Outdoor Science Field Trips
at Forests, Fields, Ponds and Streams
Available to Grades K-12

Using the outdoors as a classroom is a great way to get students excited about science and make connections to the real world!

The Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Math & Environmental Education offers naturalist - led activities for grades 1-8 to schools located within Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic, Ontonogan and Keweenaw counties.

Field trip activities enhance classroom learning and have been correlated to Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations for Science and Math. During the activities, students utilize many science and math skills such as observing, predicting, data collecting, and graphing.

General Field Trip Information & Logistics

Who Can Participate

Field Trips are available by teacher request to students of grades 1-8 at schools located within Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic, Ontonogan and Keweenaw counties. Typically, only one class (up to 30 students) can be accommodated at a time. Schools are required to provide at least one adult chaperone per ten students.

All field trips are led by a WUPCSMEE staff member.
Occasionally, MTU students or community members assist with the program.

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Locations For Field Trips

Field trips can be scheduled at one of the following sites, at your school, or at a site suggested by you.

Field trip length can vary from 60-120 minutes, depending upon the preference of the teacher(s).

Fall & Spring Locations:

• Michigan Tech Trails (Houghton)
• Lake Linden-Hubbell School Forest (small pond available)
• McClain State Park - Bear Lake Nature Trail
• Calumet Township Waterworks Park
• McLain State Park - Bear Lake Nature Trail
• Black Creek Nature Sanctuary ~ 5 miles northwest of Calumet (pond available)
• Baraga School Forest
• Maasto Hiito Trails (Hancock)
• E.B. Holman School Forest
• Chassell School Forest
• Ford Forestry Center (Alberta)
• Porcupine Mountain State Park
• Bessemer City Park - Bessemer
• Sunday Lake Park - Wakefield
• Norrie Park (Ironwood)
• Your school
• Suggest a site to us!

Winter Locations:

• Lake Linden - Hubbell School Forest
• Ottawa Sportsmen's
• Swedetown Ski Chalet (Calumet)
• Maasto Hiito Ski Chalet (Hancock)
• Ford Forestry Center (Alberta)
• Chassell School Forest
• Ottawa National Forest Visitor Center - Watersmeet
• Wolverine Ski Hill - Ironwood
• Your School
• Suggest a site that has a heated facility available.

How To Schedule A Field Trip

Teachers can make arrangements for a field trip by filling out a Request Form. It can be mailed or faxed to our office. After receiving the form, we will mail, fax, or email you a letter confirming the date and time for the field trips.

Winter Ecology Field Trip Information

Appropriate Dress:

WARM CLOTHING IS REQUIRED for each student participating in Winter Field Trips!

All students MUST wear:
HAT
MITTENS or GLOVES
WINTER COAT
WINTER BOOTS (no tennis shoes!!)

Due to the added risk of being outdoors in the wintertime, the above dress is required. Additionally, warming huts are required on site for every winter field trip. Field Trip leaders have the option to not allow students to participate, if they are not appropriately dressed.

Please discuss with students before trip:
1) Stay with your group leaders; don’t wander off.
2) Don’t litter (Bring a plastic bag to pick up litter!).
3) Respect the plants and animals in the forest. This is their home. Behave the way you would at your friends’ house.

“Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”

School should provide:
First Aid Kit
Chaperone (parent/teacher) for every 10 students.

Center will provide:
Name tags for students to use.
Snowshoe equipment for students and adults.

Logistics:
1) You will meet your presenters at the field trip site (unless other arrangements are made).
2) If the school decides to cancel a field trip (in case of severe weather) please call the Center at least 2-3 hrs in advance at (906) 487-3341!

Comments from Teachers & Students

Comments from Teachers:

"Our presenter explained senses to the kindergarten students at their level---engaging them to think, ask questions, and show her. She took time for each child's questions, and to point out objects we passed on our guided walk. She was great! This was a perfect lead-in to our senses unit. Thank you so much!"  Dorrena Scharlow, Baraga Elementary School (Pelkie) (Oct. 31, 2007)

“Students had many thoughts and experiences to share during and after the trip. The presenters were very well prepared, used age-appropriate language, and introduced challenging new vocabulary.”

“The field trip coincided nicely with our life science chapters we are currently studying.”

“This program is always organized and well done. We appreciate it.”

“The students will be more observant of human and animal connections in the woods. It helped them to realize that there are a lot of living things in the woods that they don’t ever see.”

“The presenter did a wonderful job maintaining control and spacing the activities to keep the students interested.”

“We did a writing activity after (the field trip) and will be referring to it when we cover life science.”

Comments from Students:

“I learned that the deer population goes up and sometimes down, depending on how much food, shelter and water there is.” --- 4th Grader

“I leaned that foxes and wolves get along because they eat different things.” -- 4th Grader

“I have definitely learned more about nature and the environment by going on this trip. Thank you!” -- 5th Grader