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Field Trips

The Frederick A.O. Schwarz Education Center facilitates programs for thousands of children and adults each year to teach them about our city: the challenges we’ve encountered, the innovations we’ve created, the unique contemporary issues we face as New Yorkers, and the complexity of how the decisions we make today impact our city’s future.    Each field trip is a unique experience, driven by student inquiry, dialogue, and hands-on activities. 

We offer both in-person and virtual field trips. 

We are currently offering field trips from October 2023 to June 2024. Please fill out the Field Trip Request Form to request a trip. 

Field Trip Request Form 

Times: Programs are available Tuesday—Friday beginning at 10am .  

Cost: The pricing of in-person and virtual field trips is different. Please see the relevant section below for group pricing.

Programs: Field trips vary in duration between 60 and 90 minutes. Details are listed below. Programs can be modified for groups of all needs and abilities, and program time can be adjusted under special request.

Scheduling: Advance reservations are required and must be made by using the field trip request form.  Please note that due to the volume of requests, it may take up to three weeks to receive a response from our School Programs Scheduling Team. Field trips are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. More details are listed below. 

In Person Field Trips

Manny Vega: Art in El Barrio / Arte en El Barrio

I Feel You, NYC: Capturing the City's Emotions

“And Scene” 100 Years of New York through Film

Between the Pages: 100 Years of New York Life

I Dream of NYC: 100 Years of New York Life through Art

The Making of New York

Activist New York

The Greatest Grid

What Makes New York New York? Black History Edition

Activist New York: Black History Edition

What Makes New York New York?

In person field trip pricing.

Note: We reserve the right to limit reservations to two groups per school per day. Teachers and chaperones are included for free in the group fee pricing.

Virtual Field Trips

60 min program for Grades 4–8 

75 min program for Grades 9–12  

Explore New York’s rich history of social justice movements to see how activists have reimagined a more just future. Students will use photographs, flyers, posters, and film footage from the exhibition to discuss topics, such as youth action in the Civil Rights Movement, health activism and the Young Lords, and the current Movement for Black Lives. The program will provide space for students to voice their thoughts and participate in a reflective activity about what care for one’s self and community looks like. 

City as Canvas

45 min program for Grades K–1 

60 min program for Grades 2–12 

Explore highlights from the Museum’s graffiti art collection and see original works created by legendary writers such as Daze, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, and Keith Haring. Participants will view sketches from the artists’ personal blackbooks, photographs of large-scale pieces on subway cars, and works on canvas as sources for studying graffiti as a dynamic art movement. Students will respond creatively by drafting their own sketches. Participants are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper to the session!   

Getting Around

60 min program for Grades 2–5  

From horse-drawn omnibuses to electric cars, transportation in New York City has undergone many changes from the 1800s to the present day. Students will discuss how New York evolved over time by seeing pictures from the Museum’s collection. Participants will play a matching game and notice how new technologies affected the ways New Yorkers lived and traveled. 

Puppets of New York

60 min program for Grades 2–5  

Explore the many ways that New Yorkers have brought puppets to life on television and in movies, in plays, and on the streets in New York City! Students will see puppets of all shapes and sizes from the Puppets of New York exhibition and examine how puppets are developed, manipulated, and used as tools for building connections and standing up for causes as they draw inspiration from the rich and diverse traditions of puppetry in New York City. 

Civil Rights

75 min program for Grades 9–12 

Explore New York City’s role in the Civil Rights Movement and discover the importance of youth action in the 1964 boycott by NYC students against segregated schools. Participants will hear the stories of Civil Rights activists to learn about New York’s major role in the Black freedom movement and the ongoing movement for racial justice today. 

Virtual Field Trip Pricing

Scheduling a tour:.

We are currently offering field trips from October 2023 to June 2024.   Please fill out the Field Trip Request Form to request a trip.   

Field Trip Request Form

To schedule a field trip, please complete the Field Trip Request Form. Please have your contact information, preferred program, dates, times, and group size ready before filling out the form. 

Please note that due to the volume of requests, it may take up to three weeks to receive a response from our School Programs Scheduling Team. Field trips are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  

For in-person field trips, please bring at least one chaperone per 10 students; a maximum of six chaperones may accompany each class. On the day of your visit, please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled visit for in-person field trips. Field trips will be shortened for late arrivals.  

Do you have a special booking request, such as bringing multiple groups, larger groups, or a group with special needs? Please indicate your request on the Field Trip Request Form and a member of our scheduling team will be in touch to discuss options. 

Please contact us at [email protected] with other inquiries and questions. 

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New York City history trips will create lifelong memories for your students. Educational Destinations offers a variety of New York City history trip opportunities. If your students are ready to learn what is Broadway’s longest running show, how much the Dutch paid for the land that NYC resides, or how New York City was the first capital of the United States, Educational Destinations will make your New York City history trip rewarding and memorable.

Educational destinations is the 1st choice for new york city history trips and new york city education travel..

Find out why Educational Destinations is the 1st choice in educational New York City group tours

View our 2 minute intro video to see what Educational Destinations can do for your group.

Beginning in the 18th century, many immigrants came from Europe, significantly changing the structure of New York City as the migrants served as workers to industries. New York City blossomed during the economic and building boom following the Great Depression and World War II. Throughout New York City's history, it has served as a central port of entrance for many immigrants while its sociological and economic influence has made it one of the most important metropolitan areas in the United States and the world. From a pizza slice, to Times Square, the bright lights of Broadway to a slice of Cheesecake from Junior’s, the Big Apple will be an unforgettable Educational Destinations adventure.

