stem field trips houston

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

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16 of the Best Field Trip Ideas in Houston, Texas

From the ballet to the farm.

As the fourth largest city in the United States, it isn’t hard to find great field trip opportunities in Houston. Whether you are looking for an in-depth STEM trip or to bring history to life, Houston has you covered. Here are some of teachers’ favorite Houston field trip ideas:

The Texas Renaissance Festival School Days program in November brings history alive for students in every grade. Jousting, theater, music, trade, crafts, and medieval life are all on display with costumed actors. Students may also enter a variety of contests, including poetry, art, costume, and trebuchet. 

2. In and around Hermann Park

A great place for a full-day trip, Hermann Park is a major hub for Houston field trips for students of all ages. Start your day at the world-class Houston Zoo then enjoy your picnic lunch in the park itself. As a bonus, check out the train that goes throughout the park. Miller Outdoor Theater also puts on children’s performances throughout the year.

3. Drama, drama, drama

Alley Theatre , the Houston Symphony , the Houston Ballet , and Main Street Theater all offer student matinee performances throughout the year. These performances are generally reduced price or even free, depending on the venue and program. Post-performance discussions with the cast and crew are also included.

4. Not just dinosaur bones

Science and history come alive at the Houston Museum of Natural Science . The main campus also offers IMAX, a butterfly dome, and planetarium shows. The George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park features even more student experiences, including astronomy lessons and nature trails.

5. Hands-on learning

Learning comes alive at the Children’s Museum of Houston in all 14 of their hands-on exhibits featuring s cience and technology, history and culture, health and human development, math, literacy, and the arts. Upper elementary classes may also enjoy checking out their problem-solving or maker lab programs.

6. Back to the drawing board

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston offers guided and self-guided tours for student groups of all ages. Plus, it’s free for school groups!

7. It’s alive!

Younger students and older ones alike will have something great to do at the Health Museum , especially at one of the hands-on labs or lab demonstrations.

8. Holocaust Museum

With their mission to fight prejudice, hatred, and apathy while honoring the victims of the Holocaust, the Houston Holocaust Museum is more sober than many but still important in today’s world. Trained docents lead in-depth tours for students in sixth grade and above, and the museum also offers teaching aids and resources for all educators.

9. Houston, we have a field trip

With hundreds of activities, Space Center Houston is a great option for any STEM trip. There are several programs available for schools. In addition, FIRST LEGO League teams (as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops) also have the opportunity for overnight trips.

10. We the People

The Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas serves south and southeast Texas and offers tours for high school juniors and seniors, while City Hall is the seat of government and welcomes students ages nine and up. It is an opportunity for students to see how the government works up close. Municipal buildings and local city halls in the surrounding areas offer similar opportunities.

11. Once upon a time in Texas

Washington on the Brazos , Sam Houston Park , George Ranch Historical Park , San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas .  There are so many great living history and historical sites around Houston that it is hard to choose just one! Each of these sites offers a unique look at what life in Texas has been like throughout the ages, from the pioneer days through World War II.  

12. Tree Days

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty exploring the natural world at the Houston Arboretum . Students might not be planting trees or gardening all day, but they will learn about environmental science and the natural world.

13. Down on the farm

Old Macdonald Farm , Oil Ranch , Dewberry Farm —y ounger students will love life on the farm. In the fall, all feature seasonal activities, including live animals, pumpkin patches, and plenty of fun.

14. Check out the life aquatic

It may seem like just a restaurant or small amusement park at first, but the Downtown Aquarium also offers a first-class aquatic experience. You might even have time for the Ferris wheel. Moody Gardens , closer to Galveston, also offers close-ups to aquatic and rainforest life as well as overnight adventures.

15. Museums galore

If you are looking for a unique field trip experience off the beaten path, check out one of these lesser-known museums around (or outside of) town:

• The Printing Museum
• Fire Museum of Houston
• Rosenberg Railroad Museum
• Nation Museum of Funeral History
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum
• Menil Collection
• Museum of the American GI

16. Bring the field trip to you

Whether funding, time, or policy keeps you from visiting the great sites around Houston, many of these organizations offer programs where they come to you.

What Houston field trip ideas did we miss? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, Best Field Trip Ideas for Every Age and Interest (Virtual Options Too!)

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260+ Field Trip Ideas for Grades Pre-K Through 12 (In-Person and Virtual)

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Houston Groups and Field Trip Opportunities

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Houston Field Trip & Group Tour Opportunities

It’s field trip time! Sometimes you just have to get a group together! Here are some great places to go and things to see with your group, be school, scout, or any other! Check out our Calendar of Events for information related to specific education days and events.

*Always independently verify times and prices

What kind of field trip are you taking?

Nature, outdoors, & animals, theatre & the arts, athletic & just for fun.

Field trips focusing on history, culture, and education.

