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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Our Favorite Fieldtrips - Learning via Adventure

This week's cruise asks - What has been your favorite fieldtrip?

We love taking fieldtrips.  Over the last few years of homeschooling, we’ve been truly blessed to go on some wonderful excursions.

The principal, AKA my hubby, likes to schedule a special excursion for us each year. I’m hoping it becomes tradition!

Our first year homeschooling, we were looking at ancient civilizations. Scott surprised us by taking us to Cancun so that we could make the trip to Chichen Itza to see the Mayan ruins. What an amazing trip! It made such a difference seeing these ruins up close and really understanding the history and the building that went along with the culture.



While we were there, I was able to finagle us an almost free snorkeling trip in the gulf of Mexico. We got to see the reef and its inhabitants. Normally, I don't do cold water, but this time it was just take the plunge and enjoy the experience.



Year two we were still in World History, but were up to more recent times. This time he took us to Washington D.C. We’ve been before, but not in many years. It was good for the boys to go back. We saw the Air/Space Museum, Natural History Museum, American History Museum, National Art Museum, Monuments (Washington, Jefferson, WWII, Vietnam, Korean War), Capital Building, Library of Congress, National Archives. Phew! Yes, it was a whirlwind.


At the end of last year, we went to Tybee Island in GA for a field study. If you can go, I HIGHLY recommend it. Very inexpensive with lots and lots of science. See my post about this trip.


This year, the boys and I decided to climb a local mountaintop, Crowder's Mountain - that was quite an adventure.  We plan on conquering a couple more peaks as the weather warms up.



What’s next on the horizon?  We’re headed to San Francisco in May.  Our plan is to go to Alcatraz, China Town, ride the street cars, walk the Golden Gate bridge and take a day to visit the giant redwoods.
One thing we love best about homeschooling is fieldtrips.  We can go and do and see!  There's nothing like learning about life up close and personal.

Want to see other favorite fieldtrips from the Homeschool Crew?  Click here.

What was your favorite fieldtrip growing up?  What is your favorite with your kids?

2 comments:

  1. Check out The Exploratorium in San Francisco! My boys loved the hands on science play there. There is also a big fancy science center in Golden Gate Park. I liked visiting the park's plant Conservatory, but my boys just tolerated it for me. If you call ahead (a few weeks at least) to these venues, you can request school field trip prices even though you are only 3-4 people in your group. I said I was with a very small private school (which is what private homeschoolers are in CA). Well, at least I was able to do that in 2009.

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  2. Hi Rebecca, Thank you for the advice! I'll be sure to check those out!

    April

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