Hints to Leading Outdoor Field Trips

Students in a park setting encounter a whole new world with far more distractions than the classroom.  The tips below should help both you and your students to have a meaningful learning experience in Central Park:

Tip #1: Know your site: Become familiar with your area of study before bringing your class—pay a visit yourself, if possible, or use maps to help plan your route to and from the site. Be sure to note the location of restrooms and water fountains.

Tip #2: Set ground rules. Create rules for your visit to Central Park. You should include your class rules to encourage good behavior.

Tip #3: Slow down and take a closer look. Take your time investigating the Park. Stop your group several times to examine things and discuss what you see.

Tip #4: Ask your students lots of questions. Who...? What...? Where...? When...? Why...? How...? Students enjoy talking about what they are seeing. These types of conversations also help students to process and remember information. Give a pop quiz, scavenger hunt, or a single task to complete while in the Park.

Tip #5: Expect the unexpected: Outdoor education is full of surprises. What if you are going to collect pond creatures and there are none to be found? Always prepare a backup plan, and keep plenty of tricks up your sleeve.

Tip #6: Gauge students’ attitudes and response to your lesson. Change gears if necessary to emphasize your objective. And if, for example, an osprey swoops down and catches a fish, capture the moment as a true learning experience!

Tip #7: Talk to staff and volunteers at Park visitor centers. Feel free to approach these individuals with your group. Students can ask their questions about the Park or the Center’s exhibits directly to a staff person.

Tip #8: - Chaperones are required to stay with their students at all times while visiting Central Park. Count the number of your students frequently.

Tip #9: Know Park rules. Help us to protect our Park and its inhabitants by being respectful of all living things in the Park.  Treat trees, plants, animals, etc., with respect.  Limit the samples you take back to school to fallen leaves and twigs (official Central Park policy forbids removing ANY plant or animal from the Park).  Be aware of and respectful to others using the Park.  Last but not least, throw all trash in trash baskets (better still, take it back to school).