Field Trip Fridays

Kids learn best from hands-on experiences. A major advantage of a microschool is the flexibility it provides to offer our students the chance to integrate into their community. Every Friday is set aside for an off-site learning experience. These are typically designed to be local and last about 2 hours (10am-12pm) but may vary. Parents and younger siblings are welcome to attend. Local trips will sometimes be simple such as going to a pumpkin patch or farmer's market. Outings will sometimes involve an expert to help educate us about our community such as a visit to the recycling center, post office, or fire station. About once a month, our field trip will include a service project, such as singing carols in a retirement home or raking leaves, so the children can experience the joy of helping others. Occasionally, we will plan longer excursions as they align with our curriculum. Examples include, hiking in Shenandoah to practice observational skills during our unit on the scientific method, or going to the cherry blossom festival during our culture and cuisine unit on Japan. Field trips are considered optional (provided the student does not miss more than 18 days, per Virginia law.) Parents will be asked to coordinate carpools while we are still fundraising for a bus. Field Trip Fees are incorporated into the price of tuition.