Just because I’m nosey, I’m going to ask how field trips fit in with your family’s homeschooling adventures. Do you make frequent field trips? Are adventures limited to your own family, or do you participate with other families within a support group?
We are manic field trippers. Part of that comes from the fact that I currently set up the field trips for our support group. In speaking with the facility coordinators, I tend to get hooked with the concept, and it is preordained that we’ll be there at the appropriate time. Then I experience burnout, and find myself frustrated that I’ve signed up for far too much on a limited budget and tight schedule. I am such a Muriel.
I *love* setting trips up. It sparks the creative nut in my heart. I am convinced that I should have been a cruise director. I play shuffleboard well, too.
Saturday brings a new trip for 25 people. We will be outside for over an hour, in the freezing cold, but it took me four months to set the sucker up…
“For over a quarter of a Century, Allegra Farm has had the privilege of being one of the largest authentic "livery stables", catering solely to those who desire a unique experience with a bygone era. This excursion is a veritable time travel machine to the days of yore; it's true that the 19th Century is well over 100 years behind us now, but John Allegra and Allegra Farm are keeping this era alive with the restoration of vintage horse drawn carriages, wagons and equipment. From the carriages to the horses, proper attire to proper etiquette, their meticulous eye for historical detail will carry you away to the Victorian Age. The museum houses 30-40 vehicles and a collection of memorabilia; our tour will be guided, and we will learn the documented history behind many of these well restored vehicles."
Anyone want to keep me company when my hair becomes cheap horse fodder? I always get too close to the stalls, and the horses seem to go wacky over my fruit flavored shampoo!
Our group tried out a new concept this past quarter, and it's worked really well. We've set up multiple themed series', and it's been really exciting.
In January we hosted 6 field trips that center on a "Career Exploration" theme. Destinations included the FBI offices, The Supreme Court, a local Space Planetarium, Television Station and a Desert guru-extraordinaire. (That one was unbelievably yummy, and we all left with multiple cheesecakes and dessert to test out at home!)
In February, the theme was "Things That Go! A Transportation Series". Four trips were scheduled with the local air museum, a trolley museum, the horse drawn carriage facility listed above, and a submarine museum. I would've scheduled on for our local lifestar helicopter rescue team, but it is FREEZING, and the top floor of the city hospital is not where I want to be standing in the middle of winter!
March represented "Cultural Roots! History that Shaped America". Four more trips were set up, and we went after the multi-ethnic opportunities around the state. Everything from special programs at a local Indian Museum, to African American programs centered around the Amistad events, and Coming to America: The Voices of Immigrants.
What’s your favorite field trip of all-time? Are you organized enough to coordinate studies around an upcoming trip to enhance the experience? Unfortunately, I would represent the other side – we learn as we go, and I’m never “together enough” to do that… we have had some great learning opportunities though. I am terribly excited that my very shy introvert of a son has finally come out of his shell the past 15 months, and will actually ask questions! | 
