The coolest thing about homeschooling is that it provides so many opportunities to structure and learn in locations outside of the home and away from the traditional classroom settings.

While the content and lesson planning is important for the day-to-day of homeschooling, there's some wiggle room in deciding what places to take educational field trips throughout the duration of the year. 

With public school settings, there are often restrictions and different loop-holes to have to jump through to plan and schedule a field trip.

But with homeschooling, you have the flexibility to schedule trips to locations that fit with you, your curriculum, interests, and even your lesson plans!

If you are needing some ideas about year-round fun field trip ideas for homeschoolers, here are some simple suggestions to help get you started!

Take these Notebooking Pages with you on your field trips!

Any time you want a special thematic paper for a writing assignment, writing a letter, journaling, or sending something to a loved one, this notebooking pack is the perfect solution.

Year-Round Homeschool Field Trip Ideas

Homeschooling provides opportunities to structure and learn in locations outside of the home and away from the traditional classroom settings. While the content and lesson planning is important for the day-to-day of homeschooling, there's some wiggle room in deciding what places to take educational field trips throughout the duration of the year.

With public school settings, there are often restrictions and different loop-holes to have to jump through to plan and schedule a field trip. But with homeschooling, you have the flexibility to schedule trips to locations that fit with you, your curriculum, interests, and even your lesson plans!

If you are needing some ideas about year-round fun field trip ideas for homeschoolers, here are some simple suggestions to help get you started!

Public library

Your local library is open all year long, and it's likely full of amazing activities and educational opportunities. Not only is a weekly trip to the library fun to be able to just grab new books, but take it a step further and see what type of programs your library offers as well. 

Many libraries have special speakers, children's activities, and classes that they offer during the week that are free and open to the public.

It could also be a great place to meet new friends! Libraries usually have other homeschool moms that meet there and have a co-op group lesson as well!

Zoo 

If you have a zoo in your vicinity, what are you waiting for? It's full of fun animals to view, and your children will be able to read the signs about the animals and learn a ton of great facts that they are sure to talk about for many days to come!

Most zoos are open throughout the year and also make accommodations for colder weather temperatures. 

If you're heading out to the zoo soon, or if you've already been, try adding our Zoo Animals PreK Workbook to your curriculum for some added fun! It's full of lessons and coloring pages that have lots of animals that you're sure to see on your trip!

 

Planetarium

Many major cities have a planetarium available and open to the public.  If so, this field trip must happen! So many educational topics are played and discussed and it is such an amazing opportunity to open your children's eyes to the wonders of the world.

YMCA

Many YMCAs have activities for children to participate in. Whether it is day camps, summer activities, or even swimming lessons- see what your local YMCA offers to the public and if it may be something that your child is interested in!

If you don't have a local YMCA, you can still visit any type of workout/kid-friendly recreational center. If you are learning about the body and the importance of being active, why not take a fun trip to a local gym and let your child experience different work-out options first hand?

Many gyms offer a trial period, but you could even talk to the manager about a homeschool experience or homeschool pricing structure for repeat visits. 

Roller-skating rink 

Because sometimes, field-trips can be just for fun as well! We can write it off as Physical Education, right? 

Local Paper

If your local newspaper allows for visitors, don't skip out on the opportunity to schedule a shadow project and tour. You may be able to follow around a journalist or watch the printing process!

Aquarium

Not all towns have a local aquarium, but you may be able to find an area that is close enough to make a day trip out of it!

Aquatics is such an amazing thing and learning about a part of the world around us that we don't get to see often is a great learning experience.

Museum

Science, Children's, Art- is there a museum that's close enough to drive to in your area? Don't count these opportunities out!

Farm, Nursery, Greenhouse

Finding a local farm, plant nursery, or greenhouse garden is a perfect opportunity to learn about where our food comes from and how it gets to us. 

Locally-Owned Restaurants and Bakeries

Do you have a student who wants to be a chef, food critic, or restauranteur? Contact your favorite local restaurant or bakery and see if their chef/owner would be willing to give you a tour, talk about the workings of the business, or do a private cooking class. 

Small business owners are usually very proud to share their insight with community locals- especially children and it serves as one of the fun field trip ideas for homeschoolers without them realizing it!

Local Factory

Maybe there's a local automotive, beverage, lumber yard, or something similar that your town is proud of. If so, contact their customer service department to see if they offer homeschoolers the opportunity to come and tour the place. 

These are usually special experiences because they are smaller groups than the regular public school field trip requests!

Hospital

Did you know that a lot of hospitals will put together a tour if you ask? If you have a budding doctor or medical professional, this could be an amazing experience to see what our unseen heroes go through on a daily basis!

State park

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area with a state park, take advantage of what it has to offer. Go on nature hikes, stream wading, or other adventures.

Be sure that you join in on the adventure too and teach your kids a classic like how to skip rocks!

Don't forget to check with the local park ranger! State Parks often offer many different classes and activities geared towards children learning about the wildlife and nature that are free to attend and highly educational!

Police Department

It's important for our children to know and understand the importance of our police and justice system. Call your local police station and organize a trip down to the local police department.

Be sure to ask if they can ask any questions, maybe take a tour, or even take a ride in a police car!

Fire Station

Fire Station tours are the best. Not only do they get to learn how to handle and react in an emergency, but oftentimes they get a tour of the building, learn how the staff works together as a team, go on calls, as well as the workings and functions of a fire truck.

Both adults and children will love this experience! 

Community Garden

If your town has a community garden, it's an excellent resource for your homeschool classroom. You can learn about gardening, help water and care for the plants, and maybe even get to nibble and taste some of them fresh from the garden!

Talk about a hands-on learning experience for you and your child and you're giving back to the community too! It's great to visit the garden at different seasons throughout the year because plants grow in different types of weather. 

This is definitely one of the more lasting fun field trip ideas for homeschoolers that allow for learning and excitement!

Television Station

If your local news station has an active presence in the community, call them and see if they would be willing to allow a small group of homeschoolers to tour/visit.

Your kids will have the opportunity to learn about why the news is important to the community and maybe even a weather lesson!

Fun Year-Round Homeschool Field Trip Ideas Right In Your Backyard

Field-trips are a ton of fun, no matter what time of year they are taken. Think of places around town that are of interest to your children, and then contact and see if a field trip could possibly be an option.

You may be surprised by how many locations are thrilled by the idea of showing you and your crew around!  

Do you often book field trips for your home learners? What are your favorite fun field trip ideas for homeschoolers?

If you're looking for a great community of Christian Homeschoolers, we want to invite you to join our Facebook Group, Fervent Christian Homeschoolers! It's a great place for you to meet other women who share the same passions of raising our littles to love Jesus!