career based field trips

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Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

Career tours are free, interactive virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future by exploring amazon’s technologies. tour whenever, wherever on kahoot ..

Preview the tours using the trailers below or click “learn more” to visit tour specific sites.

I was just amazed of all the computer science is used to get a package from order to ship...I know a lot of people say that computers are putting people out of jobs, but this tour shows young people that is not true. It helped them to understand the jobs might look different, because humans have to be behind all the technology.

“I struggle to find STEM resources that are actually interesting to kids, that they might connect with and set a goal. I want to motivate them to graduate and have a career because we have a low graduation rate, and I think this tour could be part of a program that leads to that.”

The video was very helpful, informational, and entertaining and I loved learning about how the packages are shipped.

I loved this experience! The videos were descriptive but not too heavy on technical terms, so my students were able to understand without issues. The addition of Kahoot trivia was genius! It kept my students so engaged, and we all learned a ton about Amazon! I also love the added teaching tool- the note catchers!

It was really entertaining actually - I didn’t realize how high tech everything was. My favorite part was the workers actually telling us about themselves it really shows how they are people just like us that we can one day become.

The students absolutely loved this tour! [They] really liked pretending to ride along on the conveyor belts. After, students kept discussing the tour and how much they enjoyed the experience. As a teacher, I appreciate how easy it was to prepare for the lesson.

My kids said things such as “This is so fun!,” “Can we do this more?,” and “I am learning so much! I did not know that!” They had such a great time working together, laughing, communicating, talking with one another and the teachers...The presenters were amazing! It was very engaging and well made!

It was wonderful that you included both students and STEM professionals to make the experience both relatable and inspiring...[There] was so much new vocabulary that was introduced but explained in a way that the students could grasp it. The Alexa technology really got their attention because they use it in many of their homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will my class see on the tours, how long are the tours, are the tours live, what grade levels can attend, how much does this cost, what student data is collected, can individual students sign up by themselves, independent of a class, who can i contact for help, i'm an educator and have a suggestion for a future tour. how can i submit my request, i'm a company or government entity and would like to help demystify technology and careers of the future. how can i submit my request.

• TryEngineering.org
• IEEE Xplore Digital Library
• IEEE Standards
• IEEE Spectrum

TryEngineering Summer Institute

An exciting ten day, on-campus engineering camp for high school students held at three premier universities across the United States in 2019.

30 Virtual Field Trips you can take right now!

It’s your chance to “Walk” through some of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions, like The Met and The American Museum of Natural History, then go for a “ride” on Disney’s new Frozen roller coaster . Regardless of your age, we think everyone will enjoy some live footage of pandas playing at the zoo!

Get the full list of Virtual Tours here: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/

TryEngineering Summer Institute offers airport pick-up and drop-off service for students that may not live locally. A professional staff member will meet your student at the airport and escort them to the TryEngineering Summer Institute campus on the day the program starts. At the end of the program, your teen will be escorted back to the airport, and our staff member will remain at the airport until their flight departs.

Airport pick up and drop off procedure

Booking the flight:

• Arrival: On the first day of the session, anytime before noon is preferred.
• Departure: On the last day of the session, anytime from Noon – 5pm is preferred.

If you cannot find flights at these times, please try to find one as close as possible, so we can group the pick ups and drop offs together. Once you have booked your flight, please forward the entire itinerary to us at [email protected]. Please make sure the itinerary has the student name, date, time, and flight numbers included.

Is your student flying as an unaccompanied minor? You will need the name, address, and phone number of the staff member that will be picking up or dropping off your student. We do not assign the staff members until camp begins, so in the meantime, you will need a placeholder. Please contact us, and we will provide the contact info for the director on-site. Then when camp begins, you will be able to call the airline and change it to the person who will be there.

The day before the flight, the director will be in contact with you to confirm all of the flight info, and assign the staff member that will be in charge of the pick up or drop off. Then the staff member will text a photo of themselves to your student and make sure they have each other saved in their phones.

Upon arrival, the assigned staff member will be waiting at baggage claim with a camp T-shirt and their cell phone in hand. Once your student exits the plane they can call the staff member (and you!) to meet up, grab their bags, and head back to campus in a cab or shuttle.

Staff members will also drop off students at the airport. Students are transported by cab or airport shuttle. The staff member will help them get checked in, and check baggage. (Note: If your student is checking a bag, please be sure to send along cash for any fees that might need to be paid on the return flight for luggage. This will vary from airline to airline.)

If your teen is flying as an unaccompanied minor, our staff member will escort them through security and wait with them until the plane takes off. If your student doesn’t need an escort, then our staff member will remain at the airport until the plane takes off. If you have any questions regarding this procedure please feel free to give us a call anytime. (315) 816-4023

Previous field trips included:

Johnson Space Center (JSC) and had a behind-the-scenes tour:  

NASA Johnson Space Center  and  Space Center Houston  – We will again tour this famed facility each summer because we know engineers who work there and it has been the center of all US human spaceflight for more than 50 years. On a guided behind-the-scenes tour, conducted by a retired Apollo propulsion engineer who helped get astronauts to the Moon, we will visit Mission Control, the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility where our Rice camp engineering students will get to see current astronauts train and the historic Rocket Park to see the Saturn V moon rocket. We will have access to Space Center Houston and all of the artifacts and displays that trace US achievements in space and how engineers and scientists have contributed.  This summer our Rice camp for engineering will be even better!

Students at our University of San Diego location will tour Qualcomm headquarters this year. A semiconductor company that inspired the smartphone revolution. Pioneering 3G and 4G, the world-renowned company is now working on 5G. Students will explore the Qualcomm museum and experience demos on some of the latest technologies such as drones, intelligently connected wearables, virtual and augmented reality, and smart city innovation.  This is awesome!

We are definitely going to source the best Philly cheesesteak sandwiches because of course why not?!?!  We will also make excursions in the evenings and on the weekend to destinations and activities that the students often choose.  This is very exciting!

Previous trips included:

Boeing Ridley Park

We will get a behind the scenes tour of the Boeing Ridley Park facility! Boeing is a leading producer of both commercial and military aircraft, and the Ridley Park site is part of the Boeing Defense Vertical Lift Division. Boeing Ridley Park is the manufacturing center for the CH-47 Chinook aircraft, the V-22 Osprey fuselage and Common Configuration – Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM), and delivery center for the MH-139 aircraft. About 4,500 employees work at this site. Students will have the opportunity to tour the production lines for the CH-47 and V-22 and also interact and learn from the engineers who are working on these amazing products.

Philadelphia International Airport

We will be touring the new expansion of the PHL airport with one of our guest speakers, Api Appulingam.  She oversees a multi-billion dollar program tasked with making critical improvements and developing new infrastructure at both Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) through architectural, engineering, environmental, planning and sustainability projects. Ultimately, she is responsible for bringing innovation to the airfield, terminals and roadways at both airports.

We will do the CDG Project tou r, which is a multi-billion dollar civil and mechanical engineering project and site across the airfield.

Our students will also get the Ramp Power Tour.   This giant tower over 20 stories tall is brand new and encompasses more than 7,000 square feet of space including four operational floors, the largest of which provides positions for twenty-one airline ramp controllers.  This new kind of control encompasses many areas of engineering in aerospace and aero technology that is simply amazing to see in action!

* note:  Students will be placed randomly in groups for these tours, destinations and locations are subject to change at any time without notification due to any or reasons including weather or more.

The building features full air conditioning, as well as social spaces and lounges with TVs, laundry, WiFi and so much more.  These are the same residence halls the Ivy League college kids live in during the year and this is very exciting!  We also have the entire game room and lounge, with a pool table, foosball, and more.

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!

Check out our FAQ page for answers to many common questions.

You can also call or email us at any time:

Phone: +1 315-816-4023

Email: [email protected]

The following Program Overview, Sample Weekly Schedule, and Sample Daily Schedule are designed to give you a better understanding of the activities in a typical session as well as the flow of typical day. This is a sample schedule based on our prior program. While not all sessions will be exactly the same, this is reflective of the wide range of activities that take place during the program.

 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Institute offers a comprehensive curriculum that provides fun and challenges for students at every level of experience. The program is ideal for students who are new to engineering or STEM activities as well as those who have taken engineering classes. The program allows all students to explore engineering in a team environment and consider career and degree options in the field, while forging friendships with others interested in engineering and technology applications.

Coursework is hands-on and project-based.   Academic modules have been created specifically for this program by STEM specialists at IEEE and are designed to step up in both engineering difficulty and skill-building as the program progresses.

Class is from 9am-4pm daily and lecture-style classes do not exist.  Engineering principles are introduced and reinforced through hands-on work.   Inside of each module there are academic underpinnings: design principles, expected outcomes, and the opportunity for students to discover what is possible.  Those are detailed in our Curricular Overview .

The TryEngineering Summer Institute curriculum has been carefully designed to build the student experience over the ten-day period, with earlier activities honing skills needed in later tasks. Collectively, these activities touch on several fields of engineering, including electrical, mechanical, civil, aerospace, chemical, computer, and others.   

