a few may require a materials fee.
3.) Museums – big and small: Museum admission is a great day field trip without anything extra, and that goes for the big, fancy museums and the small, local museums. Recently, my kids and I talked about the Civil War, the creation of the Cherokee Alphabet, the economics of politics, the changes in the school system and the evolution of technology all during a visit to the Bartow County History Museum. In fact, while I love large museums, sometimes small, local museums make for better field trips, since they are more focused and allow you to get in and see everything without having to rush. (See my blog post about Making Curriculum Connections with Museum Field Trips.) In addition to regular exhibits, museums often offer classes for home schoolers and special programs for larger groups. Within the next month, my kids are signed up to take a class on art history, one on the civil war, and one on the life of colonists. These classes require fees, although some may be included in the cost of admission and many are very reasonable ($3 - $10 per kid)
4.) Universities: Many colleges and universities have outreach grants and special programs that allow them to provide classes and programs for those who do not attend the university. Georgia Tech, for example, provides science classes for elementary aged students once a month – on a Saturday. I have also attended Jazz concerts and exhibits on the Holocaust, all provided by local universities. Some of these programs are provided for free, while others are available for a charge.
5.) Zoos & Aquariums: Like museums, zoos and aquariums are often great places to visit for no special reason. However, like museums, they also often offer special classes. The Atlanta Zoo offers entire courses for home schoolers and specialized programs for larger groups. Additionally, many zoos and aquariums offer reduced admission on certain days for home schooling families.
As a road schooling family, one of the first things to do when you stop in an area, is to check out websites for the libraries, parks, museums, universities, zoos and aquariums in the area. Often special programs will be listed on their websites. Also, if you stop somewhere to simply explore with the family, ask at the desk, or check the bulletin board. Often places advertise cool events, classes or festivals that are upcoming at their facility.