 Below are some popular options for your educational history trip. You can also click on the PDF icon for a download of these features.

Educational History Opportunities

• Participate in Educational History Labs with Hands-on Experiences
• Learn Where George Washington Took the Oath of Office as the First President
• Find Out How Many New Americans Began on Ellis Island
• Explore the Reasons the Great Depression Hit New York City the Hardest
• See a Space Submarine, Shuttle, Spy Plane, and a Hands-on Flight Simulator in a Stop
• Explore Museum Collections of World War II Artifacts
• Witness the Towering Buildings and Brilliant Lights at the Crossroads of the World
• See the Life of a KGB Espionage Agent Through Interacting with the Artifacts
• Visit the Landmark Monument to Freedom that Presents Immagrants to New York Harbor
• Test Your Spy Skills Like 007 with Puzzles and Challenges
• Learn How the Five Points was an Immigrant Neighborhood Full of Poverty, Violence, and Gangs
• Explore How Lower Manhattan was reinvented after World War II
• Play Interactive Games that Challenges you to Navigate the Great Depression and WWII
• Learn the Complexities of the Revolutionary War with Interactive Activities
• Learn How to Effectively Conduct Online Historical Research in These Confusing Days
• Visit NYC's Only preserved Nineteenth-Century Family Home
• View Native American Art & Artifacts over 12,000 Years
• Explore the Birthplace and Childhood Home of 26th President of the United States
• Study the Facts of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidency
• See How New York’s Natural Harbor Was Rise to the Metropolis we Know Today
• Workshop Opportunities

History Attractions

• KGB Espionage Museum
• SPYSCAPE Spy Museum
• National Museum of the American Indian
• New-York Historical Society Museum & Library
• Museum of the City of New York
• Wall Street and the Financial District
• Fraunces Tavern Museum
• Roosevelt Historic Site
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• Merchant's House Museum
• Lower East Side Tenement Museum
• Ellis Island & Museum
• South Street Seaport Museum
• American Museum of Natural History
• Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
• Federal Hall National Memorial
• 9/11 Memorial Plaza
• Apollo Theater
• Bryant Park
• Central Park
• Ellis Island
• Empire State Building
• Greenwich Village
• Holley Plaza in Washington Square Park
• Lincoln Center
• Little Italy
• NBC Studios
• Radio City Music Hall
• Rockefeller Center
• South Street Seaport
• Statue of Liberty
• Times Square
• Top of the Rock
• United Nations

Other Attractions

• Manhattan TV & Movie Tour
• Museum of Modern Art
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• New York Aquarium
• Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum
• The Jim Henson Exhibitions
• Escape Rooms
• Harbor Line Cruises
• Great Broadway Shows
• Amusement Park Rides at Luna Park
• Sports Events
• Trapeze Classes

The Trip Account app is offered to our groups as they travel.

Included in your trip, group leaders, staff, chaperones and travelers will use the information packed, versatile Trip Account App during their travels.

Powerful Director Tools

Interactive Checklists, Pop Up Communications, Emergency Notifications.

Tools for all travelers

Live Itineraries, Group Messaging, Photo Gallery and much more.

Everything you need for your next trip .

The Trip Account app is available for iPhone and Android.

See our difference

It’s no surprise that Educational Destinations sets and exceeds student travel standards. We aim to provide the best service, communication, experience and safety for all of our groups. When researching for your travel provider, please download this PDF checklist HERE to ensure that your group is taking advantage of all of the essential building blocks of a successful, safe, and FUN trip! If you have questions or are ready to get started on your next trip, please call 800.616.1112 or request your customized quote .

Custom Designed Trips

ED will create a custom designed trip for your group that is shaped by your priorities, goals and wishes, and powered by your passions. ED is committed to listening and working one-on-one with you to build the perfect trip for your students. There are no stock trips here - just your trip.

Group Travel Specialists

Led by award-winning teachers, ED exceeds the needs and expectations of students, teaching staff, parents and administrators. ED anticipates group needs and delivers group wishes, without surprises or hidden costs. Our experience and expertise enable us to bring the best quality trips, events, experiences and opportunities to your group.

All-Inclusive Price

ED’s custom trips are cost-effective and inclusive, without hidden costs – a great value for your travelers. Charter coaches, flights, hotels, meals, sightseeing, events, taxes and gratuities are covered for each traveler. A 24/7 Emergency Contact System is included for each traveling group.

Cutting Edge Technology

Through ED's parent company, ED is the only student travel company providing Trip Account , an internet-based program that provides you a complete trip resource center 24 hours a day. Also included in your trip is the Trip Account App: Music Directors, group leaders, staff, chaperones and travelers will use the information packed, versatile Trip Account App during their travels.

Personal Tour Director

A signature feature of every trip is the ED Tour Director , always right by the teacher’s side, managing all travel aspects of your trip: transportation, events, meals, lodging, tickets and more. Our TD’s training and management skills let the teacher focus on the students and education.

Safety is Priority #1

ED is pro-active on safety, sending the Tour Director World Aware® alerts, sharing best practices in travel safety, emergency procedures and travel hints with chaperones and staff, ensuring traveler accountability, monitoring vendor service/performance and tellng travelers of changes or emergencies with the Trip Account App .

Trusted Leader in Travel

ED is an active member of these respected travel suppliers and organizations: Walt Disney World & Disneyland, Universal Orlando, American Bus Association, National Band Association, National Tour Association, Student Youth Travel Association and more. View all ED’s partners and awards here .

