A Different Kind of Classroom
Step into nature. Our facilitators use hands-on academic activities to help students embark on a journey of discovery and skill-building in the great outdoors. Our ponds, woods, and trails bring learning to life.
Experiential Learning
Grounded in Academics
Field Trips at Hale are designed to bring classroom content to life and plant seeds of interest. During each Field Trip, students discover multiple academic subject areas at work in nature.
At Hale, students study and analyze the environment around them. They discover how science and math are present in nature through hands-on activities such as animal tracking, studying vernal pools, and graphing biological data.
Learners put their engineering and technology skills to the test. For example, after examining Hale’s dams, students might create their own model dams, discovering how they work and the impact they have on water cycles and watersheds.
Hale’s lands have deep historical roots. Learners explore the relationship Indigenous people had and continue to have with the land, as well as its role in modern times. Students are also given tools to make community art projects and instruments with their classmates.
About Field Trips
Hale designs and delivers high-quality adventures for schools, colleges, and organizations. Field Trips allow participants to explore, learn, and grow across Hale’s 1,200 acres of adventure that feature miles of trails, several ecosystems, four ponds, and two accredited Challenge Courses.
The fun begins the moment students arrive at Hale. The day starts with an icebreaker that builds community and eases them into the natural environment, then our expert facilitators guide them to more challenging academic activities. History, engineering, ecology, and other fields of study serve as a foundation for these activities, which might include learning to navigate using maps, or exploring aquatic creatures and plants on the edges of our ponds.
Field Trips are generally formatted as full-day experiences (4–6 hours). Alternatively, Multi-Day & Overnight Programs allow groups to rotate among many activities or build specific learning trajectories.
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer Field Trips year-round, but some spaces and activities are seasonal. Our busiest times are at the start and end of the school year (August–October and May–June). If you plan to book a program during those months, it’s best to reserve your date as soon as possible. Some groups book up to a year (or more) in advance.
We provide organizations with a detailed list of recommended items, which includes refillable water bottles, closed-toe shoes, and clothing participants don’t mind getting a little messy.
We generally recommend 4–6 hours for a traditional program so we have time to get to know each other and deepen learning. We can run shorter programs as well—those typically focus on introductions and getting-to-know-you activities. Shorter programs are an excellent option for groups who may not be familiar with one another and unsure of how to approach group collaboration.
Hale does not have food facilities. Many participants bring their own meals and snacks, but some organizations provide food or arrange catering or delivery for their groups. We are happy to suggest vendors who are familiar with Hale. Groups typically provide their own transportation. Hale is happy to recommend bus companies upon request.
Teachers often report a heightened awareness of learning styles, a readiness to assume leadership roles, and an increased interest in academic content. This is true for students and teachers alike!
Bring Lessons to Life
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