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Field Trips

Bring Your Group to Ijams for a Field Trip!

To request a field trip, please click the “Request a Field Trip” button on this page. This will take you to a Google Form where you can submit your request!

Ijams Nature Center offers students an unforgettable outdoor education experience! Through hands-on, inquiry-based learning, students explore the natural world, spark their curiosity, and strengthen their connection to both the environment and each other.

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Passionate Ijams educators work closely with you to tailor each experience to your curriculum and Tennessee Academic Standards, making learning both meaningful and memorable.

​2027 Field Trip Pricing Update

 

Beginning with 2027 field trips, Ijams Nature Center will be implementing a new mission-based pricing structure designed to make our environmental education programs more accessible while reflecting the needs of the diverse groups we serve.

Please note: 2026 Fall Field Trips (August–November 2026) will continue to be offered at our current rate of $15 per participant and Winter Field Trips (December 2026) at $10 per participant. 

 

2027 Field Trip Rates

 

Mission-Based Organizations (Public schools)
$12 per participant: March-November

$7 per participant: December-February

 

Community Organizations (Private schools, community nonprofits, homeschool groups, and college/university group)
$18 per participant: March-November

$13 per participant: December-February

 

For-Profit Organizations (Businesses, corporations, and other for-profit groups)
$24 per participant: March-November

$19 per participant: December-February

 

Financial Assistance

Ijams believes every child should have the opportunity to connect with nature. Limited financial assistance is available for qualifying schools and organizations. If cost is a barrier to participation, we encourage you to contact us to discuss scholarship opportunities.

 

If you have questions about pricing or which category your group falls into, please don't hesitate to reach out to fieldtrips@ijams.org. We look forward to welcoming your group to Ijams Nature Center!

 

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OUTREACH PROGRAMS

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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

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Typical Field Trip Structure

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This is a schedule most groups choose, but we can work with you to determine what schedule work best for your groups wants and needs! 

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  • 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 recommend having a snack at the start of the day either at school or as soon as you arrive. 

  • 9:15-11:30 am - Hike and themed activities along the way!

  • 11:30 am-12 pm - Animal ambassador 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

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Ijams schedules field trip requests by Google form on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill out the request form above, and Ijams will get back to you shortly! 

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If you have any questions, please contact Kylie Preston and Joey Terlizzi at fieldtrips@ijams.org or +1865-577-4717, ext. 1012.

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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

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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

 

 

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NEW in 2026: Conservation In Flight

Grade: 9th-12th

Dates Available: To be announced! 
Description: Conservation in Flight is a hands-on field trip designed for high school students that introduces birding, avian research, and conservation through a live bird banding demonstration. Students will observe how songbirds are safely captured and released, assist in collecting real scientific data, and learn how bird banding informs conservation efforts at local and global levels. The program emphasizes outdoor learning, scientific observation, and real-world conservation science.
Student's will:​

  • Explain the purpose of bird banding and how data is collected

  • Identify birds as indicators of ecosystem health

  • Record data alongside professional bird banders

  • Practice basic birding skills, including binocular use and bird identification

  • Describe migration patterns and seasonal bird behavior

  • Explore careers in wildlife biology, avian research, and conservation

  • Identify actions individuals can take to support bird conservation

 

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

 

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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

 

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

 

 

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