Doing the right thing

ED is deeply committed to high quality educational group travel. We love what we do, and we work hard to do it better than everyone. Creating memorable performance trips that leave positive, life-changing impressions on your students and community is a privilege that we don’t take lightly. Please talk to us about your next trip.

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See why teachers are excited about Educational Destinations...

Hear from our valued clients throughout the world.

Since 1987, Educational Destinations, led by passionate, award-winning teachers, has become the first choice for educational student group travel. By listening to teachers, providing cutting edge technology and unmatched service, and having dedicated ED Tour Directors conduct trips, Educational Destinations has built an unmatched reputation. Focused on designing custom trips that provide educational, memorable, and rewarding student travel experiences, Educational Destinations successfully partners with customers to do just that, in destinations within the United States and worldwide. Decades of combined travel expertise, earned in dozens of countries, enables Educational Destinations to anticipate performance needs and deliver group wishes, without surprises or hidden costs.

I wanted to write and tell you what a terrific job you did with our trip. I’ve been traveling since 1980 and this was the easiest trip ever for me. I simply had to do nothing but teach! It’s hard to believe it’s taken me this long to get it right, slow learner! The students and parents have had nothing to say but wonderful things…

Nan Moore Male High School

You have been so wonderful with our parents and students throughout the entire course of this tour. I am so glad we signed on with Music Travel Consultants/Educational Destinations as you gave our group the red carpet treatment every step of the way.

Janis Stackhouse Bloomington High School North

Music Travel Consultants/Educational Destinations is top-notch. The professionalism of the staff and their attention to detail is a director’s dream come true. My students and I have traveled with them four times over the past several years and I can say that “I won’t leave home without them!

Jena Adrianson Lawrence Central High School

I can’t say enough good things about Educational Destinations. They had everything covered and it was a relaxing and fun trip. My students and parents commented that it was the best trip we have ever taken. I’m ready to plan another trip with this company.

Brenda Bergman Jay County School Corporation

I recently had the pleasure of going on a Disney Trip with our band from Eastern High School in Greentown, IN. I was skeptical about going but am so glad I did. My Grandson and I came in rather late and had no problems whatsoever in getting onto your site, paying for our trip, and having confirmation that we were good to go.

Dianna Workinger Greentown, IN

Being able to trust implicitly the people who are planning what we will see, the timing of the itinerary, and the traveling arrangements is comforting not only to our staff but also to our parents. For our parents to know that this is a company that we use year after year with great results gives them the peace of mind that their children will experience the safest trip possible.

Mrs. Kathy Schubel Principal, St. Bartholomew Catholic School

I wanted to thank you so much for such a great trip! Our kids had a wonderful time and I could not imagine how we would have seen all that we were able to see without having you organize this trip for us.

Angie Remington Madison-Grant Elementary Students

I have worked with Educational Destinations on a yearly basis since 2001 and ED is the best educational travel group our school has ever worked with. It is refreshing to know that during the course of a trip that if any questions or problems arise, we have the consultant, whom we have worked with all year, right there with us to answer all questions and take care of the tickets and timing. It makes the trip very relaxing and enjoyable and a trip our kids never forget.

Darrin Russell 8th Grade U.S. History, Mitchell High School

I have been coordinating educational field trips for my school for the past 10 years and could not be happier with Educational Destinations. From the very first brainstorming session to the moment we return home from our trip, Educational Destinations works tirelessly to make sure our trips are memorable and successful. They are always quick to answer my questions, which I truly appreciate. Michael, Robin, and Ryan have been fantastic to work with over the years and I highly recommend them!

Kris Samick Spencer-Owen Community School Corporation

Educational Destinations has taken the stress out of planning and traveling with a large group. As a teacher, I am now able to actually enjoy the time I have with my students instead of worrying about all of the necessary details. From the very first contact made to the last moment of the trip and beyond, each and every person we have interacted with from Educational Destinations has been professional, concerned about fulfilling our needs, and exceptionally conscientious.

Linda Crady History Teacher, Sycamore School

Student Visits

New York City Student Visits

We offer free curriculum-based, student field trips for schools, home-schoolers, camps, and other learning communities to learn about the National Archives and the rich primary sources it holds that tell our American story. Contact us for registration information and program details.

Civics for All of US

Civics for All of US is a new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. Our civics programs empower young people to make a positive difference and improve the world they are inheriting. These programs draw upon the vast archival holdings of the National Archives housed in our nation’s capital, the presidential libraries, and at National Archives facilities nationwide to promote the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need for civic engagement in the 21st century.

• The Constitution Rules! for Grades K-2 In this 30-minute program, students will explore the idea of different responsibilities in their community and analyze images that highlight the jobs of the three branches of government as outlined in the Constitution.
• The Constitution and Our Community for Grades 3-5 In this 45-minute program, students will explore the idea of community, hone their primary source analysis skills by examining government records, and connect the Constitution to their own lives.
• Voting Rights, the Constitution & Representative Government for Grades 6-8 In this 45-minute program, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States and its impact on representative government.
• No Conscription Without Representation: Voting Rights and the Constitution for Grades 9-12 In this 45-minute program, students will explore the progression of voting rights in the United States with particular focus on the effort to lower the voting age to 18.
• Make Your Voice Count: Learning About The First Amendment for Grades K-2 In this 30-minute program, students will explore the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights using primary historical sources to learn about the importance of rights and how to exercise their freedoms.
• The First Amendment: Five Rights in One! For Grades 3-5 In this 45-minute program, Students will explore the First Amendment freedoms established in the Bill of Rights in this interactive and engaging civics program based on historical primary sources from the National Archives.
• The Bill of Rights Protects You for Grades 6-12 In this 45-minute program, students will explore the Bill of Rights and how it outlines both limits on government and the rights of the people. Students will work together to analyze three case studies that underscore the remedies that citizens can use to address instances where their rights have been violated.

