Are field trips and experiential trips really meaningful?

Pony Express Museum (In the Old Days)

When I think back to my elementary, middle, and high school days, I don’t truly remember the day-to-day academics, the units studied, or the tests taken… but, what I do remember are the field trips I experienced. I remember my trip to the zoo in first grade, the journey to Fort Osage in 3^rd Grade, the Pony Express Museum in 7^th Grade, and our Senior Trip in High School. When I compare what Oakhill’s students experience to my experiences, there is NO comparison! From the time our students are in Preschool, we strive to create experiences off campus that will tie in with our curriculum – bringing various aspects of the curriculum to life.

2014 Omaha Zoo Fieldtrip

Since Spring Break, our students have been afforded the opportunity to be enriched with various trips. Our 3^rd Grade students spent an entire day (7:00 am – 5:45 pm) at the Omaha Zoo. Each and every minute of the trip was scheduled to allow ample time to explore what the students had been studying! Our Kindergarten students spent last Friday at the Paul Mesner Puppet Show. Our 7^th and 8^th Graders left at 5:45 am on Monday, April 14^th to spend the day in Northern Arkansas at the Crystal Bridges Art Museum. When they returned at 7:30 pm that night, they had enjoyed more than “just” the art museum, but had enjoyed one another.

In another week, our 5^th and 6^th Grade students head to Washington D.C. for a 4 day/3 night adventure while our 7^th and 8^th Graders travel to the Florida Keys for a 5 day/4 night excursion! I have been on both trips… and, I cannot say enough about how the students benefit from this travel – the independence, the responsibility, the learning, the exposure… they truly “grow up” on this trip! The Washington, D.C. group experiences all the great things the city has to offer: monuments, memorials, museums, Arlington Cemetery, the White House, the Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, and so much more! The Florida Keys group experiences the Keys from Miami to Key West, all the great sites of Key West including the southernmost point, the Hemingway Home, and Smather’s Beach, the turtle hospital, and the main attraction – SeaCamp! SeaCamp is like nothing I have ever experienced – on the boat, snorkeling, wading, dissecting squid, swimming with sharks, and so much more! When the students return from the trips, they have truly changed, AND, they have memories that will last a lifetime!

Oakhill Takes on Hermann, MO

From pumpkin patches to Kaleidoscope; from 18^th and Vine to Hermann, MO; from Discovery Center to Union Station; and from the Zoo to Steamboat Arabia – each and every trip is impactful! Our students are truly lucky!

Check out this link... It gives more information about the Heifer Experience, our Middle School trip this coming October – Senora is taking the group back to Heifer International’s Overnight experience in Perry, Arkansas. 

Check out photos from our last trip to Heifer!

Travel makes one wiser and more appreciative!

The Next Generation of Field Trips

I love to travel! I truly believe traveling, whether near or far, is such a powerful experience for children of all ages. We can learn so much from road trips – culture, economics, map reading, independence, budgeting, geography, geology, ecology, and the list goes on and on!

When I was eight and had to get in the back of a hatchback for 10 days (no seatbelts back then were used), I probably didn’t realize the impact those travels would have on me. My family spent 10 days each summer driving around the US…hitting every state except for Alaska and Hawaii by the time I was in college (are we there yet?). Since then, my own family and I have made a point to mark those last two states off the list. Our past travels, similar (in a less exaggerated way) to those in Chevy Chase’s Family Vacation, have brought back many laughs and memories.

The power of travel motivates Oakhill to offer opportunities each year for our students whether it be in Kansas City, Hermann, MO, or Omaha, NE. Our middle school students are afforded the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in 5^th and 6^th grade and the Florida Keys in 7^th and 8^th grade (every other year). On the off years, we have taken a Spanish Immersion trip to Minnesota’s Concordia Language Village and hope to head to northern Arkansas to visit Heifer International’s camp this Spring.

And, now…thanks to the passion of former Senora Herman and our 1^st-4^th Science specialist, Dena Cole, our 5^th-8^th graders are now going to have the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica this coming summer (completely optional). Last summer, Senora Herman and Mrs. Cole spent eight days in Costa Rica on a school tour for teachers who might be interested in bringing students to the Rainforest. I just watched Mrs. Cole’s presentation to the Middle School and WOW! I am excited!!!

Why are we going to offer a trip to Costa Rica? I thought I would do a Q & A with Mrs. Cole for the answers…

Mrs. McCanles: Why Costa Rica?

Mrs. Cole: It is such an authentic experience with a very professional tour company created to cater to school groups. Costa Rica has such a vast rainforest and the country spends a great deal of its money on education and ecotourism.

Mrs. McCanles: Why take 5^th – 8^th graders?

Mrs. Cole: A great mix of Spanish and Science. The students have the background necessary to appreciate the rainforest and the problems that exist. The students will have the opportunity to use their Spanish skills as they feel comfortable. And, most importantly, the students who were here in 3^rd grade spent a great deal of time on their rainforest projects and animals. Now, they get to go back with their “old” science teacher to bring those projects to life.

Mrs. McCanles: What are the top three things the students will take away from the trip/experience?

Mrs. Cole: 1) seeing the animals up close and personal in their natural habitat is incredible 2) just experiencing the rainforest is something pictures and videos cannot replicate and 3) the bonding and team building is unforgettable – the white water rafting and zip lining are icing on the cake.

Mrs. McCanles: What might you say to the parents to help them make a decision about this trip?

Mrs. Cole: As a parent, I sent my children on trips and I worried most about their safety and comfort. I’ll start with safety. I will be going on the trip and if we get 20 students another teacher will accompany me. We will also have parent chaperones with us. The tour guides are amazing – trained in first aid and ready to cater to your every need. The tour company was created just for school groups and the adventures are so well planned and organized…they thought of everything! The hotels were very nice and, the food is incredible – so many varieties to choose from; you will never go hungry!

As you can see from many of the pictures, a whole new world awaits us!