Field Trips are Funtastic!

Why take a Field Trip, and Where do you go with all those kids???

During the spring, summer, and fall we try to get out of our home setting to experience the world around us first hand. This is accomplished by taking several "small" field trips and one or two larger (all day) field trips per year.

Examples of smaller field trips:

• Story time at the Monroe Public Library
• Various Monroe parks for a picnic and to play on the equipment
• Visit various landmarks around town which fit in with our theme (train depot, WWI bomber plane -- these both fit in with "Things that Go" theme)
• Post Office
• Police Station
• Fire Station
• Area Recycling Center
• Grocery Store / Wal-Mart

Any trip out can be a fun and learning experience for the children! Larger field trips usually last all day, require a bit of traveling and require one or more parents to accompany us. We always take along a yummy picnic lunch with us, because little tummies get really hungry with all the extra activity. (By taking our lunch along, rather than stopping at a fast food restaurant, the food program requirements, as well as the children's nutritional needs, can still be met!) As a "thank you" to my parents who accompany us, I provide their lunch, as well.

Some of our ideas for larger field trips include:

• Henry Vilas ZooThis zoo is a wonderful size for preschoolers, and admission is free! It is adjoined by a very nice park for our picnic.
• Area farms.
• Area orchard -- probably a half-day trip.
• Area lake to hike, play in the sand, and picnic.
• Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI. The original winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Wonderful exhibits, a performance under the Big Top, a carousel, etc. Child care groups should call ahead for information, as they can qualify as a school group, thereby allowing all persons (children and adults) to get in for under $3.00 each (normal prices are much higher).

Coming soon!! Photos from a "Family Field Trip" we are taking to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL (Saturday, June 29, 2002)! But for now, enjoy some photos from our June, 1997 trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin

As always, the Discovery Center held a lot of fascination for the children (adults, too!). They enjoyed all the "hands on" activities.

Can you see the iguana hiding here? The children were mesmerized by all the creatures in the reptile house.

Having daycare parents who are willing to go along to help out really makes the day a lot more pleasant. This year each one of our moms joined us! There were four daycare children, three moms, my two teenage sons, and myself. Total group size: 10.

Another mom helps her daughter feed the goats (one of the children's favorite activities). Even though it was an incredibly hot day, the children held up well.

Elephants are always a favorite animal! This is an Asian elephant. The Vilas Zoo had one Asian elephant, and one African elephant when we visited. This made comparison easy for all the children, and yes, all the children were able to correctly choose which was which when we visited!!! (In case you didn't know, the differences can be found in the size of the animal, the shape of the head, and most prominently in the shape of the ears -- an African elephant has very large ears the shape of the continent of Africa).

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page