Exploring America's Diversity

Students will learn about the diverse history of the United States through passenger arrival, Census, and naturalization records of real Americans. They will serve as detectives looking for clues about individuals through the documents that tell their story. The lives of everyday Americans such as Florence Campbell—a 13-year-old student from Panama, and Max Garber—a butter and eggs merchant from Russia, highlight the ways of life for millions of New York City residents. Students will gain important historical analysis tools and learn about the types of documents available for their own family history research. Participants will also receive a tour and overview of other important historical documents held by the National Archives.

• 1.5–2 hours
• Can be customized to explore a diverse variety of ethnicities in the New York City area

Pre-visit Activities & Requirements

• Familiarize students with immigration and archives vocabulary words .
• Discussing immigration in general and ask your class if any students immigrated themselves. If willing, ask them to share their experience. Questions could include: Why did their family decide to leave their native country? What did their family bring with them? (This could include both physical and intangibles.) Then (or if no students have experienced immigration), ask the entire class to list what they would bring if they were going to live in another country. Tell them that they could only bring what they can physically carry to help them prioritize. Afterward, discuss their lists and reasoning behind their choices. Follow-up with questions such as: Do you think it was hard to limit the items you brought? Why or why not? If you could only bring one item to the new country, what would it be? Why?

Complete and return the registration form .

Getting Ready for National History Day

During the year-long National History Day program thousands of students, grades 6-12, choose a topic related to an annual theme; research at libraries, archives, museums and historic sites; and share their knowledge about the topic through exhibits, essays, documentaries, websites, or performances. Hundreds from New York and New Jersey visit the National Archives at New York City to find out how to best prepare for the local, state and national competitions. We encourage students to choose a topic for research from our original records. You can find more resource for National History Day on our main National History Day page .

In this workshop, students will discover how to locate and utilize primary sources, analyze documents to increase critical thinking and research skills, understand the research process and the importance of citing records properly, review significance to determine the relevance of primary sources to the research topic, discuss strategies for incorporating primary sources into their projects, and research original records at our facility. Participants will also receive a tour and overview of other important historical documents held by the National Archives.

• Grades 6–12
• 1.5 to 3 hours
• Can be customized to explore specific topics

The Confino Family

Victoria Confino was only a youth when she emigrated from Kastoria, Greece, to the Lower East Side. As a family of eight, the Confinos began their American journey in a cramped fifth-floor tenement apartment at 97 Orchard Street. In this field trip offered in conjunction with the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, participants will start their journey at the National Archives at New York City and discover the Confino family's past through an exploration of primary sources, including passenger arrival and Census records. They will also receive a tour and overview of important historical documents held by the National Archives.

Participants will then travel on their own to the Tenement Museum to "meet" Victoria Confino herself. On the hour-long tour of her 1916 tenement apartment, they will learn Victoria's personal story, an illustration of the immigrant experience. Taking on the role of recent immigrants, students will interact with the 14-year-old Victoria and ask her questions about adjusting to life in the Lower East Side. They will witness the physical conditions of a tenement, handle household objects, and listen to music on an authentic wind-up Victrola. Armed with historical understanding from their archival research, participants will be able to create thought-provoking questions for Victoria and gain a deep understanding of turn-of-the-century immigration in New York City. For more information, contact the Tenement Museum and the National Archives at New York City .

• 3–4 hours, including the both sites (same day only)
• Approximately 30 minutes travel time between locations (You are responsible for your own travel arrangements.)

Reserving a Tour

Book the tour through the Tenement Museum's website or call 866-606-7232. Select up to three dates. Indicate this dual program when booking. If online, put "Hands On Archives-NARA" in the "Other Comments or Questions" section. The Tenement Museum will coordinate available tour dates with the requester and the National Archives at New York City. Note : National Archives reservations are free; however, the Tenement Museum is fee-based. Consult the Tenement Museum for specific prices.

Introduction to the National Archives

Students will learn about the National Archives through hands-on analysis of our materials. They will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of our facility and get to view original records of the National Archives. Students will serve as historians, analyzing and interpreting a variety of primary sources related to a topic of your choice.

In preparation for your visit, familiarize your students with certain vocabulary words related to archives.

• Grades K–12
• Can be customized to fit a variety of grade levels, student abilities, and topic areas

Introduction to Archival Research

Participants will learn about the National Archives, the variety of records it maintains, and strategies for conducting research here. They will also go on a behind-the-scenes tour of our facility, view original records from our holdings, and work with facsimile copies of documents in our learning center. Note: The Introduction to Archival Research workshop can be customized to explore a diverse variety of primary source documents from the National Archives. Contact us to find out more details

• Grades 9–12, Undergraduate, Graduate
• Appropriate for History, Civics, Education, and other courses
• 1.5–3 hours
• On or off-site
• Can be customized to explore a diverse variety of primary source documents from the National Archives

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• NorthEast Field Trip Guide
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• Where to Go
• Site InSpections
• Field Trip Ideas
• Virtual Field Trips
• Planning Advice
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Rome, Italy
• San Francisco
• San José, Costa Rica
• Washington D.C.

