Field Trip Ideas

Being a group that encourages active participation, we’re asking for your help with planning different field trips and activities throughout the year. For those that aren’t comfortable taking the lead, please consider volunteering when others post group event ideas. Taking on a smaller task such as preparing a craft, game or snack, helping to locate a venue, or organizing set-up/clean-up activities can greatly reduce the stress for the lead. Many hands make light work and keep the burden from falling on the shoulder of a few.

If you have an activity you’d like to plan, please post it to the group. We’d like to offer at least two activities a month and strive for one per week. For now the process will be quite informal. All members are free to plan and post field trips, park days, social events, service opportunities, classes and other events of interest to homeschooling families. Since we are new and growing most ideas will likely start on the Facebook page. As the group increases in size we will consider holding monthly group meetings, topic specific planning meetings, and adding more structure to the group and it's activities.
 
When planning an event, please include a description of the activity, date/time, cost, location, RSVP date, number of spaces available, and any other specifics that the group might need to know. Field trips with a limited number of spots should be filled on a first come, first served basis. If you will not be attending an event, it is always helpful if you’d take the time to log in and mark your RSVP no. Thanks in advance for your help with this!  

Some examples of field trips and activities that could be planned- museums, outdoor activities, park days, service activities, PE/active experiences, holiday parties, tours, etc.  If you need an idea, please see the list below.

Museums/Science/History

GR Public Museum
GR Children's Museum
Tri-Cities Historical Museum - Grand Haven
Historic White Pine Village - Ludington, 19th Century Outdoor Living History Museum
Fredrick Meijer Gardens - Grand Rapids
MCC's Alder Planetarium - Chicago
Air Zoo - Portage, MI historic aircraft, simulators, amusement park style rides
Heritage Park - Whitehall, 10,000 years of MI Living History Museum
DJ Angus Boat Tours - Grand Haven, Research Vessel
Van Raalte Farms - Holland, Maple Sugaring (May)
Van Raalte Farms - Holland, Civil War (September)
Gerald R Ford Museum - Grand Rapids
Lansing - Capitol
Michigan History Center - Lansing
USS Silversides - ROV Program, submarine museum, Muskegon
Historic Railroad Train Ride - Marne
DeWitt Historic School House - Spring Lake

Zoo/Animals

Critter Barn - Zeeland
John Ball Zoo - Grand Rapids
Binder Park Zoo - Battle Creek
Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park - Alto
Outdoor Discovery Center - Holland
Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation - Twin Lake

Fine Arts/Media

Circle Presents - East Grand Rapids High School
Central Park Players - Grand Haven
Muskegon Museum of Art
GH Tribune
WGHN Radio Station
WZZM/WOOD/PBS TV
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Grand Haven 9 - Free 10am movies 

Social/Physical

Starlite Lanes - Grand Haven, Bowling
Roller Fox - Apple Ave, Ravenna (Roller Skating)
Skyzone - Grand Rapids, Jump/Inflatables
Holland Aquadic Center
Spring Lake Aquadic Center
Lakeshore Sport Center - Muskegon (Ice Skating)
Muskegon Sports Complex - Outdoor Ice Skating, Luge

Parks/Hiking/Nature Centers

DeGraff Nature Center - Holland
Hoffma Park - Grand Haven
Hemlock Crossing - West Olive
Riley Trails - Holland
Hoffmaster State Park - Muskegon
Pigeon Creek - West Olive, sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking
Pottawatomi Park - Grand Haven

Businesses/Tours

US Coast Guard
Police/Fire Department
Post Office
Library
Chocolates by Grimaldi - Grand Haven
Pizza Restaurant
Water Filtration Plant
Meijer/Target Security Tour
Ice Cream Business Tour

Seasonal

Lewis Farms - New Era
Klackle Orchards - Greenville (NE of GR, 1.25 hr drive)
Blueberry/Strawberry/Apple Picking
Maple Syrup