Field trips are a key component of school instruction; they broaden the educational experience and make a subject more relevant. Students might be good at reciting and remembering things but they often don’t make the connection unless they experience it first hand. Field trips connect the dots for students by providing real experiences related to all content areas. Field trips enrich and expand the curriculum, strengthen observation skills by immersing children into sensory activities, increase children’s knowledge in a particular subject area and expand children’s awareness of their own community. And everyone you speak with has a field trip memory. Think of the excursion as a field study, not a field trip. It is a learning experience or experiential learning. A focus on arts integration and project-based learning teaches students to explore real-world problems and challenges. Active and engaged learning inspires students to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying and allows them to see how ideas are connected. Teaching in such a contextual manner promotes collaboration, critical thinking and knowledge retention. Kids need this vital component of school instruction, if not only to improve test scores, but to feel, see, touch, and even taste the real world around them. And that’s something you can only get from a field trip.
Here are some exciting field trip opportunities:
East Maui Watershed
The “Rain Follows the Forest” is an ancient Hawaiian proverb that recounts how, where there is a forest, rain is collected. Did you know that a forest of native plants and trees is better at collecting water than a forest of introduced plants? Because we live on an island, we have limited water resources. The East Maui Watershed Partnership offers an array of opportunities to educate youth about our precious water resources. Starting in the classroom with a presentation about what a watershed is and how it collects water, students can build their very own watershed model to experience how our land is shaped by water and how introductions of plants, animals and humans over time has changed our watershed. After students get a basic understanding of the watershed concept, field trips can be arranged for hikes into The Nature Conservancy’s Waikamoi Preserve where students can see and hear native honeycreeper birds and experience native forest vegetation first hand. Visit eastmauiwatershed.org or call (808)573-6999 for more information.
Maui Hawaiian Village
Experience early Hawaiian Life, from the mountains to the sea by visiting the Maui Hawaiian Village. Learn the history of this pristine location on Maui and experience the ancient traditions of the beautiful valley. Touch, smell and taste the native plants and explore the ancient terrain and its resources. Take an educational hike alongside Wailuku’s last river that still runs mauka (mountain) to makai(ocean) and learn the importance of Wai (water) to our community, land and environment. Learn the value of an ahupuaʻa and the importance of resources from the mountain to the sea and see how a Hawaiian village was sustainable with food, shelter, and clothing. Learn about the 40 plus native plants and their uses that are growing at Maui Hawaiian Village and learn to identify invasive species. Use native plants grown in the village for Kapa, Hau cordage and Lashing, Kalo and poi making and Imu workshops. Hear the Hawaiian language as you journey through the village and learn the cultural importance of the land and water to Hawaiʻi. www.mauihawaiianvillage.com/808-244-2221/Wailuku
Hui No’eau
The visual arts are proven to stimulate and enhance student performance and to encourage positive self-image, communication skills, and creative thinking. An arts-rich learning environment has powerful effects on both students and teachers; higher job satisfaction for teachers and enhanced critical thinking and problem solving skills for students. Hui No`eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao is dedicated to developing field trips for youth of ages 2.5 through 18 that provide hands-on workshops in a variety of disciplines (painting, drawing, ceramics, mixed media, jewelry) with guided tours of a professional art gallery, historic grounds & working artist studios. The Hui’s Teaching Artists are able to develop art lessons related to specific medium, artist, or unit of study in the classroom OR guide students through popular Hui field trip themes such as a study of mural arts or Artist in Residence Patrick Dougherty’s on-site “stickwork” sculpture. Hui field trips spark creativity, artistic curiosity and provide a fun way of integrating the visual arts into the school day. www.huinoeau.com/808-572-6560 ext. 22/Makawao
Kula Country Farms Pumpkin Patch
Kula Country Farms is a local farming family. They are the fourth generation to farm in Kula and they do their best to grow the most flavorful varieties using the best farming techniques to produce them. Kula Country Farms Pumpkin Patch field trips are for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners. During the tour the children learn about the pumpkin cycle and get to pick pumpkins. They will also learn about the Honey Bee and how they help the farm. The children will have a chance to explore the corn maze and visit with the farm animals. They will check out the Children’s Garden and enjoy the Garden Games. If your group is interested in booking a field trip please email [email protected] or call 808-878-8381. Space is limited so book early.
Maui Electric Company
Let’s Talk Energy! Empower, enlighten and intrigue your students through Maui Electric Company’s school education program that features live-electrical displays and hands-on demonstrations focused on electrical safety, energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy and emergency preparedness. Offered to students from kindergarten through middle school, Maui Electric’s Let’s Talk Energy programcan be tailored to fit your educational needs. This free presentation can also be set up as full-day exhibit set up for all grade levels at your school. To arrange a visit, contact Shayna Decker at 871-2339, toll-free at 1-877-871-8461 for Lanai and Molokai or email [email protected].
Surfing Goat Dairy
Surfing Goat Dairy offers students of all ages a great opportunity to learn about all kinds of animals. They have many goats, herder dogs, cats, a pot-bellied pig, and their newest addition of a cow named Norbert. Students are taken on a 20 minute walking tour of the working Dairy & Farm, they will see modern milking machines and view the inside of the Dairy operations. Everyone will also have the chance to try some of the cheeses that are made there. Another tour option is the chore tour, where students can assist with chores by helping to bring in the dairy herd, hand milk a goat, then help with the feedings and learn more about the award winning cheeses and how they are made. Want your students to learn how to cook using goat cheese? That is an option as well. 2 hours spent doing hands-on learning. They can also customize any tour ideas you may have to include specific subjects that your students may be studying, whether it be culinary, science & nature, or just a reward based excursion. www.surfinggoatdairy.com/808-878.2870/Lower Kula