• Available for groups of 15 or more
• Minimum 12 children and adults, $4.50-9.50 per person
• Self-Guided
• Structured Programs
• Immersive/ Role-Playing:
• $4 per child, $5 per adult chaperone (1 for every 10 students required)
• Tours are for grades 6 and up, maximum 60 people
• Tours last 2 1/2 hours and cannot be scheduled to start after 3 pm
• $5 per person upto 25 people, tours last 1-1.5 hours
• Usually November ; $5 per person
• $7.95 per student, an optional add-on available such as the Aviation Learning Center and specific classes
• Group rates available for a minimum of 25 guests, $8 per person
• Available Wednesday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.
• $5-7 per person
• San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site – admission to the site is FREE there are additional fees to access the San Jacinto Museum features : ride the elevator to the top of the monument ($2 each), to access the special exhibits ($2 each) and/or watch Texas Forever!! ($4 each) – a combo ticket for school groups is $4 each
• Battleship Texas : the ship has closed for an extensive repair project. There is no projected reopening date.
• Canceled as of 2021

Pack the sunscreen and bug spray! Fill up your water bottle! These options will take your field trip outside and up close with nature and its inhabitants.

• $5 per student, add-ons available
• Hive Tours, Honey Tasting, & Queen catching demos can be set up along with specialty classes and multiple events throughout the year
• Crocodile Encounter
• Students, Chaperones & Parents $8.00 …Teachers, Teacher Aides and bus drivers FREE.
• Free, but reservations are required for large groups
• Downtown Aquarium – Several tours and classes available for a groups
• Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier : options available for private groups of 25+ and school groups
• Options available September-May for all grades. A minimum of 20 students required for booking, $6-15 per students
• By appointment only, free with recommended donations.
• Appropriate for second grade and higher, 1 adult per six children, max group size is 20.
• M-F, 1 FREE adult chaperone required per 10 students (1 for every 5 Pre-K students)
• Students $12; Adults $15, plus $20 processing fee on all orders
• Minimum 20 people, rates starting at $7.95 per person, meal add-ons available
• Program for Pre-K through 6th, $5-$7 per student. Maximum 40 students or two classes.
• Perfect for groups under 50

The Outdoor Education Center at Camp Olympia

Led by experienced, certified teachers, the Outdoor Education Center at Camp Olympia features a Texas TEKS aligned curriculum and takes a hands-on approach to learning in the beautiful Pineywoods of East Texas. We offer programs for multiple grade levels and serve public, private, and homeschool organizations. Our team of instructors is trained in the best practices for outdoor education.

Explore impactful lesson plans like Forest and Aquatic Ecology, Texas History, and Astronomy designed to increase engagement and retention.

Work with our team to plan your day or overnight experience that’s tailored to the needs of your school. Take learning outdoors!

• Minimum of 15 guests
• Sheldon Lake State Park : For groups of 50 or less (or two classes) with a 1:10 ratio of chaperones to students, programming is offered T-Su, 9 am – 5 pm
• 25 student max, off-site outreach available

From the quirky to the elegant. Her you can find a field trip for all of your artistic whims.

• Tickets $12.50
• This is a small museum there are a few parking spots in front and a few on the street. Call if you will be taking a larger group.
• Reservations should be made at least 3 weeks prior to visit
• Guided programs appropriate for students 9 and up, maximum of 96 students, FREE
• Free for some groups, but reservations required for groups between 10 and 60. Groups must register 10 days prior to visiting
• Downtown Aquarium – Several tours and classes available for a group to set up
• Programs : Ballet Talks, Chance to Dance, Dance to Learn, Guest Speaking, X: Explore, Extend, Excel!, Learning From the Masters, Studio Series, Student Matinees
• You can add a one-hour workshop for $50, plus $5 per participant
• Houston Grand Opera : performances and camps and student matinees
• $20 per seat for groups of 20 or less, $0-10 each for groups of 20 or more, 1 complimentary adult seat for every 10 students
• Self-guided and guided tours available, FREE
• 1-week notice for groups of more than 20 people & one adult chaperone for every 10 students required
• Free tours are available Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. for groups of 10-60 persons.
• The tour will be themed toward the age group
• Guided Tours – a free docent-led tour that lasts about 45 minutes.
• School Tours – to coordinate a larger group
• Tu-Th Group tours by appointment only
• Fr & Sa guided tours at 11 am and 2 pm
• Project Row Houses: W-Su 12-5 pm, $0-$12
• Rienzi : Docent-led tours for school groups, FREE, Wed.-Fri. 10 am, 11 am, and 1 pm
• Rothko Chapel: 10 am -5 pm (for groups of 20 or more please a maintain a ratio of 1:10 chaperones to students is preferred), FREE (Donation of $5 per person suggested)
• $9.75 tickets, 1 complimentary chaperone ticket for every 10 student tickets

Science, technology, engineering, and math – there is a field trip for every option and often cross disciplines.

