“Our second graders have visited ECO Center for the past three years. Each year, the teachers and students have created lasting memories spending time together outdoors. Every learning session provides the students with more knowledge and insight into our world. Our students adore the outdoor play area as well as learning about nature! Emily makes scheduling and organizing the trip effortless and their hospitality is unmatched! We love ECO Center! “

Mrs. Biggs

Spring & Fall Field Trips

Let ECO Center be an outdoor extension of your classroom.

Academic 

We offer curriculum-based lessons for Pre-K through 8th grade.  The hands-on activities are derived from the Council for Environmental Education's (CEE) Project Wild, Aquatic Wild, and Project WET as well as Project Learning Tree's Pre K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.  

The lessons are offered outdoors and focus on our 3-acre woods and native prairie.  The lessons include hands-on activities that will engage the student's creativity and critical thinking skills.  Many lessons are paired with equipment such as microscopes, binoculars, compasses, thermometers, and field guides.

Examples of themes offered:

  • Diversity

  • Interrelationships

  • Systems

  • Structure & Scale

  • Patterns of Change

  • Water Resource Management

  • Habitats, Ecosystems, & Niches

  • Human Impacts

  • Sustainability

  • Wildlife Populations & Management

Play Time 

In addition to the academic learning at ECO, we also offer play sessions that can be scheduled separately or together with an academic lesson. Our activities test children's strength, balance, creativity, and confidence.  Play activities include: mini zip lines, giant corn box, barrel train ride, upcycled playground, a tunnel slide, and petting zoo.

Weekday field trip sessions are scheduled between 9:00 am and 2:30 pm.

Please register below or for date and time availability.

  • Outdoor fees -

    • Youth/participants: $7.00*

    • Chaperones: $5.00

    • Paid teaching staff: no charge

    • *Must have a minimum of 25 students to be eligible for participant rate. Adjusted rates available for smaller groups.

Download and return the Field Trip Agreement and distribute the Permission to Participate form to each student attending the field trip. The permission slips can be turned in the day of your field trip. Download our Field Trip Guide to get logistical information about your field trip and help prepare your students before your visit to ECO Center!

Book a Summer Field Trip

ECO Center reserves 4 weeks outside of our own ECO Camp to host private field trips for other group’s summer programs. The 2023 weeks are June 5-9. July 3-7, July 24-28, and July 31-August 4. Please fill out the inquiry form below for availability.