Field trips are a great way to enhance your child’s education, and break the monotony of your daily routine. However, once the curriculum is bought and all the school supplies are purchased, there may be little left in the budget for extra-curricular activities. Don’t let a tight budget keep you from enjoying hands-on educational experiences.
Family Memberships to a Zoo or Museum
Consider purchasing a family membership to a zoo or museum. A family membership may seem expensive initially; however, it usually pays for itself after just a couple of visits. If you go several times during the course of a year, the membership really pays off!
There are usually other benefits to a membership as well, like: special events for members only; discounts on tickets or admission fees to related museums and events; and newsletter subscriptions. Another added bonus of a family membership is that if times get especially tight, your family can still enjoy a fun outing together.
Use a one-year membership to do an in-depth study of the subject matter that the museum covers. For instance, for an art museum membership you could study the:
- Different eras in art history and historical facts from that time
- Lives of the famous, and not-so-famous, artists throughout history
- Lives of the local artists on display at the museum
- Various mediums used- water color, pencil, oil paint, mosaics, and so forth
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
You can save even more money by asking for zoo or museum memberships as a gift from family and friends for Christmas, and other such occasions. It’s the gift that gives all year and makes a lasting memory!
Local Sporting Events, Plays, & Recitals
Tickets to the ballet, or a NFL game may not be in your budget, but you can still enjoy sporting and cultural events by staying local. Check out your area high schools, community colleges, and community theaters for plays, recitals and sporting events- right in your own neighborhood. It is even more fun when your children know someone who is in the show. Not only will you save money by paying only a minimal cover charge to attend, not to mention what you’ll save on gas, but you will also be supporting your community by staying local.
Join a Homeschool Field Trip Group
There are homeschool groups whose main purpose is to take field trips, usually once or twice a month. Often these field trips are determined with a homeschooling family’s limited budget in mind, and have the added bonus of being able to take advantage of school group discounts. Most groups give you the ability to opt-out if a field trip doesn’t interest you or is cost-prohibitive.
The hands-on learning opportunities that field trips provide are invaluable. These frugal field trip ideas will help you add some pizzazz to your student’s home education program without breaking the bank!
By Crystal Killion
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