Coursework is project-based and hands-on.  We design, engineer and build all day. We try new things, we learn new skills and the program builds upon itself.  We go on an academic journey, building confidence, knowledge, experience and ability through the 5 C’s: Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, curiosity and creativity.

Below are examples of what is covered in the coursework. You can see the academic underpinnings, the design principles, the expected outcomes, and the opportunity that exists for the students to discover what is possible inside of each challenge, module, and project.

Another main focus across the entire ten-day stretch is our program-long Design Challenge which is built on Design Thinking.  Design Thinking is a creative process developed at the d.school at Stanford University, which helps students design meaningful solutions to problems.  Students will experience the full cycle in an intro hands-on challenge and then they will step through the process of identifying a problem, developing a “how might we…” statement, defining the problem, designing a solution, and creating a prototype. Teams can choose to enter the “shark tank” and develop a pitch for their solution.

Sample Weekly Schedule

• Check-in by 3 PM
• Campus Tour
• Team Building Challenge
• Welcome Dinner
• Teamwork and Design Challenge
• Circuitry Skill Build
• Team Final Design Challenge: Real World, Real Solutions (Shark Tank-like, all program)
• How to be an engineer: Your personal Engineering notebook (provided)
• Soldering Skill Build
• Light Up Name Challenge
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) & 3D Printing Design Challenge
• Speaker Series: Ethics and Engineering Debate
• Communication Design Challenge
• Bridge Competition
• Microcontroller Skill Build
• Continue to design and 3D print
• Light Sculpture Design
• Hydraulic Robot Arm Build
• Electrical Engineering Design Challenge
• Social Event
• Meet Engineers at Work: Off-campus Field Trip
• City Tour and Social Event
• Mechanical Engineering Design Challenge
• Civil Engineering Design Challenge
• University Lab Tours and Presentations
• Aerospace Engineering Challenge: Glider
• Speaker Series: Engineering Disciplines
• Real World, Real Solutions Presentations and Judging
• Seminar: How to analyze, pick and apply to College
• Final Wrap Up
• 10:00 AM Closing Ceremony for all students (parents welcome, not required)
• 12:00 noon – Student pick up

*All activities subject to change without notice 

Sample Daily Schedule

Living in the dorms at Rice University gives our summer engineering program students a fun taste of college life . The residence hall has common spaces with lots of lounges and common space to enjoy all the amenities.

These facilities are the same ones enjoyed by the college students during the year.  Rice is known for its amazing facilities so come check it out!  Every space on campus is air-conditioned of course.

Our class is held in the Rice Engineering Department’s premier venue, the OEDK.  It’s remarkable.  Join us!

Beautiful Residence Hall

Our students will be staying in suites just off the main quad.  Each suite consists of four singles, each pair connected by a bathroom, as well as a lounge and kitchenette.  It is by far the coolest set-up in our program!  Make sure to bring plenty of snacks because you have a fridge and microwave!  Hanging out in the larger fun social spaces is amazing.

Student Center

We love cruising over to the student center or quad in the evenings.  There is a grill there, labs, places to play games, pool, foosball, movies, TVS; all the same great amenities the college kids enjoy during the year.  Come check out why USD keeps on winning best campus… by living there…

At USD, TryEngineering Summer Institute students enjoy the most beautiful campus in the country according to the Princeton Review.  With sculpted gardens, sunny views and spectacular modern dorms, this is a wonderful experience.  All of the amenities you would expect and so much more!

Students will have access to all available on-campus facilities such as the fitness center and swimming pool and in the evenings there’s tons of resources to explore and enjoy.  This campus lives up to the hype in every way! Check out what previous students have to say!

“Dorm life was very new for me, but the RAs helped me feel welcome.” -Anthony, USD

“I enjoyed the engineering activities in class, the activities outside of class, and the bonding opportunities we had as a full-time camper.” -Allison, USD

• Visited and toured LaGuardia International Airport in NYC, including the new construction, the tarmac and much more
• Toured and met engineers at the giant ConEd power station in midtown Manhattan
• Visited the NASA Johnson Space Center, spent the day with real-life Apollo engineers and toured areas restricted to everyday tourists
• Met engineers and scientists at the Aerospace Corporation, a premier research and development center in Southern California and toured their facility
• Students got to see and learn first-hand from Leonardo Helicopter’s engineers and pilots about how helicopters are designed and built, including special behind-the-scenes tours of the manufacturing lines and the pilot training academy.
• Visited Boeing Ridley Park  where  we toured the production line of the H-47 and V-22 Osprey and more

This summer we will feature an industry professional at each session and location.  Check out the TESI Talks: Speaker Series Blog on our site for highlights. In previous years, some of our speakers included:

(1) Oscar Pedroso (CEO) and David Brenner (CTO):   Thimble.io

Subject of TESI Talk: Thimble is an engineering start-up and has a unique and amazing business model.  Our students will heard their story, the path they took, and much more.

Read more about this on our BLOG post about this TESI Talk

(2) Norm Chaffee (Legendary NASA Engineer) :  NASA , worked on Apollo missions, other positions include Director of the Lunar/Mars Exploration Program Office and Chief of Automation, Robotics and Simulation Division.

Subject of TESI Talk:  NASA, Apollo, and the future of space exploration, propulsion, and careers.

I felt so inspired by Api’s speech and it made me realize that I wanted to go into Civil Engineering. Seeing someone who looks like me and has a similar background in the exact place I want to be in when I grow up was incredible. – 2022 Student

• Design, engineer, print and build a 3D-printed car and race it
• Build a trebuchet and compete in distance and accuracy trials
• Construct and test-launch a rocket by re-engineering a basic kit for optimal performance
• Build and fly a drone
• Solder functional electrical circuits

Vaughn offers all the amenities of bustling New York City, surrounded by excitement and adventure. 

Check back soon to see what trips we have planned for this summer!

Previous Off-campus field trips:  

LaGuardia Airport

Last summer we experienced a behind the scenes tour of LaGuardia Airport. The airport, which has two new terminals in operation, is in the process of a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment initiative designed to transform the facility into an ultra-modern transportation hub for passengers. Completing a massive construction program while keeping this busy metropolitan airport operating involves intricate planning and execution. Students got to meet and learn first-hand from airport engineers what it takes to manage and operate the airport as well as the construction, tour some of the facilities and if weather permits visit the ramp to see the aircraft landing and taking-off.

Con Edison Main Power Plant – Manhattan

Students got to tour the highly secure and huge power station that powers the greatest city on Earth.  We got to meet the engineers and see what their jobs are really like, it was amazing!

In our experience, the best friendships are often built over a shared meal.

Residential students start each day with the classic college experience: breakfast on campus with your fellow students. Lunch and dinner are also provided throughout your time at the Summer Institute. (Commuter students join us for lunch.)

Vegetarian options are available at every meal. Let us know any food allergies or restrictions in advance so that we may accommodate your specific needs.

You will live in the on-campus dorms, with Summer Institute roommates matched by age, gender and the information you provided in your application.

Staff reside on the same floor to provide ongoing supervision and direction.

We encourage you to bring an item or two from home to share your interests and hobbies, such as a musical instrument, board game or athletic gear.

After a packed day of hands-on design challenges and learning the latest in engineering and technology, spend your down time relaxing and getting to know your new friends.

Whether that means teaming up for an epic match of volleyball, relaxing with new friends in the common room, or tapping into your budding karaoke skills — the choice is yours.

Plus, you’ll enjoy fun, organized off-campus trips to round out your Summer Institute experience.

We are committed to providing the TryEngineering Summer Institute community with an educational experience of the highest quality, while maintaining a safe, healthy and respectful environment.

Conduct that threatens the health or safety of any person, or that poses a threat of causing damage to the Summer Institute, campus or community, will not be tolerated. The Institute has a “Zero Tolerance” policy with regard to alcohol, illegal drugs, theft, lewd or indecent behavior, sexual, racial or personal harassment or intolerance.

Participants are subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal, for conduct in violation of these terms. All sessions meet American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation and applicable state licensing requirements.

No worries!

Most students arrive at the TryEngineering Summer Institute not knowing anyone else. That doesn’t last long — the schedule is packed with team building and collaboration activities so you’ll start forming friendships and partnerships quickly.

“It has been really fun forming the friendships that I have, especially over this short period of time.” — 2018 Student

I felt so inspired buy Api’s speech and it made me realize that I wanted to go into Civil Engineering. Seeing someone who looks like me and has a similar background in the exact place I want to be in when I grow up was incredible. – 2022 Student

I loved my time outside of class because that’s when I actually got the chance to make all the friends I have now. – 2022 Student

I enjoyed it because I was able to meet new people, participate in engaging group projects, and use skills I have learned outside of the session in the camp. – 2022 Student

The TryEngineering Summer Institute curriculum has been carefully designed to build the student experience over the two week period, with earlier activities honing skills needed in later tasks. Collectively, these activities touch on several fields of engineering, including electrical, mechanical, civil, aerospace, chemical, computer, and design think.

