Focused Field Trips | 50-Minute

Availability
Outdoor programs are available September 11 – November 20 and March 4 – May 23.
All other programs are available September 11 – May 23 unless otherwise noted.

Fees for 50-Minute focused field trips
$130 + reduced admission
$145 for outdoor programs or programs with animals + reduced admission

Maximum group size
25 students for ages 4-5
30 students for grades K-8

Programs with animals

Programs held outdoors


Animal Encounters Get up close to meet and touch some of our wildest Museum friends as we compare body coverings, habitats and diet. Meet the Mammals What do you, a chinchilla, a ferret, and an opossum have in common? You’re all mammals! Find out what links you all together and feel what makes mammals so special.	Radical Reptiles Can a turtle crawl out of its shell? How does a snake swallow its food? Meet some of these cold-blooded creatures as we introduce you to the world of reptiles. Celebrate Invertebrates What do 99% of the world’s animals have in common? They lack a backbone! Come and witness the great diversity of these spineless wonders.

Wind and Weather Enjoy your own hands-on experience using the smoke ring and sailboat pond in our newest outdoor area Catch the Wind! Learn how wind affects our weather and our lives. A Bear's Backyard Get out of the classroom and up-close with our bears! Study the behaviors, diet and lifestyles of these beloved Museum residents. Autumn Adventures (available September 11 – November 2) Autumn is here, winter is waiting – now is the time to get ready. Gather your nuts, color your leaves, and add to your winter wardrobe. Come explore how some Carolina critters, including people, spend their autumn days preparing for winter. Native American Ways (available October 2 – November 20) Visit the life of Eastern Native American people as you grind corn, make paints, play games and listen to legends shared through the ages. Explore traditions of sharing, caring and respecting the Earth and its creatures.	Invention Investigations (available November 13 – January 18) Step up to the workbench to tinker, fiddle, and experiment as we invent a color, build a marble maze, and take apart small machines. Try out our mystery tools to guess what problems the tools could solve. Our investigations and curiosity might inspire us to create our own inventions! Dinosaur Detectives (available December 4 – March 20) Celebrate the return of the Museum’s Dinosaur Trail by signing up for our class! Become a paleontologist uncovering clues from the past. Dig for fossils, compare dinosaur sizes and reconstruct how you think dinosaurs looked, felt and sounded. Incredible Insects (available January 22 – May 23) Explore butterflies, bees, beetles, and more! Study live crickets and cockroaches, play with puppets and create insect crafts. Rain or Shine (available April 7 – May 23) Become a junior meteorologist who explores clouds, rainfall, wind and other elements of our weather. We’ll experiment with tornado tubes, help make it rain in the classroom, and use thermometers to investigate the ups and downs of a spring day.

Butterfly Life Study these beautiful creatures and their fascinating life cycles by looking at real specimens, comparing lifecycles and making microscope slides of wings to see up-close! Investigate Matter Solid, liquid, or gas? Explore states of matter as we break all the rules and make a wacky polymer.	Weather Watchers Learn about the fascinating, and sometimes unpredictable, world of meteorologists by using their tools to analyze the components of weather. Life in Wetlands Grab your dip nets and trek down to Explore the Wild to investigate animals and plants that thrive in our wetlands! Work with field guides and your educator to identify what you find.

Drop Everything Investigate potential, kinetic, and transfer of energy using bouncing balls and chain-reaction roller coasters. Adaptation Advantage What are adaptations and how do they help living things survive? Spin the “Wheel of Misfortune” and see if you have what it takes to stay alive!	Minerals Rock! Become a geologist and practice classifying rocks and minerals using tools of the trade. Lean how we use these minerals in our everyday lives. Animal Eyewitness Investigate our bears and wolves in their Museum habitats to learn how animal behaviors and adaptations are key to survival.