Field Trip Ideas
Below you will find a list of both fun and educational (well - hopefully fun!) things to do with your kids. Each name title will direct you to the location's website where you can gather more information including exact location, pricing, what all is available and more. Do you know of a great place to suggest for a field trip or just a fun place to go in the Northland? Please email us so we can get it added to the list!Audubon Center of the North Woods
ACNW offers two homeschool weeks (one in November and one in January) specializing in overnight learning experiences. They have 2-3 day environmental learning experiences for in-depth and hands-on learning in an outdoor setting. Class options are focused on wildlife, ecology, adventure, natural history, etc. This would be a great opportunity for several families to coordinate - there is a student minimum of 24 and at least 1 parent must stay as well (with their goal to network, share ideas, etc).
Location: Sandstone, MN
Arrowhead Chorale
An auditioned civic choir led by Director Stanley Wold. Their repertoire spans five centuries of western music traditions including vocal jazz, sacred and secular, folksong and art song, opera chorus, and more. See website for upcoming performances.
Location: Various Places
Discover Columbus' Ships
Life-size replicas of The Nina and The Pinta to tour. Check their website for each year's port destinations.
Location: Various Places
Duluth Art Institute
Rotating art exhibits as well as artist services (i.e. ceramics center) and classes offered for kids and adults alike. Housed in the Duluth Depot - consider making it a day trip to explore the other organizations housed there!
Location: Duluth
Duluth Children's Museum
The "museum" is a place where children begin their lifelong exploration of an ever-expanding world. Through exhibits and programs, our visitors experience science, technology, engineering, math, history and art through fun!
Location: Duluth
Duluth Depot
There are eight organizations housed in this historic site! There is the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, the Duluth Art Institute, the Duluth Playhouse, Arrowhead Chorale, Matinee Musicale, Minnesota Ballet, North Shore Scenic Railroad, St. Louis Country Historic Society.
Location: Duluth
Duluth Public Library
There is much to explore at the library besides checking out books! Be sure to check out the calendar for things such as storytime, vegan cookbook club, winter reading program, afternoon movies, etc.
Location: Duluth
Edinborough Park
Large and awesome indoor park that does have special group rates. There is a pool and track as well.
Location: Edina, MN
Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center
This building has two hockey rinks, numerous displays of Duluth's hockey history, a 200 meter walking track, and a turf area on one of the rinks from April to mid-September. Check out a hockey game or play yourself at open hockey.
Location: Duluth
Glensheen Mansion
This mansion is located on the shore of Lake Superior and is the most visited historic home in Minnesota. It is a 12-acre estate featuring gardens, bridges and the famous 39-room mansion. It gives you a great view back in time and a glimpse at Duluth's origins with the Congdon family.
Location: Duluth
Great Lakes Aquarium
The aquarium offers special homeschool rates as well as classes. They have job shadowing available and free curriculum and kits available with props and unique learning tools.
Location: Duluth
Hartley Nature Center
Located in the 660-acre Hartley Park in Duluth, this non-profit offers day camps and an outdoor area for kids to experience nature. They have a nature-based preschool as well and have several different types of field trip topics you can arrange (i.e. animal tracks, plants, life in the pond, etc).
Location: Duluth
International Wolf Center
This organization has adventure programs like "Wolves After Dark" and a "Winter Survival in the Northwoods" workshop. They strive to educate people about wolves to ensure their survival around the world.
Location: Ely, MN
Lake Superior Zoo
This zoo offers year-round educational programs designed to "connect people with animals and the natural world." Some programs are for kids to be dropped off and some are more suited for families all together. They have animal exhibits open year round, and there are field trips and camps. In addition they have educator kits available on their website for before and after visiting.
Location: Duluth
Lake Superior Marine Museum
Located at the foot of Duluth's famed Aerial Life Bridge, there are two floors of exhibits about ore docks, the locks and the Great Lakes. There is also a gift shop. The website provides a list of expected ships and when they arrive as well as a list of fun events that they host. Make a day of it and go for a walk in Canal Park!
Location: Duluth
Minnesota Catholic Home Education Conference
Annual conference that is one of the largest Catholic homeschooling conferences in the country.
Nordic Center
Hosts events that show Nordic history as well as hosts the "Ditten&Datten" shop with unique items for sale!
Location: Duluth
Positive Energy Outdoors
Field trips, day camps, family adventure tours and more! They offer dog sledding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, etc. There are winter break camps and summer adventure club.
Location: Rural Duluth
Richard L. Bong Veterans Historical Center
The Center is a tribute to the brave men and women who defended our freedom during the 20th century. Through exbibits, displays and presentations the museum strives to honor all branches of the service by telling the personal stories of their war experiences.