Design/build: Design Think Team Challenge (All session)

Design thinking challenge.

Design thinking is a creative process developed at the d.school at Stanford University that helps you design meaningful solutions to problems.  Student will experience the full cycle in an intro hands-on challenge and then they will step through the process of identifying a problem, developing a “how might we…” statement, defining the problem, designing a solution, and creating  a prototype. Teams can choose to enter our own home-grown “shark tank” and develop a pitch for their solution.

Digital Fabrication Challenge

Light sculpture challenge.

Students will be introduced to CAD as well as how 3D printers work. Application: Design, 3D print, assemble and test a light sculpture. Teams will create a  light show applying what they learn from basic circuitry, breadboarding and microcontrollers and simulate in Tinkercad Circuits. Next they will use CAD to design the sculpture (or body) for the electronics that will enhance the light show.

• Skill Build: Intro to CAD in Tinkercad and Fusion 360 Overview. Student will choose which package they want to use for the light sculpture challenge. Students will get an intro to Tinkercad Circuits as well so they can simulate their light show.

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Smart car sensor challenge with sensors.

In this activity we’ll focus on automotive and mechanical engineering and students build from scratch a fully operative smart car and remote control. Students will work with instructors to understand the mechanical principles around steering systems. Students work in teams of three to construct and build a smart car and then edit and upload the underlying code to make functional adjustments in car operations. Build a fully operative smart car and remote control to complete an obstacle course. Explore Arduino code by modifying it to control the function of the car and add sensors to help it best navigate the obstacle course automatically. To complete this challenge, students need to learn basic circuitry and breadboarding.

• Skill Build: Basic Circuitry and Breadboarding Student explore simple circuits through  breadboard wiring of LEDs and resistors. Soldering and advanced soldering included.
• Skill Build: Intro to Micro-controllers Students will  expand on prior activities which established an understanding of electrical circuitry and breadboarding to explore microcontrollers and their applications. Students will control a display and then have a choice of either developing a weather station or programming a recognizable song using passive buzzers. Students build a strong understanding of flexible coding, component integration, and problem-solving.

AM Radio Challenge with Soldering

Build a fully operational AM radio from a kit. To complete this challenge students need to learn how to solder.

• Skill Build: Soldering a functional circuit: Students set up and practice soldering, and then move on to soldering a functional circuit.

Drone Challenge with Soldering

Build a fully operational drone from scratch to carry a payload to a specific destination.  The day ends with students expanding, augmenting, improving and strengthening their drones so they can participate in battles, races, and other exciting feats of engineering facing off with one another and against the clock.  Imagine using the 3D printer to make a battle arm to attach to your drone (and making sure it is counter-balanced and flighworthy) then facing off against your roommate who has created a drop-tank to engage your drone!

Chemical Engineering

Berry solar cell challenge.

Students will create a working solar cell that mimics the process of photosynthesis and they will measure the performance of the device based on power output.

Mechanical Engineering

Hydraulic robot arm challenge.

Students will learn the basics of robotics and hydro-mechanical power.  They will assemble a wired controlled robot arm. Students will test the arm by conducting various tasks. This activity introduces hydraulics and hydraulic machinery. Students assemble and prepare a hydraulic robot arm that controls six axes of varied movements. Students are challenged to use lever controllers to lift various items with suction mechanism as well as using gripper to transport a range of products. As a group, students simulate a construct a conveyor belt with multiple robot arms to transport multiple materials down a mock production line. Teams also compete to see which can stack the highest number of dice using only the arm.

Aerospace Engineering

Glider & wing design.

Students will work in teams to explore aircraft and wing materials, shapes, and structures to maximize the glide slope of a glider.  They will create an optimal wing design that will propel their glider the furthest distance. In this activity we will consider the principals of flight, including lift and drag, and students will design, build and test (from scratch) a glider that will carry the payload of an actual shoebox (which is fairly weighty indeed) the farthest.

Rocket Launch

In this activity we’ll focus on aerospace engineering and how space flight has been achieved from an engineering vantage point. Students will work with instructors to understand the forces acting on a rocket, Newton’s Laws, and other principles and challenges of an actual space vehicle launch. Students work individually to construct and test launch a rocket using a basic kit which they customize. Then based on their results, they will re-engineer their rocket and retest for improved accuracy and altitude. Students will build an altitude tracker and use for the competition.

Special Apollo 11 Celebration (video/speaker)

Civil engineering, bridge engineering.

Students will focus on civil engineering and learn various concepts for bridge design and how they handle large loads.  Students will construct bridges of ever increasing complexity of materials and durable strength. These structures will hold more and more weight… what makes them work the best?

Mars Space Colony: IEEE Standardization Game

A Game of Standardization is designed to teach about technical standards and standards development while developing team and negotiation skills. Topics include the importance of standards to industry, fundamentals of standards development, and a case study on standards. Players participate as members of standards working groups, incorporating roles that reflect the economic, political and technical realities of standards development.  In this activity we will explore the importance of engineering standards and work to explore challenges engineers might face in the development of a space colony on Mars.

This is a role playing exercise which surfaces the challenges of agreeing to standards.

Engineering Survey for the Future & University Applications, Essays, and Resumes

Students will take an engineering survey for the future to better understand what engineering disciplines exists, what they mean, what the majors, careers, and opportunities are and, crucially, and with which one (s) the students individually would most align.  If Engineering is a possible future major and or career, this module is vital.

Students also prepare for applying to a university by exploring tips and guidelines for picking the right school, what classes to take in high school, the application process, the development of extra-curricular activities, clubs and the beginning of essays and resumes. We will explore recommendations for development practice essays, and resume guidelines for pre-university students. Students will have an opportunity to develop a preliminary resume that they can expand on over the years.

Engineering Ethics Debate

Students explore how ethics is involved in many of the engineering fields. They will consider some of the critical decisions engineers need to make when designing new products and processes.

There is a student lounge with a pool table and plenty of comfortable seating for hanging out with friends. 

Plenty of outdoor space is also available for relaxing and socializing with new friends between classes. A laundry room is also available in the building.

Resident Assistant (RA)

Job summary:.

We are looking for highly motivated, energetic and dedicated people who want to be summer camp counselors/resident advisors for our engineering summer program. These individuals are in charge of keeping the students safe, and planning great events to make camp fun.

TryEngineering Summer Institute is a co-ed, residential program for high school students at various locations around the country. Students choose a class and are immersed in that subject every day. The counselor’s job is to make sure that all of their time out of class is fun! Talent Shows, 80’s night, trivia, outdoor and indoor sports, swimming, and that is just to name a few ideas of evening events that you might hold for the students.

Our entire staff, directors, teachers, counselors and students live in the dorms, and have all meals provided throughout the duration of the program and staff training.

• Staff Training, dorm set up, etc: (Wed – Sat): Depends – by location

NOTE: below are the focused hours, but in a sleepaway camp community, you are fully immersed in the position 24/7.  There will be many hours of work outside of the hours below. We are looking for the person who understands that at camp, you are truly never off duty. Be ready for long days, and a lot of fun!

Focused hours :

• Supervise students after class and events 4pm-11pm Monday – Friday.
• Supervise students on the weekend from wake up until lights out.
• Sunday is check-in day and it is an ‘all hands on deck’ day 9am-11pm
• Saturdays are the closing ceremonies at the end of each session, from 9:30am- Noon.
• A weekly field trip to local sites is supervised by the counselors as well.

Visit our site to learn more about our program:

http://tryengineeringinstitute.ieee.org

• East: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology – New York
• South: Rice University, Houston TX
• West: University of San Diego, CA
• Mid-Atlantic:  University of Pennsylvania, Philly PA

Note: Employees are responsible for paying their own travel costs to their assigned venue.

We are looking for someone who is fun, reliable, and excited to be part of the camp community. Anyone who has ever been to summer camp before knows how important the activities and the camp community is to the overall experience. The counselors are not only an exciting and upbeat presence but they are also a friend to the students as some experience being away from home the first time, or a wide variety of other issues.

Qualifications:

We are open to speaking to anyone who is interested in the position.

Bachelors degree, or in pursuit of.

All RAs Must:

Live in the dorms throughout the duration of the program and staff training. (All meals and housing are provided.)

Note: If offered a position, completion of a background check is required. Position is only open to US Citizens or people who are authorized to work in the US. We do not assist in the process of governmental authorization.

To Apply: Email  [email protected] with cover letter and resume. Please include the job title and TryEngineering Summer Institute in the subject line.

Engineering Instructor Job Description

TryEngineering Summer Camps are two-week co-ed residential engineering summer camps for rising 8th through 12th grade students held at three premier colleges and universities across the USA. Camp instructors are responsible for organizing and conducting the camp learning sessions and providing guidance for the hands-on activities.  Designed to be educational on an introductory college level, the learning sessions are to be hands-on and fun. There are no tests and quizzes to create a stress free learning environment for every student of every skill level. The classes are small, so students receive plenty of personalized help and guidance.

