by Shari McMinn

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

Does your family go on homeschool enrichment field trips, or do you stay home to avoid issues with embarrassing behaviors, traumatic meltdowns, or fight/flee/freeze reactions due to defiance, obsessive/compulsive disorders, or sensory overload issues? Yeah, I get that! And the stress of getting dressed with (or without) matching socks adds to it, right?!

Here are a few more serious questions to consider: What is the purpose for homeschool field trips? What should family members get out of them? Do we want our kids to think of God as good?

For me, there were a multitude of purposes for participating in family or group trips to museums, outdoor spaces, and other venues:

• Discovering the joy of simple things by getting out of the house and away from daily routine
• Enjoying the camaraderie of other homeschool families
• Exploring places with our physical bodies
• Extending the lessons we learned from textbooks
• Having fun together as a family while participating in a new adventure
• Learning how to line up, asking somewhat intelligent questions, and practicing public manners
• Trying out new things within a reasonable “group discount” budget
• Using all our senses to “taste” God’s created world to experience how truly good He is to us
• Working on delayed communication skills by reading signs aloud together, prompting polite conversation with others in the group, and suggesting questions your unique learner can ask the venue staff about exhibits or where to find the restroom, gift shop, concession area, etc.

The hope I had for my family members during field trips included their:

• Appreciating art, music, and historical places
• Balancing what they wanted to enjoy with what others would like to do
• Building relationships with siblings and friends
• Finding fun in exposure to new and different things
• Gaining confidence with public venue social skills like eye contact, handshakes, and introductions
• Respecting adults in our touring group and those who were on staff at venues
• Understanding the backstories of people and places significant to where we lived

The crazy bad behavior and meltdowns did happen sometimes, but I improved our proactive preparation each time with these strategies to minimize future episode failures:

1. Giving a pep talk the week prior, then again the day before, about the activity and expectations
2. Finding the venue address with ETA, allowing 15 minutes contingency to arrive ahead of time
3. Having kids clean out and organize our vehicle the day before
4. Approving clothing and preparing outerwear the night before
5. Dressing in easily identifiable brightly colored shirts (but NOT matching — by my kids’ request!)
6. Going to bed early and getting up enough ahead of time to not rush departure preparations
7. Packing snacks and water bottles for the venue with enough (separately) for the way home
8. Having the oldest carry a backpack with an emergency first aid kit, sunscreen, and hygiene wipes
9. Snapping family photos at the venue entry to show security in case someone became lost (and for scrapbooking later!)
10. Setting limits for distance away from the family and where to meet up if someone got lost
11. Creating your own “student I.D.” that the child wears on a plastic lanyard or name badge holder; include their photo, your last name, and your cell phone number in case of separation
12. Make sure you note on the badge if the child is autistic, deaf, mute, has trauma issues, etc., so someone finding them will know how to respond to their silence or combativeness 
13. Playing an audiobook or soft music on the way home to encourage quiet time (and naps)
14. Discussing that evening as a family what was enjoyed and learned on the field trip
15. Debriefing the next day to modify strategies for the next field trip

As a homeschool group leader for many years, I always walked behind the pack of our families to prevent losing stragglers. Thankfully, I never lost sight of anyone for too long. FYI, I also gave up requiring my kids to wear matching socks, except during our “field trips” to funerals, graduations, and weddings!

Yes, I had kids vomit in a number of places, got lectured by security to stop my kids from playing on escalators, and made the zoo geese and male peacocks mad enough to chase us all into the giraffe house, but we survived! These days, my adult children each reminisce about those misadventures with glee. Those who have their own kids are now making similar memories with their families’ field trip mishaps!

Need ideas for family or group field trips? Check out CHEC’s Community Calendar webpage. 

Are you looking for a Christian homeschool group? Find one near you in CHEC’s Homeschool Group directory. 

My next Unique Learner blog, “Thankful in the Good, the Bad, and Even the Ugly,” will be posted on November 27, 2024 (the 4th Wednesday).

Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend   

P.S. If you have a topic I should write about, please email me with your suggestion(s). This blog is for you!

About the Author: Shari McMinn

Shari Howard McMinn has graduated from homeschool teaching and is a professional editor, public speaker, and writer. After living in Colorado for 45 years, she continues to work remotely for Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) from her new home in the Fort Myers, Florida area. Shari is the author of five books, which are detailed on her website, ShariMcMinn.com. She is an advocate for adoption, homeschooling, safe and stable families, and unique learners. A few years ago, she entered a very fun new season of life: grandparenting! She is available to answer your questions via email, Shari@CHEC.org.