Field trips are the best, not just because they are s break from regular school days, but because you get to go behind the scenes and learn cool things you didn't know before. I love finding factories, bakeries, farms, and restaurants that offer tours. So how do I go about doing that? Read on to discover all the tips and tricks for setting up your own family field trips this summer.
Finding Field Trip and Tours
Tip #1: The Internet is your friend. Homeschool groups out together lists for possible field trips and share them all the time. Do a quick search of "field trip ideas in Phoenix" or "factory tours near Phoenix" and you'll get some nice lists to start from. The only problem with these lists are some of them are outdated so just make sure to verify details before you show up somewhere. These list are also not all inclusive. New places decide to add tours all the time. If you want to visit a bakery, do a search for "bakery tours" in your area and you may find something new. I like to do a search for candy factory tours in whatever city we are visiting because those are our favorites (free samples).
Tip #2: Take note of your kids and friend's field trips throughout the school year. Did your son's scout troop visit the recycling center? Get the details from his scout leader and save them on your Pinterest board (see previous planning post
here). Did your friend post an Instagram picture on a field trip with her kiddos at the dairy farm? Make a note of the location so you can visit there in the summer. Preschools go on great field trips and usually preschool teachers are willing to share their contacts if you ask.
Tip #3: It's ok to ask. If there is a place you think would be really great to have a tour of, but you've never heard of them doing one before, muster up some courage and give them a phone call. Just ask if they would be willing to give a tour of their factory, store, etc. Or do you have a friend who works someplace cool, like a newspaper? Ask the friend to hook you up with a behind-the-scenes look at how their workplace operates. If you are browsing around your local farmers market and want to show the little ones where their food comes from, turn to the produce stand nearest you and ask if they would be willing to show your kids around their farm sometime. Great field trips and tours can be found by asking the right people.
Setting up a Family Field Trip
Tip #1: Find some field trip loving friends. When setting up field trips and tours, hosting locations think you are a lot less strange if you say you are with some organization verses a family. Find a few friends so you have a good group of at least 8 kids, then when you call to set up a field trip, say you are a mother's group. A mother's group is just a group of moms and kid that go on planned outings, but it sounds more official than "me and my friends."
Tip #2: Let Field Trip Factory do the work for you. There is a great resource for educators called
Field Trip Factory. One of our most important jobs as parents is to educate or children, so this resource is for us as well. All you do is enter your zip code and a list of free field trip options pops up. Select the "book now" button on the trip you would like to take, enter your group's information, and field trip factory will get everything set up for you. Last year I wanted to book a grocery store field tip last minute (only one week notice) and a Field Trip Factory representative called around to 5 different stores for me until she found one that would host our trip.
Tip #3: Call to set up tours at least 2 weeks in advance. Locations that are used to giving tours usually have set times these tours are available and specific employees that guide them. Usually two weeks is enough notices to fit you into their schedule, but be aware that some do require more notice.
Tip #4: Call a few days in advance to confirm. I have showed up at places that had no idea we were coming. It is pretty awkward. Avoid the awkwardness by calling and confirming that your dates, tes, and location are correct.