• Training and Classroom Set-Up : Vary depending on each location start date.  This is the week before session 1.
• Program: 2 two-week sessions : Have a great 4- weeks at camp!
• Learning Session Instruction: 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday
• Sunday is check-in day and it is an ‘all hands on deck’ day 9 am to 8 pm
• Saturdays are the closing ceremonies at the end of each session, from 9:30 am to Noon

This is a summer learning program and has many aspects of a traditional summer camp. If you have been to camp before, you know it is a non-stop type of job with very high rewards.

Instructors are encouraged to join in the after class activities; hikes, bonfires, swimming, games, talent shows, etc. We are looking for instructors who want to be part of the entire camp community.

Visit our site to see the current program description:

• South: Rice University – Houston Texas
• West: University Of San Diego, California

Note: Instructors are responsible for paying their own travel costs to their assigned venue.

Job Type: Contract

Salary: Based on experience + room and board

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead camp curriculum, sessions and lessons focused on engineering and technology
• Implement and run daily learning sessions and other activities
• Modify activities/lessons as needed to better implement within camp structure
• Prepare materials needed prior to each camp session and/or before lessons begin
• Responsible for clean up after sessions
• Facilitate classroom management and ensure camper engagement
• Escort and participate in all field trips
• Act as a positive role model for campers
• Other duties as needed
• Inventory, pack, and ship back all remaining supplies at the end of the program
• Cultivate a fun environment and HAVE FUN!!!

Ideal candidates will have studied any field of engineering, computing, engineering technology, or the applied sciences.  An upper level undergraduate student or graduate student in these fields who would enjoy sharing their skills and insights to inspire prospective STEM students is preferred. Familiarity with electronic circuitry, Arduino programming, basic soldering, and other technical skills is a plus.

Additional Qualifications Include:

• Teaching Assistant or other in-classroom experience a plus
• Positive, outgoing, and flexible demeanor
• Experience working at summer camps and/or informal education
• Familiarity with classroom management skills
• Team oriented
• Ability to succeed in informal/camp atmosphere
• Extremely organized
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

To Apply: Email  [email protected] with cover letter and resume. Please include the job title and TryEngineering Institute in the subject line.

Standard Tuition: $1,995 $500 deposit required upon enrollment. Full tuition due no later than June 1, 2019.

IEEE Member Family and Friends Tuition: $1,895 (includes $100 IEEE Member Discount)

Returning students get an additional $100 discount. Email us at [email protected] after registration to have the returning student discount applied to your account.

Commuter/Day program tuition includes:

• Opening Sunday dinner
• All academic supplies and classes
• Daily lunch in the campus dining hall
• Camp t-shirt
• Site visit and excursion expenses for Institute trips taking place during the day/class time
• Transportation to and from activities during two-week session
• Closing ceremony

Enroll today to place your deposit and reserve your spot in the TryEngineering Summer Institute Commuter/Day program!

Standard Tuition: $2,995 ( includes a  $500 non-refundable deposit required upon enrollment). Full tuition due no later than June 1, 2019.

IEEE Member Family and Friends Tuition: $2,895 (Includes $100 IEEE Member Discount)

Airport Pick-up/Drop-off service: $95 one way, $175 both ways

Residential program tuition includes:

• Double occupancy room in the residence hall
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in the campus dining hall
• Site visit and excursion expenses
• Super Saturday and Sleepy Sunday activities

Enroll today to place your deposit and reserve your spot in the TryEngineering Summer Institute Residential program!

The Introductory Program at the TryEngineering Summer Institute is ideal for students who are considering a degree or career in engineering, as well as for those just curious to learn more. This program is designed to challenge and inspire students through a fun and engaging curriculum designed by IEEE STEM specialists specifically for our Summer Institute.

Students participate in team-based, hands-on design challenges, hear from fascinating guest speakers, and experience exciting off-campus field trips to local engineering sites.

This program is perfect for those who want to:

• Get an introduction to how engineering is applied in the real world and how it’s shaping our future.
• Participate in fun, interactive, hands-on activities.
• Experience how engineers work in teams to solve global challenges.
• Gain insight into what it’s like to study engineering in a collegiate atmosphere.
• Explore career paths in this in-demand field.
• See real-world engineering projects during field trips.
• Build awesome projects that teach engineering concepts by making things like rockets, remote control cars, drones, trebuchets, building and soldering circuits and much more.

… All while having fun with new friends on one of our engineering campuses.

The curriculum and coursework for the Advanced Program builds in intensity, providing a fun challenge for older and more experienced students. Students will deepen their understanding of the engineering field through curriculum designed by IEEE STEM specialists specifically for our Summer Institute.

This program is perfect for returning, older or experienced students who want to:

• Participate in multi-disciplinary projects in electrical, civil, mechanical, aerospace and other engineering disciplines.
• Learn to think like engineers while building critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills.
• Develop the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills required to achieve their goals.
• Learn about future academic and career possibilities through exciting trips and tours.
• Engage with professionals working in your field of interest.
• Live and learn on a prestigious college campus, getting the full experience of college life as an engineering student.

… All while having fun with new and returning friends on one of our prestigious campuses.

At UCR, TryEngineering Summer Institute students enjoy a family-like environment, living in double rooms during their time on campus. Students are housed on different floors by gender, and specific halls by age. Each person gets an extra-long twin loft bed, desk, chair and closet. Students may decorate available wall space to make their room feel like home! The rooms also have a mini-fridge and microwave for late night snacking.

On each floor there is a lounge/TV space for students to socialize. Students also have access to on-campus facilities such as the fitness center and swimming pool.

With nonstop sunshine and local engineering destinations, there is lots to enjoy off-campus during site visits and trips for UCR TryEngineering Summer Institute students. Last year, Summer Institute students got an insider’s tour of The Aerospace Corporation during the program. On the weekends, students enjoy Super Saturday trips to get out and enjoy all that the area has to offer.

Last year’s students visited Six Flags Magic Mountain, went to the movies, went out for ice cream, and enjoyed plenty of southern California sunshine during our weekend adventures!

With the heart of Cambridge steps away, our MIT program has an amazing opportunity to explore all the amazing sights and sounds of Boston! Our students enjoy Super Saturday trips to get out and enjoy all that this fantastic historic city and region has to offer.  Sunset along the Charles river, frisbee on the quad…. visiting Faneuil Hall, hanging out on Boston Common and exploring the waterfront are just a few of our options.

At MIT, TryEngineering Summer Institute students enjoy a family-like environment, living in double rooms during their time on campus. Students are housed on different floors by gender, and specific halls by age. Each person gets an extra-long twin loft bed, desk, chair and closet. Students may decorate available wall space to make their room feel like home! The rooms also have a mini-fridge and microwave for late night snacking.

Program Director Job Description

TryEngineering Summer Camps are two-week co-ed residential engineering summer camps for rising 8th through 12th grade students held at three premier colleges and universities across the USA. The camp Program Director is responsible for organizing and leading the entire camp experience.  Designed to be educational on an introductory college level, the learning sessions are to be hands-on and fun and the off hours provide students with opportunities to experience recreational, sporting and cultural activities. The Program Director will lead the camp staff of instructors and counselors; ensure the implementation of all of the camp programs and provide an exciting and fun experience for the students. If you thrive in a “Life Accelerated” atmosphere, enjoy meeting new people and take pride in who you are, this is the right position for you.

• Director Training: 4 days in NYC, dates to be determined by availability, typically in May or early June.
• Program Director Move in: Monday July 1, 2019
• Staff Training and Classroom Set-Up : Tuesday July 2 – 6
• Program: 2 two-week sessions : July 7-Aug 3
• All staff departs : Aug 4
• Note: The Program Director is a 24-hour job 7 days a week for the duration of camp and training week. Even when you are off, you are living in the dorms and on call in the case of emergencies 24 hours a day. There will be many hours of work outside of the hours below. We are looking for the person who understands that at camp, you are truly never off duty. Be ready for long days, and a lot of fun!

Visit our site to learn all about the program:

Location in need of director:

• South: Texas A&M

Note: Camp Program Directors are responsible for paying their own travel costs to their assigned venue.

Salary: $1200+ per/week (Pay commensurate with experience level)

Description:

We are looking for an enthusiastic, dedicated and experienced Program Director. This person will be leading their staff into the 2 nd summer of our technical engineering summer institute  and knocking it out of the park! This is a great job for someone who can work with people of all types, is very organized and creative, has a STEM related or education background, is willing to devote the necessary hours, and knows how to have a great time.

