Best Resources for Free or Cheap Field Trips

As a 25+ teacher and homeschooler, my educational philosophy is to make learning approachable, meaningful. hands-on. Consequently, field trips are an important components of my instruction. Here are dozens of free or inexpensive field trip resources. I've found that spending money on a field trip venue does not always ensure a rewarding experience. With reduced educational spending and family budgets stretched, I look for lots of bang for my field trip buck. You'll get that with these tips.

Local businesses. What resources exist right in your community for field trips? Check out retail stores, grocery stores, office complexes, restaurants, banks.

Media resources. Visit radio and television stations, television studios, publishing houses, book stores.

Military bases, industries and technology. If you are lucky enough to live near large facilities, arrange to visit laboratories, power plants, military installations, space stations, mining sites, manufacturing plans, food production facilities, bottling companies, colleges, chemical companies.

Transportation industries. Depending on your location, arrange to visit a local marina, shipyard, dock, dry dock, airport, airplane hangar, air traffic control tower, bus terminal, train station, subway station, railroad yard, auto production industry, auto service center, engineering college.

Local health centers. Explore medical centers, hospitals, clinics, doctors and dentist offices, animal clinics, medical imaging, pharmacies, medical laboratories, teaching hospitals, medical arts colleges.

Natural resources venues. Check out local college research facilities, nature centers, DNR sites, bird sanctuaries, animal rehabilitation clinics, nature and wildlife preserves, fisheries, hunting clubs, mining locations, gardens, zoo, agricultural services, farms, dairy, orchard, national forests, wetland reserves.

Marine Activities. If you live near a body of water look activities geared to marine biology, lakes, oceanography, rivers, boat tours, shipping, commercial fishing, dredging, Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard.

Sports venues. Check out local stadiums, athletic clubs, ball clubs, college and professional sports facilities, sports history museums.

Cultural events. Look for local historical societies, ethnic festivals and celebrations, museums, native American pow-wows, historical villages, vintage architectural exhibits, art exhibits and galleries, music events, theater productions, churches, synagogues, mosques, archaeological digs.

Look for community resources involved in activities that match your curriculum. Keep on the alert for brochures, calendars, events, activities and field trip opportunities wherever you go. Don't be shy about asking for impromptu or scheduled field trips (don't interrupt the flow of commerce, of course.) Most businesses are more than happy to showcase what they do.

I've asked for tours at facilities that had never offered field trips before. The experience was so positive that some began to offer them as a result. I expected polite, engaged behavior from students. I encouraged students to ask questions, show interest, attend respectfully and thank their host. Field trips have been a great networking opportunity for my students also. For more educational tips, visit my linked blogs.