Summer Field Trips

With an economy in recession and gas prices on the rise, many families are taking a “stay-cation” instead of a “vacation”. Even if you are going to go on a “real” vacation, (i.e. driving hours in a car with children asking “Are we there yet?”), there are learning opportunities everywhere this summer and why leave the field trips just for the school year?

We are going on a field trip each week of summer and I have determined these trips the following ways:

What interests your child and where could you go to answer those curious questions they ask? We have a field trip scheduled at the Water Conservation District because my daughter wanted to know where all the water went as the tub drained. We are also going to a mining operation because the kids wanted to know why a big hole was in the earth.

What things do you like to do? I love to hike and I have found several easy hikes that are short and good for children, as well as some challenging ones to hike with my older kids. I want do something I enjoy and see if they might enjoy it as well. If you want to increase the potential for enjoyment, be sure to take plenty of breaks, water and treats, especially if you are hiking with teenagers--emphasis on the treats! Playing games as you hike also makes it more fun. Ask the kids to find 5 things that start with the letter “s”, and hope you don’t see a ssssssssssnake! “Geo-caching” is another way to have fun hiking and learning how to operate a GPS.

What will strengthen their testimonies? Visit local church history sites. We live by many and rarely visit them. Take a day or two or three and visit some.

Girl's camp, Boy Scout camps, youth conferences and Especially for Youth events will strengthen testimonies. Encourage your teens to attend and then do all you can to help them get there. Many good activities compete for our time and energy but sometimes we, as parents, will need to stand and advocate not only for our children, but also our beliefs. These events are more significant than work, dance, sports or other activities that may conflict. Teens will gain strength as they watch you stand up for them and their spiritual activities.

Visit sites that are meaningful to you and your family. Go on a tour of important places in your life. I love to take my family to the university I attended and show them my dorm, go to a basketball game and get ice cream. An added bonus is the opportunity to show them that at one time I was young and fun.

Visit the cemetery where your ancestors are buried and tell their stories while gathered around the headstone. My father-in-law loved Snickers candy bars, so we buy those and eat them together at the gravesite while reminiscing. Take crayons and paper and have the kids do rubbings of the headstones.

When was the last time you visited a local museum and learned (remembered) the history of the your area? Do you know who the founding fathers are of your city? Are there any mysteries? What about uncommon trivia? What about a children’s museum with activities centered just on them?

How many parks are in your city? Make a plan to visit a different one each week. Create a grading rubric and have the kids rate each park. At the end of the summer, take a thank you card and your data to the city offices. They would appreciate a note of gratitude and the feedback.

Kids of all ages love field trips. You know their interests, abilities and desires. Use that knowledge to plan an outing. Active learning is fun and better than another t.v. show, video game or DVD. There is so much to see and learn about in the world.

Take a field trip!