• Overseeing the camp programming, including the learning sessions and after hours activities
• Managing the staff of assistant directors, instructors and counselors
• Coordinating with onsite faculty, staff and administration
• Training and scheduling of staff
• Managing the onsite budget
• Organizing and leading staff meetings and camp meetings
• Acting as the primary contact with parents
• Setting the stage for the summer, SAFE AND FUN
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and/or education, Master’s Degree a plus
• Experience working with pre-university students (middle school and high school aged children) in a camp setting
• Previous experience as Camp Director or Assistant Director a plus
• Experience in leading or managing a team/staff and delegating responsibilities
• Skilled in current technology used to create dynamic and engaging programs
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Well organized and knows how to multitask
• Preferred, First Aid / CPR certified
• Preferred, Attended a camp as a child/teen

All Directors Must:

• Attend mandatory curriculum training before camp (Date TBA)
• Live in the dorms throughout the duration of the program and staff training (All meals and housing is provided)

• Explorations
• Request A Proposal
• Participant Application

THE ULTIMATE STEM & STEAM EXPERIENCE

3, 4 & 5-day action-packed explorations designed to help students develop a sense of purpose and focus on their future. for middle & high school students.

AN EDUCATIONAL EXPLORATION IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

If you represent a school, organization, or group and are looking to provide your students with a unique and enriching educational field trip, we can help!

Designed to cultivate student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Our 3, 4 and 5-day explorations engage middle and high school students in a range of exciting interactive field activities and experiences… complemented by professional guidance to help students process their future post-secondary institutional and career paths.

FACILITATED BY:

Researchers

Technicians

The itinerary was incredible. A perfect mix of education and fun and it was extremely well thought out and executed.

The entire trip was great. The way it was organized, the activities and tours were an amazing opportunity for the kids.

My daughter enjoyed everything and it was her first time showing such enthusiasm for her future. I was jealous that I could not go!

EXPLORATION HIGHLIGHTS

Close-up view of the Kennedy Space Center launch pads and briefing on NASA’s planned mission to Mars and how space research is contributing to food production, national security, weather forecasting, energy production, and GPS navigation.

An out-of-this-world interactive journey to the galaxies on Disney’s new billion-dollar Star Wars attraction demonstrating the creative and design engineering skills of the Disney Imagineers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

A demonstration by analysts at the home arena of the NBA’s Orlando Magic on how Data Analytics is used to improve player performances and promote arena-based sporting events…introducing students to exciting STEM & STEAM careers in sports without having to be star athletes!

An interactive tour and demonstration of New College of Florida’s research labs for Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Bioinformatics, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Marine Biology, and Oceanography…ranked in top 50 by Princeton Review’s “Colleges That Create Futures.”

Participation in a hands-on session and demonstrations at Mote Marine Laboratory’s Gulf of Mexico world-class oceanic, medical, and environmental research projects…plus an introduction to how technology is used in sea turtle and shark tracking.

Embarking on a Virtual & Augmented Reality flight mission with headsets, following a flight plan while navigating through a set of obstacles using advanced simulation technology at the Orlando Science Center.

Ongoing interaction with engineers, scientists, environmentalists, innovators, technicians, analysts, computer scientists, game designers, and others talking about their careers from an insider’s perspective.

A behind-the-scenes tour and briefing on future food crops and growing techniques, including Hydroponics, Virtual Growing, Genetic Engineering, and Aquaculture at Disney’s Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (Epcot).

A close-up view and hands-on introduction to Florida Polytechnic University’s labs and degree concentrations in Cyber Security, Computer Science, Machine Intelligence, Robotics, Game Development, Data Analytics, and Engineering. FL Poly is Florida’s newest university, located in the heart of the state’s high-tech corridor, home to 11,580+ high-tech businesses.

An overall experience that broadens a student’s perspective of attending a liberal arts vs. a technical institution. Students will also learn the option of pursuing an undergraduate degree in liberal arts, and then a specific graduate degree at a technical institution.

Download our Excursion Overview Booklet to Help Spread the Idea

OUR EDUCATIONAL AFFILIATES & RESOURCE CENTERS

We’re proud to be partnered with some of the finest and most innovative educational institutions.

UPCOMING EXPLORATIONS

Feb 21 – 25, mar 27 – 31, may 1 – 5, exploration resource packet downloads.

1075 Central Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 USA Tel: +1.941.952.3215

[email protected]

Other programs we offer

ActionQuest – Sailing, Scuba & Marine Biology Summer Camps.

GoBeyond Student Travel – International community service summer programs for teens.

Sea|mester – College & Gap Year Academic Voyages At Sea.

• Our Mission

Yes, Field Trips Are Worth the Effort

Culturally enriching trips can boost grades and decrease absences and behavioral infractions, new research reveals. 

As a teacher, Elena Aguilar often looked for opportunities to get her students out of the classroom and into different neighborhoods or natural environments. “We did the usual museum trips and science center stuff, but I loved the trips which pushed them into unfamiliar territory,” writes Aguilar , an instructional coach and author. Nudging kids out of their comfort zones, she says, “taught them about others as well as themselves. It helped them see the expansiveness of our world and perhaps inspired them to think about what might be available to them out there.”

Aguilar’s thinking made an impact: 15 years after traveling with her third-grade class to Yosemite National Park, a student contacted Aguilar on Facebook to thank her for the life-changing excursion. “You changed our lives with that trip,” the student wrote. “It's what made me want to be a teacher, to be able to give that same gift to other kids.”

As schools grapple with pandemic-related concerns about balancing in-seat instructional time with non-essentials like trips, new research published in The Journal of Human Resources argues that field trips, and the vital educational experiences that they provide—whether it’s a visit to a local museum or a big commitment like Aguilar’s national park trip—deliver a host of positive social and academic outcomes and are worth the effort.

“The pandemic should not keep schools from providing these essential cultural experiences forever,” asserts Jay P. Greene , one of the study’s co-authors and a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, in an opinion piece for the Daily News . “If schools make culturally-enriching field trips an integral part of the education experience, all students—especially those whose parents have a harder time accessing these experiences on their own—would benefit.”

In the study, researchers assigned more than 1,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students in Atlanta to two groups. One group participated in three to six “culturally-enriching” field trips—visits to an art museum, a live theater performance, and a symphony concert—while students in the control group stayed put in class. The outcome? Kids in the field trip group “scored higher on end-of-grade exams, received higher course grades, were absent less often, and had fewer behavioral infractions,” compared to students in the control group, according to a ScienceDaily brief . Benefits lasted two to three years, Greene writes, and were “most visible when students were in middle school.”

“We are able to demonstrate that a relatively simple intervention—and we consider it pretty low-touch; three field trips in a year, maybe six field trips in two years—can actually have some substantial impacts,” says lead study author Heidi Holmes Erickson in an interview with The 74 . “They’re not just limited to social benefits. It shows that smaller interventions can actually have some significant effects on academics as well.”

Field trips aren’t a threat to in-class instruction, Erickson notes, they’re a tool to help bolster engagement and expand students’ horizons. “It's possible to expose students to a broader world and have a culturally enriching curriculum without sacrificing academic outcomes, and it may actually improve academic outcomes,” Erickson says. Far from harming test scores, the researchers found that culturally rich excursions reinforce academics and “students who participated in these field trips were doing better in class.”

Meanwhile, class trips don't need to be elaborate productions to make an impact: small excursions outside the classroom—"low-touch," as the researchers call them—can pack a punch. Here’s how three educators recommend dialing it back with low-stakes options that are both engaging and stimulating for students, but might not require days to prepare and plan:

Make Them Bite-Sized : Instead of allocating an entire day to a field trip, educational consultant Laurel Schwartz takes her classes on micro field trips , or “short outings that can be completed in a single class period.” These real-world encounters, she says, are especially beneficial for English learners and world language students. A micro field trip to a nearby park or around school grounds, for example, can be a great opportunity to “enhance a unit on nature and wildlife while reinforcing vocabulary for senses, colors, and the concepts of quantity and size,” Schwartz writes. “Afterwards, students might write descriptive stories set in the place you visited using vocabulary collected and defined together by the class.”

Try Teacher-Less Trips : To encourage exploration and learning outside of the classroom, former social studies teacher Arch Grieve removes himself from the equation with teacher-less field trips rooted in students’ local communities. Grieve only suggests options that are directly tied to a unit being discussed in class—like attending a talk at a local university or visiting a museum or cultural festival—and offers extra credit to incentivize students. “These trips allow for a greater appreciation of my subject matter than is possible in the school setting, and perhaps best of all, there's little to no planning involved.”

Explore Virtual Options : It may not be as fun as visiting in person, but the Internet makes it possible to visit museums like The National Gallery of London and The Vatican Museums without leaving the school building. Middle school English teacher Laura Bradley likes to search the Museums for Digital Learning website by topic, keyword, and grade level, to find lessons and activities that meet her unique curricular needs. The site grants access to digitized museum collections, 3D models, audio files, documents, images, and videos. 

Structured Field Trips Explore Career Options

by Francisco Vara-Orta | Jun 22, 2013 | Articles

While traditional school field trips may be nothing more than youthful diversions, students benefit from structured field trips that explore career options.  A local organization in Texas see structured field trips as a way to push students to improve in school by envisioning their future through experiential learning.

