Listers,

I am hoping to find others out there who have experience using field trips in their programming; not field trips that come to you, but rather, field trips FROM you to other places.

This is something my colleagues and I have been discussing internally and I thought it would be great to get feedback from others in the field. Specifically we're looking at the programmatic experiences we offer through our summer camp. The question is whether taking a field trip OFF SITE during camp is a good idea. Does it offer the parents "more bang for their buck"? Is there a perceived added value if their kids are taken somewhere else? Is it perceived as a "babysitting" mechanism as opposed to a planned activity? Do these field trips de-value your own site (ie- we're taking you elsewhere because the resources we have here aren't good enough).

Examples of previous trips include:

*  "Fables, Faeries and Fantasies" camp class went to see Harry Potter when it came out last summer
*  "Recycle Rummaging" camp class went to the local recycling plant in town
*  "Awkward Art" class went to a local pottery place where they glazed and fired pottery mugs

Those of you who run camps, or other children's programs, do you use field trips? How often? Can you give an example of the kinds of things you've done? How was it perceived by the parents? Kids? Your own administration/other program facilitators?

Any and all thoughts and input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time,

Stephanie L. Dilk
Education Manager
Minnetrista
1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway
Muncie, IN 47303
(765) 287-3528
www.minnetrista.net
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Minnetrista Cultural Center
 1200 MInnetrista Parkway
 Muncie, Indiana
 United States
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