FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTIONS & INFORMATION FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2026-27:

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 review the five senses and find out which of theirs is the strongest while exploring different games and activities. They will experience the natural events of the current season and discover how animals and humans use their senses in the forests, meadows and other habitats surrounding Irvine.  

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, but 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 grade & up 
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 grade & up
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! During a guided hike, students will learn the Indigenous origins of tapping trees, collecting sap, and then cooking into a food product. Students will practice the steps and tools of maple sugaring throughout the centuries through interactive presentations and hands–on activities.

FEATHERED FRIENDS   Age: 3rd grade & up
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 a 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.

NEW OFFERING! GEOLOGY ROCKS   Age: 3rd grade & up
Offered: September – December and March – May

Students will learn about rocks and minerals up-close. This introductory program includes a series of hands-on activity stations that teach students to identify minerals and rocks and how we use them every day.

NATIVE AMERICANS OF THE EASTERN WOODLANDS   Age: 4th grade & up
Offered: September – December and mid-March – May

Students will 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 how Indigenous wisdom is evergreen, students will learn about tools, clothing, hunting and gathering, living structures, fire-making methods, and games through hands-on experience. The structures and content have been designed in collaboration with our tribal neighbors. See BAIC for more information.

WETLAND WONDERS   Age: 4th grade & up
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 they’ve found. 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 grade & up
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.