Whitney grew up in an impoverished area of the nation’s capitol. Becoming a doctor, he said, didn’t seem likely based on his surroundings. Whitney credits his high school basketball coach with opening his eyes to broader horizons. During a week-long practice camp, Coach Wootten explained to his young athletes that statistically, very few of them would become professional basketball players and that it was imperative that they explore other career paths.

“ Coach Wootten taught us that if you want to make something out of your life, you have to do what’s right and not follow the crowd,” Whitney said. “When that camp was over, I realized I needed to change who I was hanging out with.”

His new direction led to medical school.

“Students need to know what’s out there for them beyond their school years,” Whitney said. “The field trips are only an incentive but the payoff can be big, for them and the community.”

The students in the program take up to 10 excursions annually and must maintain good academic and disciplinary standing. They tend to improve their attendance as a result, officials said.

Employers have taken notice, too..

“I think any business owner is always concerned with having a talented and highly educated workforce, which is something San Antonio has struggled with in some science, technology and engineering industries,” said Bill Cox , president and CEO of Cox Manufacturing , a participant in the program. “So it’s important to encourage these students not to stumble through school without purpose, and show them that they are about to inherit the world.”

On a recent Monday morning, Cox hosted 19 South San High School students at his plant. Motivate Our Students bussed the pupils 28 miles across town from their South Side campus.

“We’re bringing you to the real world to let you know what you can do in life,” he told them, explaining that he needs better-educated, higher-skilled workers to design and operate his factory’s systems. His industry relies heavily on robotics, cutting down on jobs.

Students asked Cox questions ranging from what happens to metal shavings — “They are recycled,” he said — to whether any of his employees have ever lost a finger: “In our 57 years of operation, no.”

Students then broke into smaller groups of four and five for a tour, marveling at tiny metal pieces that eventually become parts of medical devices and paintball guns. One student, Jeanette Platt , asked several questions of her tour guide, Mike Petrusch , vice president of manufacturing.

“I find it all very interesting to see something different each time,” said Platt, who has her heart set on becoming a veterinarian but whose father worked in engineering.

SAISD’s Davis Middle School Principal Anita O’Neal credits the program with helping improve attendance. Of 15 middle schools in its peer group within SAISD, Davis was ranked 14th for its attendance rates in 2011, before the program came in, but was No. 1 by April.

“We are in a school transformation and are truly grateful for their influence,” O’Neal said. “Kids seem inspired meeting people who are happy doing their job and making good money. It doesn’t feel as far away as it once may have for them.”

CONTINUE READING – Field trips focus students on their futures

Francisco Vara-Orta is a staff writer at My SA.

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Innovation labs.

• IMAX Films for Field Trips
• Field Trip FAQ

Now Booking for 2023 - 2024 Field Trips!

All the resources you need to plan for a successful field trip to The Tech Interactive. 

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Experiences

The Tech Interactive has many options to choose from when it comes to building a custom field trip for your students. With exhibits, programs, and films for all ages, we’re sure to have something for everyone in your group!

53,000 square feet of interactive experiences sure to delight and engage innovators of all ages.

Explore Exhibits

60-90 minutes

Hands-on and minds-on facilitated sessions that offer deeper learning experiences to reinforce scientific concepts, help students develop 21st century skills and become the problem solvers of tomorrow. 

See Our Science Labs

Facilitated sessions of certain exhibits that offer a deeper engagement and exploration of the engineering design process and computational thinking.

See Our Innovation Labs

Educational IMAX Films

40-45 minutes

From the microscopic to the cosmic, IMAX films offer thrilling adventures in new worlds! 

BioTinkering Lab

In this evolving workspace, you can try creative biodesign activities, explore genetics with scientists from Stanford, participate in community projects, and experiment with new biotechnology. Use real lab tools to grow objects with living things, analyze DNA, design your own biomaterials and more.

Explore the Lab

The Tech Studio

Everyone’s a maker in this collaborative space! Explore your problem-solving potential with guided experiences in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

See Our Activities

Field Trip Hours 2023-2024

School field trip hours:.

• Tuesday - Friday Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024, The Tech Interactive will be open to school groups from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open to the public starting at 10 a.m.

Summer field trip hours:

• Tuesday - Friday June 21, 2023 - July 28, 2023, The Tech Interactive will be open to summer camps, schools, and programs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Beginning Aug. 1, 2023, The Tech will close at 3 p.m. 

We know that COVID-19 has made planning difficult this year, but we also know how important and inspiring a field trip can be for young people! Accordingly, we will be taking field trip reservations as we normally would, but if public health or school district guidelines change between the time of booking and your planned visit, we will work with you to reschedule your trip or refund your payment. You can also explore our Book A STEMbassador  schedule.

Field Trip Pricing 2023-2024

School field trips available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024. Summer 2024 field trips available June 11, 2024 - Aug. 2, 2024.

Title I Schools*

Admission:  Fee waived

IMAX educational film:  $6 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack**

Admission + IMAX combo:  N/A

Science Lab (60-90 minutes):  Scholarship provided; pre- and post-visit activity. Available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024

Innovation Lab ** (45 minutes): No additional charge for school groups; pre-registration strongly recommended.

Non-Title I Schools

Admission: $7 per student

IMAX educational film:  $6 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Admission + IMAX combo: $11 per student, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Science Lab (60-90 minutes): $300 per class of 32; minimum of 12 required.   Available Sept. 5, 2023 - June 7, 2024

Summer Camps

Admission: $7 per child

IMAX educational film:  $6 per child, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Admission + IMAX combo: $11 per child, $6 per chaperone, $6 IMAX Snack Pack

Science Lab (60-90 minutes): N/A

Innovation Lab** (45 minutes): N/A

Important Details

* If 40% or more of the students in your program meet the federal guidelines for free or reduced-price lunch, you are eligible for this discount.

**IMAX Snack Pack must be ordered in advance. Includes popcorn, small water, and a treat.

• Payment is due three (3) weeks after your reservation is confirmed
• Please ensure your student counts are accurate. No refunds will be issued for unused general admission and IMAX tickets. 
• Chaperones within the required adult to child ratio will be provided free admission. Please see our Field Trip Planning page for more information on chaperone requirements. 

8 virtual field trips for STEM education

Top 10 of 2021: in-person field trips aren't possible during the pandemic, but virtual field trips offer fun learning experiences for students.

Each year, we share our 10 most-read stories. Not surprisingly, many of this year’s Top 10 focused on student engagement and online or hybrid learning strategies related to pandemic teaching. This year’s 6th most-read story focuses on how virtual field trips can engage even the most reluctant STEM learners.

It’s January. Winter break is over, and the rest of the school year–whether in person, hybrid, or virtual–seems never-ending. And while traditional field trips are on pause while COVID still spreads, virtual field trips are still very much possible.

Hands-on STEM subjects are challenging to teach when students aren’t in the classroom all the time, and student engagement is also a challenge during COVID. Virtual field trips address both of these persistent roadblocks.

Virtual field trips can help students get a front-row look at STEM outside of the classroom. Where can those engineering concepts you learn during school take you in adulthood? Is it possible to be creative in a STEM career?

Here are some virtual field trips highlighting STEM careers and experiences:

1. Slime in Space : What happens when you send Nickelodeon slime to the International Space Station? That’s exactly what a group of NASA astronauts set out to answer, and we want you and your kids to come along for the ride! This free 15-minute virtual field trip will take kids 250 miles above earth to see how slime, and water, react in a microgravity environment. It’s truly out of this world!

2. Innovation Generation : Transport students beyond the walls of the classroom and into a Stanley Black & Decker Makerspace where making and doing is a way of life! Inspire your students to be agents of innovation. Working alongside the experts of the Stanley Black & Decker Makerspace, students will see and experience first-hand how math, science, technology, creativity and teamwork can lead to technological advancements in our everyday lives.

3. Internet of Things: Infinite Possibilities Virtual Field Trip : The Internet of Things refers to a collection of computing devices – such as smart speakers, thermostats and sensors –which are connected to a network to allow for an improved real-time data to better manage two of the most critical resources to humanity: energy and water. Students will get an exciting look at how the internet they use in their everyday lives can be used to conserve natural resources, protect ecosystems, and create safer, more sustainable communities.

4. ecoAction Virtual Field Trip : We’re traveling to Seattle to see how Boeing is incorporating sustainable practices and innovations as they pertain to sustainable air travel, natural resource preservation, water quality control, and waste management. Follow along to learn some easy ways you and your community can be sustainable, too!

5. Girls Get Stem – Unleash Your Inner Scientist : Have your classroom join us as we experience a brand-new kind of camp – it’s not just swimming, sun, and s’mores – but STEM! Tune in to transport students to the STEM Center of Excellence where STEM will come to life in new and unexpected ways.

