Field Trips

Bring Your Group to Ijams for a Field Trip!

Applications for Spring Field Trips are OPEN!

(Fall 2024 field trip applications will open in April/May. No requests will be taken early.)

Ijams Nature Center offers school classes and other groups a truly unique outdoor education experience. Students engage in inquiry and experiential learning designed to deepen their connections to place and each other while fostering their natural curiosity.

Ijams staff work with you to connect this learning experience to your curricular goals and State of Tennessee and Knox County education standards.

FIELD TRIPS AT IJAMS

Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm*
Dates: Spring: February-May
Cost: $14/student
NEW! Add Navitat's Treetop Adventure Park to your field trip
- Cost: $42/student (total field trip cost - $56/student)
- Time: Field trips including Navitat are 9:00 am-2:00 pm

* If you would like to request a different start/end time, please make note of the change during the request process.

Ijams has new and updated offerings! Most of the pre-designed listings below can be adapted for grades K-8 unless otherwise indicated. Ijams staff can work with you to explore a specific standard, topic, or theme not covered elsewhere.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Ijams educators also can come to to your school or community. Outreach programs can be tailored to your needs and include a visit from an Ijams animal ambassador! Learn More About Outreach Programs

Request a Field Trip

BASIC FIELD TRIP STRUCTURE*

Field trips generally follow the same program schedule:

9 am - Arrival
9-9:15 am - Welcome, de-bus, restroom, and snack (BYO snack). During this time, we also check in with teachers and chaperones about group needs and chaperone expectations. We highly recommend having a snack at the start of the day because the program ends at noon.
9:15-11:30 am - Programming
11:30 am-12 pm - Live animal presentation (two animals will be presented)
12 pm - Picnic lunch and/or depart

* Time limitations, group size, and/or weather conditions may require altering this schedule.

SCHEDULING A FIELD TRIP

Ijams schedules field trip requests by Google form on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently, Ijams only can accommodate groups between 45-60 students on some Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from Jan. 29th to May 15th.

If you have any questions, please contact Haley Ratliff at fieldtrips@ijams.org or +1865-577-4717, ext. 1017.

FIELD TRIP AND OUTREACH SCHOLARSHIPS

Ijams has funding available for scholarships and transportation for schools that qualify. There also are other ways for educators to request funding for field trips, transportation, and outreach programs. The following document offers suggestions and includes a sample letter.

Ijams Nature Center School Funding Request Information and Sample Letter