Field Trip Themes:

 

Ecosystem Exploration

Grade: 1st - 12th
Description: Dive into the world of ecosystems! Students will explore the interconnections between living organisms and their environment, discovering how plants, decomposers, animals, and the non-living components of nature come together to form a balanced and dynamic ecosystem. This trip encourages hands-on observation, where students actively participate in investigating local habitats to understand the diversity of life within their schoolyard or natural surroundings.
Themes to be Covered:

• Understanding ecosystems and their components (producers, consumers, decomposers)

• Food chains and food webs

• Biodiversity and its importance to healthy ecosystems

• Human impact on ecosystems

 

Sense of Wonder

Grade: PreK - 4th
Description: Designed for our youngest explorers and students who are new to exploring nature. This field trip invites students to use their senses to connect with the natural world around them. Through engaging activities, students will explore how nature looks, sounds, feels, and even smells, fostering a sense of wonder and appreciation for the environment.
Themes to be Covered:

• Introduction to the five senses and how we use them to explore nature

• Observation and description of natural objects and phenomena

• Connecting with the natural world through curiosity and imagination

• The role of nature in our daily lives

 

Watershed Investigations

Grade: 1st - 12th
Description: Water is life! In this field trip, students will explore the importance of watersheds and how water moves through our environment. By dipnetting in local streams, students will discover the variety of life that thrives in these waters and learn about bioindicators—organisms that reveal the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Students will gain hands-on experience in monitoring water quality and learn about the impact of pollution and human activity on our water systems.
Themes to be Covered:

• Understanding the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation)

• The concept of a watershed and how water moves through ecosystems

• The role of bioindicators in assessing water quality

• Conservation of water and protecting local water sources

 

Journey Through Geology

Grade: 4th - 12th
Description: Take a trip through time and uncover the forces that shaped the Earth’s surface! This field trip offers students a closer look at rocks, minerals, and landforms, from the bedrock beneath their feet to the peaks of mountains. Students will investigate the processes that change the Earth, like erosion, weathering, and plate tectonics.
Themes to be Covered:

• Types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) and their formation

• The process of erosion, weathering, and sedimentation

• Plate tectonics and how the Earth’s surface has changed over time

• The role of geology in shaping landscapes and natural resources

 

Nature’s Recyclers

Grade: 1st - 8th
Description: Everything in nature has a role! During this field trip, students will explore the important role of decomposers and bioindicators in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Students will go dipnetting and explore the organisms that help recycle nutrients and break down organic matter. By identifying bioindicators in the water and soil, students will discover how these organisms signal the health of the environment.
Themes to be Covered:

• The process of decomposition and its importance in ecosystems

• Identifying decomposers and bioindicators in aquatic and terrestrial environments

• Soil health and its relationship to plant growth

• Monitoring the health of local ecosystems through the presence of bioindicators

 

Adaptations in Action

Grade: 1st - 8th
Description: How do animals survive in different environments? This field trip gives students an up-close look at how animals' physical structures and behaviors have evolved to adapt to their surroundings. Through interactive activities, students will learn how physical and behavioral adaptations help animals thrive in diverse habitats.
Themes to be Covered:

• What are structural and behavioral adaptations and why they are important for survival

• Physical adaptations (e.g., camouflage, body structures) and behavioral adaptations (e.g., migration, hibernation)

• The connection between an animal’s adaptations and its environment

• How humans are inspired by animal adaptations in technology and design