6. Gray, Green, Blue: Water Security and YOU! : People, businesses and industries, recreation, waste removal, transport, nature, and even lawn care all require water. Making sure there’s enough reliable, clean water for the health and livelihoods of people and natural environments is what we mean by water security, and it is one of the biggest challenges we face. Learn how nature can play a role in ensuring water security and what YOU can do to help!

7. The National Museum of Computing : The museum has virtually opened its doors for anyone to visit and take a tour of the world’s largest collection of working historic computers. Wherever you live, you can now journey through the history of modern computing from its very beginnings to the present day–from the comfort of a PC or device. You can stroll through our new, virtual experience–unguided or with one of the museum’s experts for a live, virtual tour where you will gain first-hand insight and knowledge about the 50,000 artifacts in the museum’s unique collection.

8. Museum of Science Virtual Field Trips : Students can talk with experts, observe leafcutter ants in action, discover the science behind Pixar Animation Studios, explore and identify animal skills, and more.

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Virtual Field Trips: Ideas & Examples With Links

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: August 01, 2022

You found our list of the best virtual field trips .

Virtual field trips are class outings that take place online, via platforms like Zoom, Google Street View or websites. While some of these activities consist of pre-recorded tours and videos, the best options tend to involve live video feed and student interaction with guides. Examples activities include digital walks along The Great Wall of China and a scrollable deep sea dive. These activities are also known as “online field trips” and “digital field trips”.

These adventures are an example of online classroom activities and often include virtual tours .

This articles includes:

• interactive virtual field trips
• virtual field trips for students
• the best virtual field trip ideas
• free virtual field trips for kids
• live virtual field trips

Here is the list!

List of virtual field trip ideas

From virtual cockpit tours to online historical sites to do-it-yourself options, here is a list of ideas for virtual field trips to captivate and educate students.

1. Online Zoo (Behind the Scenes)

A digital zoo tour is one of the best virtual field trips for kids. While virtual trips may not let students see otters float, elephants play, and lions strut up close, a digital tour allows for more intimate behind-the-scenes access.

Your class can get close with the animals and walk paths usually reserved for zookeepers. While you may not be able to fit 30 squirming first graders into a baby animal nursery or an operating room, the guide can easily broadcast from these venues. Also, since the visit takes place entirely online, you can visit a zoo that is otherwise far from you.

Here is a starter list:

• San Antonio Zoo
• San Diego Zoo
• Cincinnati Zoo (self-guided tours, livestream safari and feeding times)

Many other zoos stream live animal webcams that you and your class can watch. You can also contact your local zoo directly to inquire about facilitated virtual tours and school group discounts.

During the online visit, your students can ask questions using the hand raising or chat features in the video conferencing platform. Once your tour concludes, your students can enjoy thematic snacks such as zebra cakes, goldfish, and of course, animal crackers.

Check our more virtual zoo tours .

2. Virtual Safari

When you do a virtual safari, your students can observe lions, elephants and other animals in their natural habitat. Wild Earth offers twice daily live safaris. Since the broadcast occurs on African time, your best bet is to tune in for the sunset safari, which live streams from 9:00am to 12:30pm Eastern Standard Time. The safari broadcasts from several nature reserves and features animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. During the tour, viewers can ask park rangers questions. The unscripted nature of the broadcast lends an element of excitement, since animal sightings are always a surprise.

Learn more at Wild Earth .

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3. Under the Sea Visit

Unless you are secretly Miss Frizzle from The Magic Schoolbus, you cannot whisk your class to the bottom of the ocean in a submarine. However, you can lead your students on an online field trip of the ocean.

The Deep Sea by Neal Agarwal shows all sorts of marine life in the ocean. Viewers can scroll deeper into the ocean, discovering the animals that dwell at each depth. For a fun pre-tour exercise, distribute a handout with the names of various species and challenge students to guess at which depth the creature lives. Then, check answers as you plunge further down into the ocean.

Journey to The Deep Sea .

4. Aquarium Webcam Livestream

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts live cams for animals, including sea otters, penguins, jellyfish, and sharks. Aquarium employees narrate during feeding time, so for maximum engagement consider tuning in during mealtimes. The aquarium website also offers free online classes for ages ranging from kindergarten to high school, resources for teachers, and crafts and printables.

Dive into the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s live webcams .

5. Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China

Your students can trek the Great Wall of China from the comfort of home. For $15, The China Guide offers a guided tour through high resolution images of the Great Wall of China via Zoom. Your students can also take part in question and answer sessions with an expert and have an interactive experience.

Stroll the Great Wall of China .

6. NASA Commercial Crew Program

Until recently, space wasn’t on the list of field trip destinations. NASA decided to teleport students directly to space camp by curating a virtual field trip that highlights its commercial crew program. Teachers can transmit a series of educational videos onto virtual reality sets to create an immersive experience. The tour guide leads virtual visitors through spaceship crew pits and launching pads while explaining the process of becoming an astronaut. The tour puts a heavy emphasis on STEM education and directs teachers to resources useful for supplementary science and math lessons.

Learn more about NASA’s at-home STEM activities .

7. Disney Parks Digital Tour

Most children dream of the day the teacher announces a field trip to Disney World. While students may not be able to ride teacups or roller coasters during a digital tour of Disney, they can still experience the excitement of the happiest place on earth by touring a high resolution Google Street view of the parks.

Students who have not yet visited Disney can see what the park is like, and those that have visited can point out sites and share stories. You can also include Disney history and lessons on the inspirations behind the attractions to make the tour more educational. Consider serving Disney themed snacks during breaks, and perhaps initiating a singalong during a music lesson. With the money you save on transportation and admission, you could even hire a beloved Disney character to pay the class a visit.

Learn more about Disney Parks Digital Tour .

8. Streaming Broadway Shows

Instead of escorting your students to a Broadway show, summon a Broadway stage to your classroom. Broadway HD has a library of hundreds of productions, including rare and obscure shows. While not in real time, most filmed productions on the site are of live shows. Your students can uncover hard to find productions and learn about American theatre history too. Broadway HD offers a one week free trial, as well as monthly and yearly subscription options.

Watch a Broadway show .

9. Virtual Reality Rainforest Tour

Even if you had the budget to fly your class to the Amazon, a real-life tour would be too risky for a field trip. A virtual tour lets students experience panoramic views of lush rain forests while learning about indigenous communities and conservation efforts. The tour is viewable as an immersive experience via virtual reality devices, or as a 360 degree video on regular devices. By participating in the Under the Canopy tour, students come to understand the importance of the rain forest and its connection to human life as a whole.

Embark on a virtual reality rain forest tour .

10. Computerized Cockpit Tours

Livestream cockpit tours make thrilling virtual field trips for high school students. While airline regulations call for restricted cockpit access, you may be able to find a private pilot willing to give your students a Skype tour of the craft. The pilot might even broadcast a quick flight.

If you cannot find a live guide, then the following organizations provide self-guided tours with pilot-perspective views of various aircraft:

• The Naval Aviation Museum
• Experimental Aircraft Association
• National Museum of the USAF
• Museum of Flight

Or, you could download and run a flight simulator that gives students the chance to navigate and land a virtual plane.

11. Living Rooms Around the World

A living room might seem like an odd choice for a virtual field trip, but a living room located across the globe is as fascinating as any other destination. You can plan a tour of foreign homes so that your students can learn how everyday life differs around the world.

If you know individuals in other countries willing to Zoom with your students, then you can reach out to these acquaintances and coordinate your experience directly. If not, then you can contact a foreign exchange program or local university for help. You can also watch the Life Where I’m From channel on YouTube, though live tours with question and answer sessions are more personal and immersive.

You and your students can also check out Dollar Street for a strong visual map of how people live around the world.

12. Virtual Tour of the Louvre

The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, but many people will never visit in person. By taking your class on a virtual tour of the Louvre, you save airfare and time spent waiting in line.

The Louvre offers high resolution, 360 degree tours of various exhibitions on its website. Your class can explore Egyptian antiquities, classic Italian paintings, and the remains of an underground moat, all without leaving the classroom.

The Louvre site also directs visitors towards a downloadable “VR Mona Lisa” app that provides an up close peek at the famous painting, and other video and at-home experiences.

Visit the Louvre .

13. Online Tour of the British Museum

The British Museum’s online Museum of the World exhibit lets visitors view and sort artifacts based on time period, area of origin, and themes such as religion or trade. Each point on the timeline contains pictures, descriptions, an audio file, and links to related objects.

This format lends itself well to a virtual scavenger hunt . Solving an activity helps students focus and remain more engaged, which results in students learning more from the experience.

Explore the British Museum .

14. Digital Tour of the Van Gogh Museum

While the digital tour of the Van Gogh Museum fails to capture the paintings’ texture, it does offer contextual information on the artist’s most famous images such as Almond Blossom and Self-portrait With Grey Felt Hat . This tour also provides background information about Van Gogh’s life, with several narrative timelines.

Check out the Van Gogh Museum .

