25 Best Homeschool Field Trip Ideas

Go on a state or national park adventure! Be sure to bring a camera, a notebook, and a pen or pencil to capture your observations about nature. For an added degree of science, bring some measuring tools along—measuring tape, vernier calipers, stopwatch, thermometer, you name it.

For a shorter trip, discover the hidden wonders in your local park. Turns out, there’s more to see than just squirrels plotting world domination. Bring along a plant identification field guide and see what’s growing in your neck of the woods.

Visit a nearby farm and learn where food really comes from. For older students, see if the farmer would be willing to discuss agricultural issues for a practical education in economics, government, and policy.

Go apple or blueberry picking at an orchard. It’s like a treasure hunt, but with fewer pirates and more vitamin C. Bring more than one basket, and you’ve got the makings of a hands-on lesson in arithmetic for your little ones.

You know the best part about homeschooling? You can learn anywhere. Turn your car into a mobile learning lab on a scenic road trip. Bring an educational audiobook, practice your memory skills, or identify and discuss geographic on the way.

Dig in and get dirty at a community garden! Watch your knowledge grow alongside the veggies.

Explore a greenhouse or botanical garden. Warning: May cause sudden urges to turn your home into a jungle.

Embrace the season at a pumpkin patch or Christmas tree farm. Who knew agriculture could be so festive?

Have a telescope? Go somewhere beyond the light pollution and observe the stars above. Don’t have a telescope? Visit an observatory or planetarium.

Turn your local zoo into a living biology book! Observe animal behavior, compare species, and discuss ecosystems. Don’t forget to pack notebooks, colored pencils, and a keen eye for scientific observation.

Dive into the underwater world at an aquarium. (But not literally.)

Go bird watching or visit a bird sanctuary. For an artsy twist, bring a sketchbook and draw the birds you observe.

Tour a dairy farm and learn where milk comes from. For the less squeamish, there’s the opportunity to get hands-on. For the rest of us, there’s the chance to learn more about pasteurization and other scientific advancements that have changed the food industry.

Peek behind the curtain at a veterinary clinic. Perfect for aspiring animal doctors or those who just love furry (and scaly) friends.

Learn more about stewardship over God’s good creation and clean up your neighborhood. Bonus: your neighbors will love you.

Volunteer at a nursing home. Not only will your students get an education in virtue, but they’ll also get the chance to experience life in social work and the medical profession firsthand.

Clean up the yard. Better yet, clean up the neighbor’s yard. Learn about landscaping while beautifying your surroundings and showing your neighbors a kindness.

Experience literature in motion at a live play. Analyze plot structure, character development, and theatrical techniques. Bring a copy of the script to annotate during intermission!

Attend a musical performance. Take notes on genre, style, and theme for a family discussion. Link your experience at the concert back to your musical studies at home.

Art galleries and museums are great places for (quiet) family discussions. Discuss the themes and techniques you encounter. When you get home, try recreating a piece that stuck with you.

Get your hands dirty at a pottery studio. Create masterpieces that only a parent could love (but will treasure forever).

Journey through time at a local museum and learn about the history in your area. And if the museum has any volunteer opportunities—sign up!

We can learn a lot about homeschooling from the history of education. Tour an old one-room schoolhouse for inspiration.

Tour a battlefield, or witness history come alive at a battlefield reenactment. Older students can participate in a battlefield reenactment. Just don’t poke any eyes out with those bayonets.

Visit an old church. Marvel at the architecture and wonder how they built such impressive structures without power tools. Sketch the building, and then use an architectural guide to try and label everything with the appropriate nomenclature.