Field Trips

[mkrebecca]

My daughter is in Kindergarden and the only field trip they are taking is to the pumpkin patch and we have to pay for it! I think I could take her there on my own, shouldn't the schools trips be more educational?
I never heard of paying for a feild trip like that!
I understand the DC and NY trips, but the pumpkin patch!!!!!!!
My older daughter went to the Zoo when she was in Kindergarden and has not had any other field trip but that one, and I found out that the only other one she will get is to DC!!! Are all schools like this, or is it just us?
They don't go to the Zoo any more because it is too far away from us.

[lizval99]

I teach first grade and our school has two to three field trips per grade level each year. If we go by bus there is always a fee. Buses for field trips have a base cost plus a certain amount per mile. However, our parent association gives each classroom $200 per year to help defray the cost. It doesn't go far since gas has been up. The school district has raised the fee for buses to keep up with the rising fuel costs. People usually mistakenly think that field trip buses are free because they are school transportation, but they are not (at least in my district). I just took my class to a farm Wednesday. And while the kids picked pumpkins, there was an educational purpose behind the trip. A farm employee gave a demonstration of products grown on the farm, what the products are made into after they leave the farm, and basic information on how they grow some of the crops. The kids got to sample homemade potato chips that were made from the farm's potato crop, they each took home a potato and a pumpkin, and they got to play in the corn maze and play area. The cost was $6 per child which included bus and admission to the farm. I used $100 of my field trip money to keep the cost low. The teachers in our school must be able to attach an educational objective that connects to the State of Ohio's Academic Content Standards for the field trip to be approved. No conection--no field trip. I am sure things differ from district to district even building to building but that is how it is for my school. By the way, I do work in a private school but we are able to get buses from the public school district.

[momsangel]

Trips are different everywhere I guess, in Fl its standard to do 2 field trips a year and they get higher each time....

We allowed ours to do 1 trip a year,(while they attended public schools)...


Guess its different everywhere,Dear;)

[jessiegirl]

I teach after school classes at an elementary school here in Portland as well as volunteer during the day.
The kindergarten students went on two field trips last year one of which was the Pumpkin patch and the second was a trip to the Portland Childrens Museum.
Our first graders always go to the state capital and such. I think that at least at my school the field trips become more educational over the years. Also, about half the time there is an extremely small fee for the field trips. The PTA and fundraisers help pay most of the costs but a lot of times they can't afford to pay for all field trips and all of their costs.

I personally would like to see them be more educational but at the same time it's a one day trip for the children to spend time with their friends and get away from the classroom for a day of fun. That's just me though.

[ALawicki]

Here they get 2 a year, 3 if they don't have to take a bus. Most of them there is somewhat of a cost, but normally not a whole lot. Our field trips are always educational in some way, but still really fun for the kids. I am sure they will put education into the trip somehow.

[pjays]

My sons preschool goes to the pumkin patch every year as does the 4k group. I went with my son and I thought it was very educational for many reasons. The kids learned about farms, made a craft, and heard a farmer read them a book about fall. Not to mention all the prefieltrip and post-fieldtrip discussion and activities. Also every fieldtrip no matter where to is educational; it teaches children how to interact with other students and adults in a new setting. I tought in a special program for at risk students and once a month we made breakfast. We invited the support staff, and administrators to the breakfast. Was it educational in the traditional sense? No but the kids learned how to interact with adults in a positive situation.

Also, you may be able to take your daughter but other children in her class may not be able to go with their families (due to lack of funds, time, ambition, etc.)

[mkrebecca]

I guess I just think going to the pumkin patch is not that big of a deal....we go all the time. So I was hoping for a better field trip. I am also going to go to the school board and find out why they will only get 2 for the whole time being in the school. They said we have restored field trips for the district!!!

[notyard]

Our former school district only offers parent/student-paid field trips, and only for certain groups. The art class students may go on an annual trip to a university art experience day an hour away, but only if the parents or students pay the fee for the bus and the program. There are no field trips for grade one, or grade two, or anything like that. Of course, the district is in dire financial straits after a past superintendent siphoned off untold thousands of dollars from both the school and park districts for his own "self-educational" things such as trips to Hooters, leather coats, collectibles, and so forth. :mad:

[mkrebecca]

If the state would not take all the fundings!!! Maybe the kids would get more field trips. The kids did enjoy the field trip alot today.

[VanillaBean]

My son (3rd grade) goes on more than 5-6 a school year and all of them cost from $3-$6 each time plus a few requires a sack lunch be made and taken with as well!! he has went to a Pumpkin Patch this year and it was $3. What I don't get is like this year they had the 3rd graders going to the U.P. here which is over 500 miles away from home- it was a free trip but it was 2 overnights and I was apalled and also it was during the school week. I could see this for maybe junior high or high school but not for elementary school kids!!!! Needless to say- I did not let my son go!!!!

And last year they had the kids go camping for a week- a whole week- at this nature center- again- my son did not go!!!!!!!!

[mkrebecca]

What is the U.P.? Michelle?
Camping for a week during school! How crazy!
Who comes up with these ideas?????

[mkrebecca]

I think there are lots of free places that the kids could go learn about! Someone just needs to do better planning.

[jessiegirl]

My son (3rd grade) goes on more than 5-6 a school year and all of them cost from $3-$6 each time plus a few requires a sack lunch be made and taken with as well!! he has went to a Pumpkin Patch this year and it was $3. What I don't get is like this year they had the 3rd graders going to the U.P. here which is over 500 miles away from home- it was a free trip but it was 2 overnights and I was apalled and also it was during the school week. I could see this for maybe junior high or high school but not for elementary school kids!!!! Needless to say- I did not let my son go!!!!

And last year they had the kids go camping for a week- a whole week- at this nature center- again- my son did not go!!!!!!!!

Camping in third grade? That's crazy. Here in Oregon kids go to Outdoor School in the 6th grade. It's a five night trip to a camp where they sleep in cabins, and learn about nature, plants, water, etc. It is very educational and so much fun! But again that was in 6th grade and it is such an educational, and amazing experience I personally will never forget!

[VanillaBean]

What is the U.P.? Michelle?
Camping for a week during school! How crazy!
Who comes up with these ideas?????


Sorry it stands for the Upper Peninsula...it is very far away!!!

[Jess0587]

When I was in 6th grade, we went on a trip to LBL (Land Between the Lakes, in TN) and stayed in cabins for 2 nights and 3 days. It was fun! :) It was a great learning experience.