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New York Field Trip Guide

Field Trip Ideas , Mid-Atlantic

There should be no shortage of field trip ideas for New York, which has plenty of educational experiences and museums to offer student groups of all ages

New York is celebrated for its diverse art and culture, skyscrapers, and rich history. The Empire State is the home of Central Park, the George Eastman Museum, several institutions of the future, and plenty of great field trip ideas. The great state of New York welcomes learners of all types and backgrounds and your next student adventure awaits you here.

Field Trip Ideas In New York:

• Statue of Liberty
• Jackie Robinson Museum
• The Apollo Theatre
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Guggenheim Museum
• Niagara Falls State Park
• Brooklyn Robot Foundry

New York History & Heritage Field Trip Ideas

New York is home to some of the most important historic landmarks and historic events, making it a great place for student field trip ideas. Visit the Statue of Liberty located on Liberty Island and the nearby Ellis Island , for an inspiring history lesson. Take the Statue of Liberty out of the textbook and place it in front of their eyes. Explore the Statue of Liberty Museum here to get the full story behind this incredible monument. Make sure to have your camera ready to catch awe-inspiring views.

Hop over to Ellis Island to tour the National Immigration Museum, which was one of the halls immigrants walked themselves upon their arrival. Also on site is the American Immigrant Wall of Honor . Here, visitors can truly get to know about the first wave of immigration and how our immigrants actually embodied our nation’s ideals. These destinations are only accessible by ferries provided by State City Cruises. Additional tickets are not needed to enter the Statue of Liberty Museum or Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

Performing Arts Field Trips in New York

Frank Sinatra’s single New York, New York isn’t just a fun song to sing along to, if you listen closely, it’s advice to American talent, starting out or experience, to bring their art to New York if they wish to make it big. The Big Apple is the home of the world’s most prominent artists and holds the most spectacular plays, musicals, and contemporary art exhibitions, making it an ideal place for field trips focusing on the arts.

Student groups have many venues in the state of New York to fuel their inspiration or put their talent on display. An always popular field trip idea for New York is to catch a popular Broadway show. Hamilton, The Lion King  and Into the Woods are a few student-favorite shows you can expect to see.

Also, in the historic Theatre District is The Apollo Theatre . James Brown, The Jackson 5, Mary J Blidge, and many great stars have performed here. What’s cool about The Apollo has several student group activities like music, dance, and theater workshops led by Apollo Teaching Artists. Field trips wanting to learn more can also join the Apollo School Tours. These tours highlight the theatre’s legendary history and performers in an interactive fashion.

Arts & Culture for Students in New York

New York City is the home of the world’s most prominent artists and holds the most spectacular plays, musicals and contemporary art exhibitions. Using the latest technology, the Museum of Broadway in Times Square offers a behind-the-curtain look at how a show is made and a timeline of Broadway history. Workshop groups have access to their Educational Guide, which includes pre-visit lessons, what to expect from the workshop, and post-visit activities and resources.

Through its theatrical group sales division, Disney on Broadway can customize a program designed to satisfy your group’s needs for productions ranging from The Lion King to Frozen . Additionally, educators can bring the magic into their classrooms before their trips with special study guides and classroom materials.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art , popularly known as The Met, features 5,000 years of art from around the globe. Student groups can reserve a guide. The  Guggenheim Museum is just as famous for its Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building as its modern and contemporary artworks. On-site school tours are available and are facilitated by their team of professional youth educators. They are designed to foster active learning and making, engage students in careful observation, and develop language and critical-thinking skills.

STEM New York Field Trip Ideas

Not too far away from the New York museums and avenues of men in business suits is the abundant world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Let’s not forget that the scientist was first stationed in Manhattan to begin developing the atomic bomb. This is why the operation is referred to as the “Manhattan Project.” Come to the Brooklyn Robot Foundry for the fun, educational, hands-on, robot-building project. Students experiencing a field trip here light up while learning components and engineering concepts during Brooklyn Robot lab. You also have the National Museum of Mathematics , which has galleries, exhibits, and programs designed to further illuminate students who are curious about a world made of numbers.

Marine & Aquatic Field trips in NY

Niagara Falls State Park  provides spellbinding viewpoints and iconic attractions at the Cave of the Winds & The World Changed Here Pavilion. Here, descend into Niagara Gorge to learn the history of the falls. Then get outfitted for a wet experience on the “Hurricane Deck” a few feet away from Bridal Veil Falls with year-round tropical storm-type weather conditions. Or hop aboard the Maid of the Mist and travel through thundering falls and over rolling rapids surrounded by dramatic rock formations.

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NEW YORK Field Trips

To help plan March curriculum focused classroom activities, field trips and school assembly programs, these March themed celebrations might be a helpful focus. MONTHLY : Music in Our Schools. Craft Month. National Nutrition. National Women’s History. National Ethics Month. DAILY : Mar. 1: Peace Corps Day. Mar. 3: National Anthem Day. World Wildlife Day. Mar. 4: National Grammar Day. Mar. 8: International (Working) Women’s Day. Mar. 10: Harriet Tubman-Birthday. Mar. 11: Genealogy Day. Johnny Appleseed Day. Mar. 12: Plant a Flower. Mar. 14: Learn about Butterflies. National Pi Day. International Day of Mathematics. Mar. 15: Ides of March. World Consumer Rights Day. Mar. 16: Freedom of Information Day. Mar. 18: National Quilting.  Mar. 20: Earth Day (Vernal Equinox). World Folklore Tales and Fables Week (March 20- 26). Mar. 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. National Common Courtesy Day. World Poetry Day. Mar. 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for further field trip information. For those unable to travel to these locations, have the fun come to you. Check out the Outreach Field Trips & School Assembly Programs  section.

