FIELD TRIPS TO IRVINE
TAKE YOUR CLASS ON A TRIP THEY’LL NEVER FORGET!
Irvine offers 9 different half-day programs for school groups that provide students of all ages 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 can be customized with advance notice. Some of our field trips also offer a 2-hour option. See below for details!
September 11th 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 small groups
Questions? Contact Laura Ferrara at 443-738-9215 or FerraraL@ExploreNature.org
FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTIONS 2023-24:
Sensational Seasons Age: PreK-2nd grade
After making their way through some 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 characteristic to the current season and discover how animals and humans use their senses to learn about the world around them and thrive within it. Offered September – December and mid-March – May. (2 hour option available for $10/student)
The Buzz About Bees Age: PreK-2nd grade
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 how a bee’s anatomy is engineered to help them in their role as pollinators and discover how a beehive is its own mini community. With hands-on activities at each station (including a honey tasting), students will have no shortage of sweetness in their day! Offered September – October and April – May. (2 hour option available for $10/student)
Intro to Nature Age: PreK-3rd grade
Teachers—you spoke, and we listened! Irvine is now offering a field trip option with the main objective of getting your students outside to 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. Offered September – December and mid-March – May. (2 hour option available for $10/student)
Creature Features Age: 1st-3rd grade
Through hands-on exploration of animal artifacts and up-close meet-and-greets 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. Offered September – December and mid-March – May.
Maple Magic Age: 2nd-8th grade
Maple tapping season is one of our favorite times of the year here at Irvine! Through a guided hike with one of our naturalists, children will learn the step-by-step process of tapping maple trees, collecting the sap, and then turning it into the tasty syrup we know and love. Students will get to experience how the process has changed over time through interactive presentations and hands-on activities. Offered February – mid-March due to the short season for maple tapping.
Feathered Friends Age: 3rd-6th grade
Birds may well be nature’s best examples of adaptive evolution. In particular, the structure of a bird’s beak and feet reveal a great deal about a bird’s habitat, diet, and role within its ecosystem. On this field trip, students will learn helpful identification strategies as they visit Irvine’s Aviary to meet several raptors up-close and hike the trails in search of the diversity of bird species that our property hosts. Depending on the season, students may get to observe active bird-feeding stations or nest boxes and learn about several citizen science projects that welcome participants of all ages and levels of familiarity with wild birds. Offered September – December and mid-March – May.
Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands Age: 3rd-8th grade
Students will take a step back in time and learn all about the cultural traditions and lifestyles of Maryland’s pre-colonial Native American tribes. We’ll hike to Irvine’s replica Native American site and visit the longhouse, wigwams, and Three Sisters’ Garden so that students can explore how Native Americans used their natural resources to thrive as a community. To gain a genuine understanding of daily life in the Woodland Period, students will learn about tool use, clothing, hunting and gathering, living structures, fire-making methods, communication and games through hands-on experience and engaging presentations. Offered September – December and mid-March – May.
Wetland Wonders Age: 4th-6th grade
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. Offered September – October and April – May.
Intro to Nature Age: 4th-8th grade
Teachers—you spoke, and we listened! Irvine is now offering a field trip option with the main objective of getting your students outside to 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, animal presentation, and teambuilding activities. Offered September – December and mid-March – May. (2 hour option available for $10/student, featuring 2 of the 3 components)
Wilderness Survival Age: 5th-8th grade
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. Offered September – December and mid-March – May.
