For our family, summertime is less of a break from school and more of a chance to do “fun school.” Like most homeschool moms, I never really stop teaching. Summer is the perfect time to do all of those projects and read those books that have been at the bottom of your to-do list. It’s also a great time to go on field trips!

I am blessed with a mother-in-law who likes to be involved in my kids’ schooling. She’s also really great at finding educational outings. We could be in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and she’ll find great experiences for my kids.

We’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately, and with kids, that means road trips. I make sure to always find an educational spot on the way to our destination to exercise their bodies and their minds. All these road trips help bring our U.S. geography studies to life!

Don’t know where to start planning a field trip? Here are some tips:

1. Get Outside. You can learn so much through God’s Creation. It could be as simple as going down to the creek in your town to visiting a National Park! The National Park Service has printable and online activities for kids HERE for you to do on the drive.

2. Visit a Museum. There are all kinds of museums to pique your child’s interest: natural history museums, art museums, science museums, and some really, really niche museums. You might even be surprised by what your local history museum has to offer. On a road trip to California, we once stopped at an airplane museum in Texas. It wasn’t big or fancy, and we were probably the only visitors that day, but the volunteers at the museum were so happy to see us that they gave us a VIP tour of all the aircraft along with anecdotes you won’t get anywhere else.

3. Meet Some Animals. Our family is really into animals. We’ve been to countless zoos, sanctuaries, safaris, and aquariums. Grab an animal encyclopedia for the car ride there to get them excited. To make it even more educational, grab How Many Animals? A Latin reader for your beginning Latin student! Also, check to see if you can buy tickets for animal experiences like feeding or grooming the animals.

4. Tour a Farm or Factory. Many local factories and farms open their doors to tours for educational purposes. And even if they don’t, it doesn’t hurt to ask. We once got a one-on-one tour of a pig farm with the owner of the farm simply by asking.( Now they offer official tours to everyone.) Learn how your child’s favorite snack is made or how milk is processed. It’s always more memorable to visit the real thing than to watch a video online.

5. See the Stars. If you’re lucky enough to live near a planetarium, don’t miss out on this stellar experience. If not, plan a stargazing camp out. Whether in the backyard or in the woods, you can’t beat the real thing.

No matter where you choose to go on a field trip, I recommend doing a little research ahead of time to come up with books to read or worksheets to do beforehand to reinforce what will be learned. If you’re not sure if Veritas Press has a book on the subject, just send us a DM on Facebook or Instagram! We’ll help you find what you’re looking for!

Have a great (field) trip!