• Amazon Fulfillment Center – Live Virtual Tours & Amazon Future Engineer tours 
• For grades 1-12
• $11-15 per student, up to 50 students.
• Maker Annex Focus Tour : $10/ child (2 chaperones required for every 12 children, FREE)
• Tour separated into five 20-minute segments
• Scouts have two dedicated nights for sleepovers, $50 per scout and $25 per chaperone
• City of Houston WaterWorks Education Center : FREE, by Appointment only – M-F 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; suggested for groups of 15-50 students
• Can accommodate up to 200 people for Open Lab. Open Lab/ Walk-ins every Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun: $15-28, Ages 3 and up
• Summer Groups of 15 or more are $9 each in June and $10 thereafter
• Schools or large groups can schedule from Oct-May on a Wednesday to Friday (except first Fridays of the months) from 10:15 a.m. – noon, admission will be $6 per student (minimum group size 15)
• Lab add-ons available from $5-15 per student
• For grades 1-12, and groups 12-44, from 1 hour and starting at $160
• Student Labs – 1-hr. labs, up to 25 students, $165-200
• Kids Robotic Academy – Daytime classes for all age groups
• 1-hour hands-on science labs, minimum of 20 people, starting at $7.25 per participant
• For grades K-4 at your location, minimum 25 kids
• Ocean Star ffshore Energy Center: Various options available for all kinds of groups and field trips. Educational tours start at $4 with activity add-on options
• $5.95-$12.95 advanced purchase (minimum of 20, 1 FREE with every 20)
• Other groups can also receive discounted admission
• The program needs at least 10 participants to open, max. 70
• 3-5 day program intensive program
• No on-site dormitories, double-occupancy hotel accommodations can be added
• Marine-oriented field trips for groups of all ages! 

ATHLETIC & JUST FOR FUN

• Funplex Amusement Park: Passes from $19.99 per person, food add-ons available.
• Educational Tours – available M-F, with a group minimum of 25 guests, contact 713.259.8996 or email [email protected] $6-$20
• NRG Stadium Tour: $5-6, 2 & under FREE. Parking is free in the Blue Lots, via Gate #9. Select Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:15 a.m., noon, & 2 p.m. please email [email protected] to confirm.
• $2/ child, maximum 15. Cookie and gelato included!

IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS THAT COME TO YOUR SCHOOL

Looking for field trips that come to your school? Funtastik Labs delivers the excitement of interactive learning right to your doorstep! Can’t come to us? No worries, we can bring mobile hands-on fun attractions with our in-house field trip to your school, daycare, church program, or summer camp location. We bring the onsite setup to your location. Activities are designed to engage kids from pre-k to middle school with hands-on science, arts, and/or robotics experiences. Kids get introduced to science concepts, color theory, painting skills, detailing, and getting creative while having fun. Choose any one or two attractions from the options below to create an in-school STEM + Art field trip your students will love.

IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP OPTIONS:

SCIENCE LAB

• 3-4 hands-on experiments (with 1-2 take homes)
• Fun grand finale

Get ready for the ultimate slime experience! With fragrances, slime butter, sprinkles, and crunchies, make and take a fun slime creation. Choose from:

• Sprinkly Slime Sundaes (Grades K-3)
• Slimey Macaron Toppers (Grades 4-6)

Approx. Time: 1 Hour

MAGICAL S.T.E.A.M LAB

• Arts & craft wand making (take home)
• 1 Take Home Science Experiment
• 1 Magical Science Experiments

CANVAS PAINTING

• Superheroes or Astronauts
• Unicorns or Dragons
• Dinosaurs or Butterflies

SCIENCE SHOW

Wow your kids with some of the coolest interactive science demonstrations that showcase engaging chemical reactions, fun phenomena, and wacky experiments. Recommended for ages 2-11.

Approx. Time: 50 Mins For kids below 5 years of age, duration may be limited to 30 minutes.

IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP PACKAGES & PRICING

SCIENCE SHOW (50-MIN)

One Show: $399 Add’l Shows: Add $299 Max 50 kids per show (15 min break in between shows)

ONE ATTRACTION (1-HR)

0 – 30 Kids: $399 31 – 60 Kids: $12.99 per kid 61 – 99 Kids: $11.99 per kid 100+ Kids: $9.99 per kid

TWO ATTRACTION (2-HR)

0 – 20 Kids: $499 21 – 60 Kids: $24.99 per kid 61 – 99 Kids: $22.99 per kid 100+ Kids: $19.99 per kid

No fee: 0-15 miles $39: Per additional 10 miles Driving distance: Mobile field trip location max 50 miles from  Funtastik Labs.

BOOKING OPTIONS

Option 1: Book Online

Best for: Private schools, summer camp programs & daycares preferring an easy way to book by credit card.

Reserve your in-house field trip date and time right away by booking online with a $100 deposit. Once the mobile field trip is booked, we’ll send you an electronic invoice that you can pay by check or with a credit card online anytime until your field trip day.

Option 2: Build a Quote (PDF)

Best for: Organizations using a purchase order or requiring internal approvals.

Choose your onsite field trip options and generate a quote for your school’s approval. Once your field trip is approved, simply confirm your field trip and we’ll get you scheduled and send you an invoice you can pay by check or with credit card.

Houston Locations

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