What?
Field trips include a guided nature hike, an activity of your choice from the activity menu, and an activity selected by our staff. The staff-selected activity could be a citizen science activity, a team-building activity, a seasonal activity, or another standards-based activity. The STEM Connection staff are highly knowledgeable, creative and flexible, and will customize Field Trips. If desired, field trips can also include time for a picnic lunch at the farm.
Where?
Field trips are offered at Moore Road Farm, located at 8407 Moore Road, Indianapolis, IN 46278. The STEM Connection’s 30-acre outdoor education site is located conveniently on the northwest side of Indianapolis. The ecosystems represented on the farm are representative of Indiana. The farm provides visitors an opportunity to connect with a deciduous forest, fields of crops, an urban garden, and Eagle Creek, a water source for part of Indianapolis.
When?
Field trips are offered throughout the year on Wednesdays through Fridays (please indicate if you require a different day). Trips to our outdoor education site generally last three hours without a lunch break or about three and a half hours to allow time for a picnic lunch. All field trips begin at 10:00 a.m
Cost?
3 hour trip (no lunch break): $320 for up to 40 students; additional students are $8/each.
3 ½ hour trip (with lunch break): $360 for up to 40 students; additional students are $9/each.
Schools and organizations with a minimum of 40% of students or participants receiving free and reduced lunches are eligible for discounted field trip rates (3 hr trip = $7/participant’ 3.5 hr trip = $8/participant).
Teachers and chaperones are free and welcome!
For more information, please contact Andrea Elstro at aelstro@thestemconnection.org.
Letha’s Youth Outdoor Fund (Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society)
Letha’s Fund supports trips for school and youth groups to experience nature in an educational context. It also supports youth-initiated activities that bring them in closer contact with nature. Preferred groups are those with the least access to experiences in the natural environment.
Letha’s Fund provides financial assistance to school-age children and youth groups for field trips to nature sites or projects that engender excitement about the natural world. Grants are intended to:
- Help with transportation costs and/or naturalist fees where funds are limited.
- Promote youth-initiated projects/activities that connect kids with nature.
Applicants will receive a response to the application in about two to three weeks if submitted by email. Allow one month response time if submitted by mail.
Eligibility: The Fund is available statewide. Teachers/leaders may select nature sites suitable to their location and situation. To minimize transportation costs, applicants are encouraged to select nearby nature sites suitable to their program.
More Information and Application: https://indiananativeplants.org/education/letha/
