FIELD TRIPS TO IRVINE
TAKE YOUR CLASS ON A Field TRIP THEY’LL NEVER FORGET!
Irvine offers 9 different half-day morning programs for school groups that provide students of all ages with inspirational outdoor experiences. Students work together to make observations, collect data, compare and classify organisms, and draw conclusions. We believe that hands-on learning and teamwork make experiences great!
A typical Irvine Field Trip begins at 10:00 AM with 2-2.5 hours of naturalist-led education and exploration, followed by 30-60 minutes of free time for BYO lunch and outdoor play. Please note that we are unable to refrigerate lunches. Field Trip start time and order of activities may sometimes be customized with advance notice. Some of our field trips also offer a 2-hour option. See below for details!
Questions? Contact Laura Ferrara at 443-738-9215 or FerraraL@ExploreNature.org
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OFFERED: September 16th through may 31st
Field trip duration: 3 hours
FIELD TRIP CAPACITY: 40 STUDENTS
PRICING: $12 PER STUDENT
Please note: there is a minimum fee of $200 for groups between 5-16 participants
FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTIONS & INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2024-25:
SENSATIONAL SEASONS Age: PreK-2nd grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May (2-hour option available for $10/student)
After exciting nature-themed sensory stations, students will use all five of their senses to explore the forests, meadows and other habitats surrounding Irvine. They will experience the natural events of the current season and discover how animals and humans use their senses.
THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES Age: PreK-2nd grade
Offered: September – October and April – May (2-hour option available for $10/student)
Students will get the “buzz” about why bees are critical to our daily lives and what we can do to help them and other pollinators thrive. Students will take a station-based hike to get an up-close look at bee anatomy and discover how a beehive is its own community. With hands-on activities at each station (including a honey tasting), students will have a sweet day!
INTRO TO NATURE Age: PreK-8th grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May (2-hour option available for $10/student)
Explore and enjoy nature. The Intro to Nature field trip is not based on specific curriculum, rather geared towards groups that want a first look at all that Irvine has to offer. Students will participate in a guided hike and an animal presentation.
CREATURE FEATURES Age: 1st-3rd grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May
Through hands-on exploration of animal artifacts and up-close encounters with some of our favorite animal ambassadors, students will learn how animals’ adaptations help them survive in their different habitats. Students will document their observations as they explore Irvine’s forests, meadows, and wetlands in search of wildlife.
MAPLE MAGIC Age: 2nd-8th grade
Offered: February – mid-March due to the short season for maple tapping
Maple tapping season is one of our favorite times of the year here at Irvine! Through a guided hike, children will learn the step-by-step process of tapping trees, collecting sap, and then turning it into syrup. Students will experience how the process has changed over time through interactive presentations and hands–on activities.
FEATHERED FRIENDS Age: 3rd-8th grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May
The structure of a bird’s beak and feet reveal a great deal about their habitat, diet, and role within its ecosystem. Students will learn identification strategies as they meet several raptors up-close and hike the trails in search of diverse bird species. Depending on the season, students may get to observe active bird-feeding stations or nest boxes.
NATIVE AMERICANS OF THE EASTERN WOODLANDS Age: 4th-8th grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May
Students will take a step back in time and learn about the cultural traditions and lifestyles of Maryland’s pre-colonial Native American tribes, the Piscataway and Susquehannock. We’ll hike to Irvine’s replica longhouse, wigwams, and Three Sisters’ Garden so students can explore how natural resources intertwine with community. To gain a genuine understanding of daily life in the Woodland Period, students will learn about tools, clothing, hunting and gathering, living structures, fire-making methods, and games through hands-on experience.
WETLAND WONDERS Age: 4th-8th grade
Offered: September – October and April – May
Students will become scientists as they explore Irvine’s aquatic habitats to perform water quality tests and record data on the biodiversity found in each habitat. They will analyze their findings to determine the health of the ecosystems found in our wetland ponds and streams and discuss how these habitats contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. This hands-on experience will allow students to realize the impact their choices can have on our local environment.
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL Age: 5th-8th grade
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May
This station-based field trip will lead students through several wilderness obstacles that they will work together to overcome. Students will learn how to properly pack for an outdoor excursion so that they are prepared for different conditions and scenarios that may arise. Through several hands-on activities, students will learn skills such as basic navigation and map reading, shelter building, fire building and safety, water collection and filtering, and how to use the resources around them to help them survive. This experience will teach children practical survival skills while encouraging them to work together as a team to overcome challenges.
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