Location: Superior, WI
Superior Public Museums
At the turn of the 20th century, the city of Superior was an important shipping port and a prosperous hub of industry. Here you can visit three different museums, the Fairlawn Mansion (an authentically restored 1890 Victorian house mansion), SS Meteor Whaleback Ship Museum (world's last remaining above-water Whaleback ship) and the Old Firehouse & Police Museum (last of Superior's 19th Century fire halls). They also have various events to attend.
Location: Superior, WI
Tweed Museum of Art
They have a permanent collection of over 9,000 art objects representing a range of cultures and periods of art history. It can be found on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Location: Duluth
Wilderness Experience
Our Mission is to help our community pursue Christ through experiencing His creation. At Wilderness Experience, all are welcome to come and join in our programs regardless of your faith or belief background. We encourage you to join us as we learn, discover and grow together. Our beliefs are core to what we do every day and we strive to follow the example of Christ in creating a welcoming environment. They offer trips, day camps, and classes.
Location: Duluth
William A. Irvin Fleet Ship Tour
A historically preserved fleet ship, the William A. Irvin is available for tours. For more than 40 years it carried iron ore and coal and was a proud flagship of U.S. Steel's Great Lakes Fleet. It also has a gift shop that features the area's largest selection in nautical items and collectibles.
Location: Duluth
Location: Edina, MN
Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center
This building has two hockey rinks, numerous displays of Duluth's hockey history, a 200 meter walking track, and a turf area on one of the rinks from April to mid-September. Check out a hockey game or play yourself at open hockey.
Location: Duluth
Glensheen Mansion
This mansion is located on the shore of Lake Superior and is the most visited historic home in Minnesota. It is a 12-acre estate featuring gardens, bridges and the famous 39-room mansion. It gives you a great view back in time and a glimpse at Duluth's origins with the Congdon family.
Location: Duluth
Great Lakes Aquarium
The aquarium offers special homeschool rates as well as classes. They have job shadowing available and free curriculum and kits available with props and unique learning tools.
Location: Duluth
Hartley Nature Center
Located in the 660-acre Hartley Park in Duluth, this non-profit offers day camps and an outdoor area for kids to experience nature. They have a nature-based preschool as well and have several different types of field trip topics you can arrange (i.e. animal tracks, plants, life in the pond, etc).
Location: Duluth
International Wolf Center
This organization has adventure programs like "Wolves After Dark" and a "Winter Survival in the Northwoods" workshop. They strive to educate people about wolves to ensure their survival around the world.
Location: Ely, MN
Lake Superior Zoo
This zoo offers year-round educational programs designed to "connect people with animals and the natural world." Some programs are for kids to be dropped off and some are more suited for families all together. They have animal exhibits open year round, and there are field trips and camps. In addition they have educator kits available on their website for before and after visiting.
Location: Duluth
Lake Superior Marine Museum
Located at the foot of Duluth's famed Aerial Life Bridge, there are two floors of exhibits about ore docks, the locks and the Great Lakes. There is also a gift shop. The website provides a list of expected ships and when they arrive as well as a list of fun events that they host. Make a day of it and go for a walk in Canal Park!
Location: Duluth
Minnesota Catholic Home Education Conference
Annual conference that is one of the largest Catholic homeschooling conferences in the country.
Nordic Center
Hosts events that show Nordic history as well as hosts the "Ditten&Datten" shop with unique items for sale!
Location: Duluth
Positive Energy Outdoors
Field trips, day camps, family adventure tours and more! They offer dog sledding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, etc. There are winter break camps and summer adventure club.
Location: Rural Duluth
Richard L. Bong Veterans Historical Center
The Center is a tribute to the brave men and women who defended our freedom during the 20th century. Through exbibits, displays and presentations the museum strives to honor all branches of the service by telling the personal stories of their war experiences.
Location: Superior, WI
Superior Public Museums
At the turn of the 20th century, the city of Superior was an important shipping port and a prosperous hub of industry. Here you can visit three different museums, the Fairlawn Mansion (an authentically restored 1890 Victorian house mansion), SS Meteor Whaleback Ship Museum (world's last remaining above-water Whaleback ship) and the Old Firehouse & Police Museum (last of Superior's 19th Century fire halls). They also have various events to attend.
Location: Superior, WI
Tweed Museum of Art
They have a permanent collection of over 9,000 art objects representing a range of cultures and periods of art history. It can be found on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Location: Duluth
Wilderness Experience
Our Mission is to help our community pursue Christ through experiencing His creation. At Wilderness Experience, all are welcome to come and join in our programs regardless of your faith or belief background. We encourage you to join us as we learn, discover and grow together. Our beliefs are core to what we do every day and we strive to follow the example of Christ in creating a welcoming environment. They offer trips, day camps, and classes.
Location: Duluth
William A. Irvin Fleet Ship Tour
A historically preserved fleet ship, the William A. Irvin is available for tours. For more than 40 years it carried iron ore and coal and was a proud flagship of U.S. Steel's Great Lakes Fleet. It also has a gift shop that features the area's largest selection in nautical items and collectibles.
Location: Duluth
