Outdoor Adventures

Yellowstone National Park – Drive a little past Idaho Falls City limits and you can see free roaming bison and bears!  People come from all over the world to see the country’s oldest National Park located in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.  It is a nature adventure your family will never forget.

Craters of the Moon National Monument – Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Craters of the Moon is a preserve filled with young lava flows and strange scenic landscapes.  If your children are interested in Geology, this is the perfect place to take them and explore.  Their website has some great resources for homeschoolers including free curriculum materials! (Photo Credit: VisitIdaho.org)

Waterfalls – Idaho boasts 8 different waterfalls – the highest at 114ft and the widest at 250 ft.  Most of them are located in northern Idaho.  Don’t forget to checkout the over 3000 miles of whitewater for unforgettable rafting and kayaking trips.

Idaho Fish and Game – Lots of free and low cost wildlife learning opportunities are offered through Fish and Game.  There are 3 centers with lots of hands-on learning opportunities including fishing classes!

Hiking Trails – Teaching your kids perseverance is so important and it’s easy to do.  Just go on a hike!  There is an estimated 19,000 miles of trails in Idaho for hiking, biking, horseback riding and more.  Some popular trails are located in Bonners Ferry, Bogus Basin, Boise National Forest, and the Boise Greenbelt.

Educational Places and Tours

Idaho State Capitol Building – Learn about the history of Idaho’s government through a tour of this historic building.  There are guided tours daily and a self-guided tour booklet is available for historical details and a building map.

Historic Silver City – One of the oldest mining towns in Idaho.  This city hasn’t changed much in over 100 years!

Crystal Gold Mine Underground Mine Tours – The first hard rock mine in the Silver Valley, this is the only real underground mine tour in the Northwest.

Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center – Take a look at history’s biggest contributors to aviation and modern technology.  Thanks to Dr. Forest Bird admission is Free!

The Centennial Observatory – Monthly Star Parties and Astronomy talk nights are hosted around one of the world’s largest public telescopes at the Harriet Center for Arts and Science.

World Center for Birds of Prey – All about conserving birds of prey, the center looks to educate people about endangered birds of prey species and save them from extinction.  The campus includes falconry archives, breeding facilities, interactive displays, multi-media shows, and live demonstrations.

Water Treatment Plants – Look up your local water treatment plant to see if they offer tours.  Although they may be small and short, these tours offer lots of valuable information about your local environment and the water cycle.

Local Fire and Police Stations – Call your local police and fire station for an educational tour or see when they are having events.  Many stations host a yearly event where you can learn all about how they protect the community.

Boise Area Activities

Boise Zoo – My favorite exhibits are the Giraffe Encounter, and Butterflies in Bloom.  Make sure you check out some of the unique events and educational programs the zoo offers throughout the year.

Boise Aquarium – We’ve been to the Boise Aquarium several times and it is always enjoyable.  All the exhibits can be seen in about 1 hour so it is perfect for younger children.

Discovery Center of Idaho – Enhance your children’s science lessons by visiting the Boise Science Center.  All 200 exhibits are hands-on.  You can preview some of the exhibits on their website to review those particular science concepts ahead of time.  Plan plenty of time for this attraction because you will love it, maybe even more than your children!

Boise Art Museum, Art in the Park – This special event, hosted by the Boise Art Museum, showcases 260 artists, live entertainment, and a Children’s art tent.

Lucky Peak State Park – There are three parks located close to the Lucky Peak Dam.  Two of them are for swimming, fishing, and picnics.  These parks are connected to the Boise Greenbelt for easy access.  The other park is a full-service marina including boat ramps, long-term docks, and equipment rentals.

The Basque Museum and Cultural Center – Many Basque immigrants settled in Idaho after coming to the U.S. from Spain.  Visit this center to learn all about Basque heritage and customs.

Boise Environmental Education – Public Works and Parks & Recreation provide lessons, field trips, and more to teach the public all about your unique local environment.

To find even more activities and events look up your local newspaper’s entertainment section, search the Idaho Statesman’s website for “Big Calendar”, or go to KTVB’s event page.

Here are some helpful tips for Homeschool Field trips to keep in mind before you plan on going to any of these amazing places.

Do you have a favorite place you like to go in Idaho?

More Posts in this Series:

Homeschooling in Idaho: Laws and Requirements

Support, Conventions, and Free Resources

Don’t live in Idaho? Starting July 1st, I’m joining homeschoolers across the nation to help bring you resources for all 50 states, plus a HUGE Homeschooling Giveaway with over $800 in prizes!

Make sure you’re subscribed or following on Facebook so you don’t miss it!

The post Homeschooling in Idaho: Educational Field Trips first appeared on True Aim.

We couldn’t have done our school year so far without stepping outside our walls into the amazing world that God has made for us. Along the way, we have found some trips that have worked and some that have not, but either way we have started to see that exploring no matter how grand it may be, is worth all the effort!

5 Tips for Field Trips

CONSIDER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. This is one I have learned the hard way. You may be limited on the time you have or the money you can spend. There are lots of field trips and activities out there to do and it can be overwhelming to choose which ones will be best for your family.

An adventurous group hike through the forest may sound great, but may not suit you with several young children that would need help. That’s ok, it’s only a season. You may not have enough money to purchase tickets for all your kids to the museum you want to go to. That’s ok too. Be creative with what you have and know the right time to do what activities.

LEARN AHEAD & BE PREPARED! If you are going to a museum, a special class, or an interesting landmark, take the time ahead of it to interest your kids before you go. Once you have hooked them, then you can let their imaginations fly as they see firsthand the lessons they have been learning.

Don’t forget to be prepared for food, potty breaks, and anything special your kids will need for the adventure. My children definitely need snacks to keep them going and since we never know quite where our adventures will lead us, I try to bring anything extra I can think of.

Currently my car has an extra stroller, a bucket, rain boots, nets, and sand toys. Just in case there are tadpoles, sand parks, or trails to walk on our way home. We love to detour!

SIMPLE & FREE TRIPS ARE AWESOME. Our small budget doesn’t always allow for the adventures we would like. But, we have learned that even though something may be simple or even free doesn’t mean it’s any less effective in teaching.

Some of our best adventures have been taking our canoe out along the river, hiking a wilderness trail, flying a kite at a local park, and embracing the times that places offer free nights. Did I mention we love FREE stuff?

ENJOY IT & SO WILL YOUR KIDS. We have all had our moments where an outing goes from a great idea to chaos. Nothing is more defeating then something you thought was going to be amazing trip to turn into a stressed out adventure.

I have to remind myself to relax sometimes and let go of all the details or expectations I may have for the trips we take. If I can enjoy it and pump it up for my kids, chances are they will be excited too! These days will be gone before we know it, so breathe deep, and roll with it!

FOLLOW UP. Use your car ride home to talk about their favorite parts. Ask them questions about what they saw, touched, or experienced.

I like to have my kids write or draw pictures of what they were most excited about. Sometimes I have gotten a picture from my daughter of us walking together on our trip and she has said, “I liked being with you while I was learning.” Yep, I’ll take it!

Learning together is about so much more then just the information. If my kids can capture my genuineness and excitement to be with them, then that’s a successful trip too!

Field Trips can be a little extra work. Planning, preparing, and packing up stuff can take effort. If you can choose the opportunities that best fit the needs of your family, learn a little beforehand, and just let go, it’s possible that these trips may be some of the best times together.

What tips do you have that help make trips work for your family?

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The post Tips for Homeschool Field Trips first appeared on True Aim.