20 Feb 2008
As a child, there was nothing I liked more than going on a field trip. Whether it was visiting a museum, the firehouse, or attending a production of the local children's theater, my imagination came alive and I was thrilled by the newness of it all. Even if I had been to the same museum before, I always found something new to engage my curiosity, something to send me to the library to learn more.
Sadly, many kids today don't get the opportunity to go on field trips. Between the pressures of teaching to standardized tests and the costs of transportation and other related logistical issues, many school systems have cut out, or at least cut back on, field trips.
So, why not make field trips a family tradition? There are so many places to be discovered -- so many lessons to be learned. Here are a few suggested field trips to help you and your kids explore the natural wonders of your community:
- Visit a local nature center. Even if there isn't a special program that day, there will be countless artifacts to explore and fun things to learn. Make sure to pick up a calendar of upcoming programs.
- Go hiking, fishing, caving, or camping.
- Explore national forests, parks and wildlife refuges.
- Visit the closest natural history or children's museum, zoo, aquarium, or botanical garden. Most offer children's programming, so don't forget to look for a calendar of events.
- Participate in a park clean-up or other community service project.
- Visit a local orchard or "pick-your-own" farm at different times of the year. Pumpkins, apples, strawberries -- you name it -- you can find a place to go pick it! Even a trip to the local farmer's market can be a great field trip.
Looking for some ideas near you? Visit the NatureFind section of the Green Hour website!