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5 Wits Syracuse

Explore immersive environments while putting your teamwork to the test at 5 Wits Syracuse! Be in the middle of the action with interactive challenges and puzzles!

Adventureland

Adventureland has rides for everyone—from Long Island’s only spinning coaster, Turbulence, and water rides like Adventure Falls Log Flume to kiddie rides like the Tea Cups and the Alfie Express.

Adventurer’s Family Amusement Park

Open since 1966, Adventurer’s Amusement Park, formerly Nellie Bly, is the perfect place to enjoy a fun day for your group field trip or family outing in Brooklyn.

American Airpower Museum

Located in a landmarked hangar of the former Republic Aircraft factory, the American Airpower Museum is an ideal setting to introduce grade 6-12 students to the role US military aviation played in during World War II.

Area 53 NYC

Area 53 NYC- 3 locations – triple the fun. Choose between Adventure Park, Indoor Paintball and Laser Tag. Field Trips and Parties for school, scout, camp0, homeschool groups and family celebrations.

Ausable Chasm

Otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, Ausable Chasm offers groups a wide range of outdoor adventures for students, scouts, homeschoolers, and campers.

Blue Man Group New York

Blue Man Group will rock your world, blow your mind, and unleash your spirit. Leave your expectations at the door and let three bald and blue men take you on a spectacular journey bursting with music, laughter and surprises.

BOCES Outdoor and Environmental Education

Whether through our challenge courses, investigating Long Island ecology at a local beach or aboard a fishing boat, BOCES Outdoor and Environmental Education has programs to meet your curricular needs.

Buffalo Boat Tours

Buffalo Boat Tours operates Harbor Queen and Spirit of Buffalo.  Harbor queen is a double decker specializing in History Tours.  Take part in a field trip with hands on nautical science programming aboard the City’s Flagship, Spirit of Buffalo.

Camp Herrlich

Camp Wilbur Herrlich operates a dynamic learning and leadership center for all ages by providing positive recreational and outdoor educational programs.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Experience music, history, horticulture, architecture, and art at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. Take a tour of the historic Rosen House and a lovely stroll through the bucolic gardens.

Children’s Museum at Saratoga

The Children’s Museum of Saratoga provides an interactive space. Exhibits on the first floor include a look at pond life, the art studio, a tree house, and the science center. Upstairs, groups can explore the miniature town complete with a bank, construction zone, diner, and schoolhouse.

FieldTripdirectory.com offers enriching experiences for New York school groups, scout groups, homeschool groups, camp groups and families at New York Museums.

New York Museums offer field trips that offer hands-on exhibits, guided tours and guided activities for early childhood through high school grades. New York Art Museums , Science Museums , History Museums , Multicultural Museums and Children’s Museums offers educational experiences that support classroom curriculum and scout badge achievement. Beside museums, you can search for other learning experiences at Botanical Gardens, Planetariums, Living History Programs, STEM & STEAM, Planetariums, Farms, Zoos and Aquariums, Theaters and Concerts, Service Learning and more.

Can’t go on a field trip to a museum, your students, scouts, and families can still experience these fun enriching experience by scheduling a  Museum Virtual Field Trip  anywhere and at anytime.

Want the fun to come to you- book a  School Assembly Programs, Outreach Field Trips or Residency  at your school, homeschool association or scout council. They support and enhance a school’s curriculum, offers opportunities for scout badge achievement and enriches a camp program. There are mobile museum exhibits, traveling planetariums and classroom and grade level workshops and residencies.

To help fund field trips, virtual programs and school assembly programs visit our section on  Grants  and  Fundraising Programs .

FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in New York—early childhood through college. Search for class trips in New York by by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find New York art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD Find New York class trips to children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
• HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES View New York history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
• LIFE SKILLS Find New York team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find New York aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find New York field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Philadelphia, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, trips to Austin, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

Water Ecology & Engineering Field Trips

NYC H2O provides free Water Ecology and Engineering Field Trips to historic reservoirs and wetlands in all five boroughs for grades 2-12. These field trips meet and exceed NYC and NYS STEM curricular standards.

Each reservoir site has its own dramatic story of how it supplied the city with drinking water. Wetland sites demonstrate how nature protects our City from storm surges and manage stormwater to help the City keep waterways clean and become more resilient in adapting to climate change.

H2O’s team of talented field guides engage students in interactive outdoor activities which support STEM learning with a focus on water ecology. H2O guides explain how reservoirs were built so that the city had enough good quality water to support its growth. Students get to experience these seldom visited, yet public ‘natural’ treasures on field trips and learn how parks were built to protect the reservoirs.

​The sites are: 

• Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens
• Silver Lake, State Island
• Baisley Pond, Jamaica, Queens
• Jerome Park Reservoir, Bronx
• Central Park Reservoir, Manhattan
• High Bridge, Manhattan and the Bronx
• Lemon Creek, Staten Island
• Plumb Beach, Brooklyn
• Canarsie Park, Brooklyn

In addition to in-person programs, we also provide live remote instruction via Zoom and Google Meet. These lessons incorporate the history, geography, and ecology of our city as it relates to our water system. Here are the lessons to choose from:

• Exploring our Water System; grades 5 – 8​
• Wish You Were Here: A Day in NYC’s Natural Areas grades 2 – 5
• What is an Urban Ecosystem? The Art of Observation; grades 2 – 12
• Thinking About our Water; grades 7-12
• The Water Around our City ;  grades 4 -12

Sign up for in-person and virtual lessons by completing this Registration Form

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Jerome Park Reservoir

The Jerome Park Reservoir sits on the grounds of the racetrack where the Belmont Stakes was first run, before the city took over the land to create a reservoir for the "New Aqueduct" [Croton Aqueduct]. Come learn what improvements are being made; explore the rich history of the neighborhood where the Revolutionary War Fort Independence used to be and more recently the Italian community of Villa Avenue!