15. Google Meets Visit to the Guggenheim

The Guggenheim offers an interactive virtual museum experience. Booking a tour gives your class access to a guide for one hour, and your class will view three to five famous works and participate in an ongoing Q&A session. The museum educator facilitates activities that encourage students to engage with the art. All tours take place via Zoom or Google Meet.

Though the museum gears most tours towards grade school, they also hold separate online tours for university students and adults as well.

Book a Virtual Group Visit to the Guggenheim .

16. Computerized Career Days

Career day is a staple of the school experience. Typically, parents and community professionals visit classrooms to talk to students about various jobs. Online, these professionals can actually take students along on the job. Students can go to work with firefighters, underwater welders, cake decorators, farmers, or any other interesting vocations that do not mind taking the kids along.

Career days can be an ongoing series, with a five to 15-minute tour of a different workplace every session. This approach spreads the fun across a larger span of time by hosting a mini field trip every day, instead of condensing all the excitement into a single afternoon.

You can do online career tests too, or plan a virtual take your child to work day .

17. Remote City Tours

Tour guides in many cities offer a verbal history and visual slideshow via software like Zoom and WebEx. Remote city tours are one of the easiest-to-execute virtual field trip ideas. The guides already mapped the path and prepared the presentation; you only need to book the tour and show up with your class.

The crew here at TeamBuilding recently embarked on a virtual tour of Black Broadway in Washington DC and an online Harry Potter tour of Edinburgh, Scotland. Our team thoroughly enjoyed both tours and learned a lot.

18. Online Historical Sites

Many online field trips focus on learning about history. You and your class can visit significant sites all around the world and learn how these locations shaped modern history.

Here is a short list of historical sites with online experiences:

• The Sistine Chapel
• The Taj Mahal
• Ellis Island
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Gettysburg Battlefield

There are many other historically significant locations you can visit online.

19. DIY Virtual Field Trips

Some schools give students options to vote on the yearly field trip. Since online field trips use minimal time and resources, every student can design a dream trip. Instead of organizing a virtual trip yourself, you can assign the planning to your students. Every participant can design an itinerary by using Google Tour Creator .

Students may choose to explore areas such as the tombs of pharaohs, or the birth cities of American jazz. Your students will become the tour guides and teach peers about the chosen topic.

Most of these virtual field trips are available to anyone, and are free to access, meaning your students can visit or revisit the sites anytime. To make your activity extra special, seek out guide-led, live, interactive experiences so that your students can hold conversations with an expert. You can also supplement the trip with assignments and fun games.

Next, check out our list of games to play on Zoom, this list of Google Meet games , and this one with online art classes .

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FAQ: Virtual field trips

Here are some of the most common questions and answers about virtual field trips.

What are virtual field trips?

Virtual field trips are learning excursions that happen online through video conferencing software, livestream video, or digital map and photograph platforms. For example, a virtual zoo tour or an online visit to the Great Wall of China.

What are good online field trip ideas?

The best online field trips often revolve around experiences that are off-limits or logistically impossible for in-person visits. To keep students interested, these activities should involve interactive elements such as question and answer sessions, games, and special requests.

How do you do a virtual field trip?

The first step in planning virtual field trips is to decide on your venue and activity. You can choose between self-guided tours or live-guided experiences. Typically, live video and interaction makes for a more compelling visit. Once you choose your trip, pick a day and time for your visit and inform the students. You can plan additional activities like research assignments and presentations to enhance your student’s learning. You can also make the day special by providing themed snacks.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

That was so cool!! I am a child and I am making these things for my JK sister. This was really helpful. Thank you!!

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Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com.

Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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the Southerner Online

• Front Slideshow

Career-based field trips provide necessary opportunities

Sophia Maxim

At Midtown, there aren’t any required or grade specific field trips offered. Most field trips come from an elective class that the teacher arranged for example, recently art students visited the High Museum of Art. This is different from in elementary and middle school, where entire classes would venture out for the day together, such as going to the zoo or aquarium, about once every month or two.

Katie Sigal March 29, 2022

After middle school, the number of field trips students go on significantly drops. While elementary and middle school students can gain useful experiences and knowledge from field trips, high school students can also benefit from learning about interesting topics, and about themselves.

Having a wide variety of field trip options is vital for giving students a clear idea about the world that surrounds them. Seeing new places can open up doors for careers or experiences students never knew were there.

For instance, sixth and seventh grade students in the Midtown cluster experience the Junior Achievement (JA) programs BizTown and Finance Park, respectively. Both of these programs assign students a role as a professional at a company and allow them to learn how to deal with the ins and outs of business and personal finance. These field trips’ mission, as JA of Georgia puts it, is to “develop a generation of individuals who are armed with the confidence, knowledge and determination to thrive; to build a better future for themselves and their community.” Opportunities like these could benefit older kids just as much, or more, than middle schoolers as they are closer to adulthood.

The U.S. Travel Association found that “regardless of gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, children who take school trips have better grades, higher graduation rates from high school and college and greater income.” Put simply, field trips raise the bar for education.

Some might say that field trips are just a “day off” for students and provide no real educational substance. However, a study by researchers at Ohio University found that “once teachers are empowered and learn how to develop and orchestrate a successful field trip, they will enable students to develop interest in science, which may lead to improved learning or improved science literacy.” This shows that when done correctly, field trips can have a major beneficial impact on students’ academic interests.

A change in a learning environment can be very beneficial and engaging for students. The Government for Northwest Territories’ Education, Culture and Employment website writes that “??learners must not only develop what they know, but also skills, attitudes, and values that will help them be capable people. For this to happen, they need to actively take part in their learning and be motivated by it.” This reinforces the idea that the hands-on learning that field trips provide is necessary to successful learning.

What students learn from the restrains of a classroom cannot be matched by the kind of development and experiences that field trips offer. Field trips provide important learning opportunities, and teachers and administration need to see their importance and use it to their students’ advantage.

Katie Sigal is a senior and Comment Managing Editor and Social Media Editor for the Southerner. She is on the swim team and, in her free time, she likes...

Sophia is a senior and a Layout Design/Graphics, Photography, and Social Media Editor on the Southerner. Outside of writing, she spends her time taking...

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Undergraduates Venture on Field Trips for Real-World Experiences

May 22, 2024 — atlanta, ga.

Students in the Pulp and Paper Certification Program at Georgia Tech had real-world experiences outside the classroom this spring. Over 30 students taking the Emerging Technologies in the Manufacture of Forest Bioproducts course (CHBE/ME 4730/8803) took field trips to Greif’s Austell location and GranBio’s Thomaston facility in Georgia. The course is taught by Chris Luettgen , professor of the practice and i nitiative lead for the process efficiency & intensification of pulp paper packaging & tissue manufacturing initiative at Georgia Tech's Renewable Bioproducts Institute . 

At the Sweetwater Mill, one of Greif’s three paper mills in Austell, students saw the pressure cylinder machine, a pre-coater that smoothens the board for printability, and a curtain coater that makes value-added products such as one-sided chipboard packaging for retail displays. The mill runs 100% recycled fiber into stock cores, gypsum board liners, and chipboard packaging. The tour included converting the machine roll (called a parent roll) into smaller rolls that will be further converted at downstream customers’ locations. 

At the GranBio’s facility in Thomaston, Tech students were able to see a biorefinery at work where a wide variety of lignocellulosic feedstocks, including wood chips, were getting converted into multiple bioproducts. They had a firsthand look at the SEW (sulfur dioxide, ethanol, and water) process, which was quite different from the traditional kraft pulping process. It creates a highly acidic mush, with a high pH, instead of fiber, which could then be used to make biofuels and other value-added products. In addition, they were able to discuss the recent DOE award to scale their process to a 100 ton/day biomass to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).  The company explained that they were still in site selection and would be hiring engineers in the near future.

About the Pulp and Paper Certification

The College of Engineering at Georgia Tech offers a certificate program in pulp and paper. The certificate consists of 12 credit hours focused on forest bioproduct topics, including lecture- and laboratory-based courses. Since its inception in 1990, more than 100 students have completed their certification.

The foundational course in the program introduces students to the history of pulp and paper manufacturing from its origins and covers the forest bioeconomy, wood structure, chemistry, and fiber morphology, and goes through the unit operations utilized to transform lignocellulosic feedstocks into value-added products, including chemical and mechanical pulping, recycled fiber operations, chemical recovery, bleaching, stock preparation, and papermaking.

The emerging technologies course focuses on the future of bioproducts industries. Case studies on the use of biomass in the production of value-added products are covered. Included are fluff pulp and dissolving pulps, alternative fibers, specialty papers, packaging, and printed electronics, biorefining technologies, nanocellulose and bio composites, and renewable polymers.

The pulp and paper laboratory course introduces students to pulping operations, bleaching, hand sheet formation, pulp and paper physical properties, and recycled fiber. The final course allows students to pursue research on special problems under supervision from an RBI-affiliated faculty.

Students in the program can demonstrate their proficiency in pulp and paper science and engineering and are in high demand for their expertise.

Priya Devarajan || RBI Communications Program Manager

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