The Children’s Museum of Wilmington (CMoW) is a unique playspace dedicated to offering hands-on, interactive, and educational opportunities for children throughout Southeastern North Carolina. Located in downtown Wilmington, CMoW offers a variety of locally-themed interactive exhibits designed to enhance learning through play for children ages 0-10. From a supermarket to a veterinarian office to a science center, CMoW has something for all kiddos looking for a fun and impactful play experience. In addition to interactive exhibits, CMoW hosts a variety of programs for children, including birthday parties, daily educational programs, in-house events, camps, adult and child fundraisers, and specialty field trips.

Designed for traditional classrooms, childcare centers, and homeschool groups, CMoW’s field trips combine hands-on play with standards-based learning. Whether you’re planning a

two-hour visit or looking for guided educational programming, CMoW offers flexible options that

inspire curiosity and connection.

The Museum offers two field trip packages:

The Classic: Two Hours of Self-Guided Exploration

● Includes full access to all four levels of exhibits for two hours

● Perfect for younger students or mixed-age groups who thrive on unstructured exploration

● Students move at their own pace, making it ideal for different learning styles

The Deluxe: Guided, Standards-Aligned Learning + Play

● Led by CMoW Educators, activities align with the North Carolina Standard Course of

Study (NCSCOS)

● Each program includes a 20-minute lesson plus two hours of self-guided exploration

● Activities are adaptable for different grade levels and student needs, ensuring inclusivity

Consider a CMoW field trip today by visiting their website and filling out the field trip request form.

*Questions? Contact the Program Coordinator, Anna Harris, by email.

ON THE PIEDMONT EAST TRAIL

Animal Park at the Conservators Center, Burlington, NC, Caswell County

Why does a wolf howl? How does a tiger see at night? Why do lions live in groups? How do fennec foxes survive in the desert? And what on earth are binturongs—and what makes them a keystone species?

You can talk about them, read about them, or watch videos about them. But to really bring your science lessons to life, visit nearly 25 species at the Animal Park at the Conservators Center. Meet our more than 60 animal residents on a weekend tour, or book a Wild Field Trip for your public, private, or home school group of 15 or more. 

We'll tailor the experience and educational materials to your grade level (pre-K through 12th grade) and curriculum, and all field trips are designed to meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study science objectives. Convenient to the NC Triad and Triangle. AnimalParkNC.org

*Questions? Contact the Director of Park Operations, Megan Millard, by email.

ON THE PIEDMONT WEST TRAIL

Sullenberger Aviation Museum, Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg County

Our field trips combine hands-on exploration, interactive exhibits, and engaging activities designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of STEM.

Students will be discovering aviation through aviation history, Charlotte’s aviation legacy, and the science of flight. They will engage with simulators, interactive exhibits, and innovations from the Wright Brothers to modern drones. For a more structured experience, groups may add a scavenger hunt for a small fee.

We also offer STEM Workshops for an Enhanced Experience. To see all of our field trip options visit the field trips page on our website or download the field trips brochure here.

*Questions? Contact the Engagement Manager, Laurynn Furr, by email

ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL

Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah, NC, Transylvania County

The Cradle of Forestry in America offers hands-on field trips, designed to connect students with nature, targeted for youth in grades Pre-K through 6th. As the birthplace of Forestry in America, this site is uniquely positioned to educate students about the history and importance of conservation and sustainable forest management. Open from April to November, the site itself, located in Pisgah National Forest, serves as a living classroom. Students love exploring the interactive Discovery Center museum space which features fun elements, like a crawl-through cave and an animal scavenger hunt. Students can also explore its 3 miles of paved trails, which guide visitors past historic buildings and through active examples of forest management. Kids especially enjoy climbing aboard and ringing the bell on the 1914 Climax logging train! Additionally, a picnic area is available on-site where groups can enjoy any lunch or snack items they brought along. All guided programs are tied to NC State Standards and rooted in Project Learning Tree lessons. Teachers can choose from a variety of engaging programs that promote learning through discovery, ranging from early learners meeting Smokey Bear to older students identifying native trees. For a more flexible approach, the Cradle also offers a self-guided field trip experience. This option is designed specifically for teachers and is adaptable for all grade levels, allowing them to customize the learning based on their students' specific needs and utilize the entire site at their own pace. 

See our current offerings here! Fill out the interest form to book your next group trip!

*Questions? Contact Chief Education Officer, Dallas Martin, by email.

ON OUR STATEWIDE TRAIL

Muddy Sneakers, Fall Field Trips

We know end-of-grade testing can be stressful... for students and teachers. Muddy Sneakers is here to help with an engaging, hands-on Science EOG Test Prep experience designed for North Carolina’s 5th graders.

Our instructors guide students through interactive activities that reinforce the NC Essential Standards and strengthen understanding through play and exploration - all while building confidence for test day.

For just $10 per student, your class will get an interactive EOG prep session that:

• Aligns with NC Essential Standards for 5th Grade Science
• Is led by experienced Muddy Sneakers Instructors
• Features hands-on, outdoor-inspired learning
• Builds student confidence and retention

Give your students the tools they need to succeed, while having fun.

Reserve your Science EOG Test Prep program today!

*If you would like to find out more about starting a school or classroom partnership with Muddy Sneakers, please email Erica Brown.