High Bridge

Built as part of the original Croton Aqueduct, this bridge carried fresh water into Manhattan from outside NYC for the first time. Come learn the rich history of New York City’s oldest standing bridge, and enjoy some of the best views of the Harlem Valley and the Bronx!

Central Park Reservoir

The Central Park Reservoir holds 1 billion gallons of water, which is the amount of freshwater that NYC residents consume every single day. On this tour, students will see first hand remnants of these historic facts and learn about this engineering marvel, which allowed the city to grow and prosper!

Silver Lake Reservoir

Originally a spring fed pond on Staten Island, Silver Lake Reservoir was chosen as the landing point for water coming down from the Catskills. By 1917 the lake had been transformed into a 56 acre reservoir with a capacity of 400M gallons! On this tour, students will learn about the native plants, animals, and the rich NYC history, as we explore the surrounding park of Silver Lake Reservoir.

Lemon Creek

Lemon Creek is part of a unique-to-NYC green infrastructure project called the Bluebelt, which directs rain into waterways, eventually flowing into Raritan Bay and the harbor. Join us to explore these elements up-close, and experience how city and nature collaborate to problem-solve!

Ridgewood Reservoir

The historic Ridgewood Reservoir was at the center of the now defunct water supply system that served the once-independent City of Brooklyn. This system supported Brooklyn's growth by bringing fresh water from Queens and Long Island to the Reservoir. On this tour, students will learn of Brooklyn’s water history and experience how nature has reclaimed these urban ruins.

Baisley Pond

Originally several streams, Baisley Pond was created by farmers who built a dam in order to power their grain mills! As the city of Brooklyn built out its waterworks in the 1850s, they bought the water body and transformed it into a reservoir. On this tour, students will learn the history behind why the reservoir was eventually taken off-line, as we explore the native plants and animals in the surrounding park of Baisley Pond.

Plumb Beach

With a major NYC highway just feet from the water, this historic waterfront was identified by the Army Corps of Engineering as particularly vulnerable to extreme consequences. Today, students can explore the beach and learn about how green infrastructure projects like this site create habitat for wildlife, and help protect our city from natural disasters.

Canarsie Park

Canarsie Park and neighborhood got their names from the Canarsie (or Canarsee) Indians who once lived in western Long Island. Canarsie Park has a sprawling 130+ acres of recreational parkland and features oak-pine barren forest and wetlands with flood-tolerant trees such as sweet gum, sycamore, American white-cedar and winterberry holly. Come take a tour with us at this recently-restored natural area and learn about NYC’s drinking water and urban ecology through a series of hands-on lessons.

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A class trip to the New York Hall of Science makes STEM accessible to all students by helping them see the science all around us and reinforcing core STEM concepts. They'll strengthen problem-solving skills while having a fun, memorable experience.

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Enrich the educational experience by booking one of our student workshops. Student workshops can help to enrich the New York City (NYC) Science Core Curriculum/Scope and Sequence, and meet the New York State and National Standards. Learn more here .

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Here are recommendations for road and field trips, with links to resources for before, during, and after the trip that will help make each one a fun and educational experience.

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New York Today

Field trips today: museums, but also wastewater plants.

Though school trips have evolved as science curriculums have changed, 400,000 children still flock to the American Museum of Natural History every year.

By James Barron

Good morning. It’s Wednesday. We’ll look at how school field trips are evolving. We’ll also find out what Gov. Kathy Hochul said as she signed a bill that called for a state task force to consider reparations for the lasting impact of slavery.

The fifth-graders on a school field trip stepped into a large, noisy room. The girls held their noses. The boys were wowed.

They were in the stinkiest part of a wastewater treatment plant on Long Island.

That schoolchildren were in that room was an indication of how field trips have evolved as science curriculums have changed. The children, from Oceanside School 8 in Oceanside, N.Y., had been learning about water and what happens when dirty water at home goes down the drain or the toilet.

“This gives them the opportunity to see firsthand something that they are just reading about in class,” said Lauren Sternberg, the communications manager at the treatment plant, one of three in Nassau County operated by the conglomerate Veolia under a long-term contract.

The plant, in East Rockaway, N.Y., is a relatively new field trip destination. The American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan is not.

Field trips to the museum have been a ritual for generations of New York City schoolchildren — as many as 400,000 children visit the museum in school and camp groups every year. Lisa Gugenheim, the museum’s director, remembers her first trip to the museum — “I’m pretty sure it was in second grade,” she said.

But since the opening of a $465 million addition last year, the museum has broadened its offerings — not just what student groups can see, but how much time they can spend looking. Gugenheim called a pilot program that began last month “the evolution of the field trip.”

The traditional field trip lasts one day. The pilot program lets classes treat the entire museum like a classroom every day for a week.

“This is not just meeting a scientist,” Gugenheim said. “It’s having a program that connects the classroom to the museum to the science. That’s the work of being a museum today — wanting to influence the lives of young people not just on a day out of school but for their lifetimes.”

