The Power of Field Trips

At Wichita Friends School, we love field trips!  In fact, we go on a field trip every month that school is in session. These exciting adventures are not just for our older students—our youngest learners join in the fun too!

Field trips are powerful teaching and learning tools,  offering our students real-world experiences beyond the classroom walls. Whether it is learning responsibility in public spaces or practicing good manners and behavior in different settings, these trips give our students the opportunity to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Over the years, we've explored a wide range of destinations that enrich and support our curriculum.  A visit to the art museum, for example, opens students’ eyes to different styles and forms of art, helping them appreciate creativity in new ways.  A trip to the pumpkin patch allows them to see crops up close and connect with people in the broader community.  Exploration Place is always a favorite.  Its STEAM-focused exhibits spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

We have also attended performances at the Wichita Children’s Theater, giving our students their first glimpses into the performing arts.  Visits to the zoo provide a fascinating look at animal behavior, habitats, global geography, and conservation.  One of our most anticipated outings is the end-of-year celebration at Goddard park with snow cones — we move, play, and support a local business while cooling off from the heat.

We start singing Christmas songs in music class in October to prepare for a December field trip to Prairie Homestead Assisted Living, where we sing carols and share season’s greetings and joy to a room full of great-grands.

We even incorporate food-related field trips!  A visit to Pizza Hut, where students toured the kitchen and made their own pizzas, was a delicious and educational experience that tied perfectly into our baking enrichment class.

These monthly field trips are more than just fun — they are meaningful extensions of our learning.  They create lasting memories and offer students a broader understanding of the world around them.  At WFS, we are proud to provide these opportunities and love seeing the joy and excitement on our students’ faces each time a new adventure is announced!