Among the first to go to the museum each day for a week were 35 fifth-graders and four teachers from the New American Academy at Roberto Clemente State Park . They were studying how climate change affects life in the oceans, Gugenheim said. But they also spent time visiting a new elephants exhibit, estimating the size of a dinosaur and learning about the diversity of insects.

“This was unlike what any single field trip could accomplish,” Gugenheim said.

At the wastewater treatment plant — where the plant manager, Joseph Cappetti, led the tour — students watched wide metal arms slim out debris, like paper towels, that had flowed in with the dirty water. That prompted a student to ask a question: “Do you find any dangerous things?”

Walter Dobkowski, the environmental health safety specialist at the plant, mentioned hypodermic needles — “I found one in nine years here,” he said. Cappetti said that toys used to appear, but now, “everything’s digital, so you don’t see as many plastic toys come through here.”

Cappetti said the group had asked smart questions, like one about centrifugal force after he said that was how grit, rocks and dirt are separated from the water in a giant tank. (Those solids are then pumped out from the bottom of the tank.)

“Listen, they love it,” Laura Cassar-James, one of the teachers, said. Anthony Rosenberg, 10, clearly did.

“I want to work here,” he declared, “because I know a lot more stuff now.”

A bright sunny day with temperatures in the mid-40s. The evening will remain clear with temperatures in the mid-30s.

ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING

In effect until Dec. 25 (Christmas Day).

The latest New York news

Mending holes in the social safety net : To address a mental health crisis, the Manhattan borough president is calling for more treatment teams and psychiatric beds for homeless people who are severely mentally ill .

Tenement Museum update : For the first time, the museum will feature the apartment of a Black family as a permanent exhibit .

The Cartoon King : Tommy José Stathes might have the largest collection of vintage animated films in the world stuffed into a storage unit in Queens .

Pet memorial tree : A tree in Central Park that has been decorated each year between Thanksgiving and Three Kings Day since the 1980s is a chance for pet owners to publicly memorialize their companions .

Ellis and Liberty Island

Ever wonder who is behind the food and souvenir shops in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and on Ellis Island? My colleague Patrick McGeehan has the answer:

Bradford Hill’s family has been selling souvenirs to the Statue of Liberty’s visitors for more than 90 years.

The National Park Service announced on Tuesday that the family’s company, Evelyn Hill Inc., had beaten some of the nation’s biggest food-service operators to win a new contract for the food and retail concessions on Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The contract will run through 2036, the 150th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty’s dedication.

Hill’s company, named after his grandmother, has weathered some rough times since his grandfather set up a cart on a dock near the statue in 1931.

Then, as now, Evelyn Hill’s business is entirely dependent on tourists who arrive on ferries from Lower Manhattan or New Jersey, so economic crises like the coronavirus pandemic can be disastrous.

The park service recorded 3.1 million visitors last year, down from 4.2 million in 2019, the last full year before the start of the pandemic. Hill, 67, said business had been better lately than it was before Covid-19 crippled tourism. In 2019, the concessions took in about $32 million. That total plunged to $4.2 million in 2020, park service documents show.

The park service told companies bidding on the contract that they could expect annual sales of about $40 million, with the federal government keeping about $8 million before taxes.

The shops are staffed by about 120 workers at this time of the year. The number swells to nearly 300 during the summer months, Hill said, adding that he was working on ways to speed purchases during especially crowded times.

“People want to see the sights, not wait in line for food,” he said.

New York to consider reparations for descendants of enslaved people

New York will set up a task force as part of an ambitious effort to address the state’s history of slavery and racism .

Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed a bill directing a new commission to study the history of slavery and its harmful consequences, among them discrimination in housing, inequality in incomes and bias in policing. She called on New Yorkers “to be the patriots and rebuke — and not excuse — our role in benefiting from the institution of slavery.” New York outlawed slavery in 1827.

With the task force, New York will join California and Illinois at the forefront of reparations efforts.

My colleagues Grace Ashford and Luis Ferré-Sadurni write that it is too early to tell what type of restitution, if any, the task force might recommend for descendants of enslaved people. In California, a multibillion-dollar price tag is threatening to thwart the reparations project.

Hochul acknowledged the political risks of jumping into a conversation about historical wrongs, although she said that standing against racism meant “more than giving people a simple apology 150 years later.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton appeared at Hochul’s bill-signing ceremony and thanked her for having the “audacity and courage” to support the bill, which the Assembly and the State Senate , both controlled by Democrats, passed in June.

But Robert Ortt, who is the State Senate minority leader, said that New York had atoned for slavery with “blood and lives” during the Civil War. Ortt, whose district includes Niagara Falls, also said in a statement that the commission was “divisive” and “unworkable.”

METROPOLITAN diary

Dear Diary:

I wandered into a corner restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen on a Sunday evening during a two-week trip to the city.

Everything on the menu looked good. As I was trying to decide on which soup to order, a bowl arrived for a man who was sitting alone next to me.

“Which soup is that?” I said after he’d taken his first taste.

I immediately regretted asking. This was New York, and my chattiness felt out of place. Don’t be annoying, I thought to myself.

The man turned to me.

“It’s the leek,” he said. “It’s delicious. Also, I’m glad you are sitting here. The couple who just left — that man’s voice was so annoying!”

— Megan Moore

Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here .

Glad we could get together here. See you tomorrow. — J.B.

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee . You can find all our puzzles here .

Kellina Moore and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

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James Barron writes the New York Today newsletter, a morning roundup of what’s happening in the city. More about James Barron