NC State Parks Partners

NC State Parks are an incredible resource for all of us. Would you like for your students to be able to explore NC State Parks? Rangers are there to help guide your class through beautiful terrain with fascinating stories about North Carolina's history, both natural and cultural. And all NC State Parks qualify for the state's Field Trip Fund. Please see details below if you need funds for amazing hands-on field trips for your classroom.

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State Parks Classroom Field Trips to Consider:

(1) Cliffs of Neuse State Park (Coastal) offers an animal tracks and signs field trip for 2nd through12th grade students. Learn the different types of animal tracks, the best place to look for tracks, and how to look for other signs as well. Can be indoor or outdoor depending on the weather. 

(2) Elk Knob State Park (Mountain) invites 3rd through 8th graders to "Rockin the Knob!". This Earth Science-based field trip let's students explore the unique geological features of Elk Knob. Students will discover rock and mineral types occurring on the knob and the processes that form and break them down. Also, students will learn about the geological and ecological connections that shaped Elk Knob.

(3) Eno River State Park/Occoneechee Mtn (Piedmont East) teaches K-12th grade students about the river ecology at Eno River. Students will learn about the critical aspects of water quality, including pH, turbidity, sediment, and dissolved oxygen; how scientists measure them; and to discover what can cause water quality changes in a river, with a goal of learning how these aspects affect the creatures that live there. This is an incredible hands-on experience for students who do water quality testing themselves!

(4) Lake James State Park (Mountain) continues to have incredible school programming all the time! So we continue to tell you about it. We love this Water Tables program, which starts with an engineering problem that can provide context for many biological and ecological concerns.

Water Tables (AKA Build a Lake) – This immersive activity introduces students to the engineering design process as they collaborate to create landscapes for a stakeholder of their choice.Using natural materials and creative problem-solving, students will construct and test their designs as water flows through them. After touring their peers' creations, teams will redesign their models using inspiration from each other’s designs.

Virtual Options Needed?

Can't get out for a field trip, but still want to learn about NC State Parks or North Carolina's natural lands? Sometimes a winter field trip is tough, but we still have two virtual field trips available! Reach out to NCST staff here if you're interested in scheduling a virtual slot with a Ranger:

• Hammocks Beach (Coastal)
• Jockey's Ridge State Park (Coastal)

State Park Highlight... Jones Lake State Park

(Coastal Region)

Monique McCoy is a Schools in Parks Specialist at Jones Lake State Park. I recently talked with Monique about a fantastic soil lab that she did with famlies over the holiday and I think this is a fantastic activity that would fit well into a class field trip! Are you planning to teach about soil types and looking for a great interactive activity to get those noggins going again after the holidays? See what Monique has to say about the Soil Lab below:

"Jones Lake hosted a “Holiday Soil Lab” program for the public. We started out by discussing different soil textures like sand, silt and clay. Then we got a chance to compare actual soil samples that were collected from State Parks across the state. Participants compared what organic materials they could see in the soil or if they could see any small particles from minerals. After looking at the different soils, we then discussed how these minerals and organic matter contribute to the different soil colors. We used a basic form of the Munsell soil color chart to see if we could match specific colors. Although we mostly had shades of brown, black, gray, and red there are soils that can be all types of colors. The soil here at Jones Lake is unique due to it being a Carolina Bay. There are areas where the soil is known as “peat” and contains a lot of organic matter and has a spongy feel. Because of this we get a lot of dark black or brown soil. On the opposite end, these bays have what’s known as a sand rim around the perimeter. Here you will get, as the name implies, very sandy soil almost like being at the beach. 

Once we had observed all the various colors and textures, it was time to make crayons! Using the different soil samples and adding melted wax, we were able to make a variety of crayons that had slightly different colors. Participants were amazed that you could simply take dirt and wax and turn it into a crayon that was actually usable. We even used some ground up pine needles to make green crayons. Participants then got a holiday card that they could decorate using the crayons they just made. Overall, it was a great time for participants getting to be soil scientists and investigating soil colors."

Jones Lake offers programs like this every Saturday at 2pm during the fall and winter, where the public gets to come out and enjoy the amazing natural resources the park has to offer! If you think this program would benefit your class, please contact Monique to see if and when the park schedule can accommodate your group during school days.

Field Trip Funding

Looking for a field trip to give your students a better hands-on opportunity, but can't figure out the funding piece? If field trip fees are a concern for you or your school, please check out The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund. This fund from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) opens the door for students across North Carolina to embark on unforgettable educational adventures. Find one of the many possible field trips across the state with this handy map of the DNCR field trip sites. We are partners with so many of these sites! If we can help, please reach out. Don’t miss this chance to bring learning to life—apply today!

We will continue to include information for educators about the LHH field trip fund while funding remains available. Please take advantage of it now, particularly if you are in one of the following counties: Rutherford, Cabarrus, Columbus, Caswell, Stokes, Lee, Bertie, Camden, Dare, Hertford, Hyde, Washington, Brunswick, and Jones.

A DNCR LHH fully-funded field trip...

What does that look like? It looks like unique opportunities all around!

Rooted In Resilience: 317 Students visited Gorges State Park

"This fall, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) worked with Gorges State Park Ranger Melanie and Superintendent Kevin to plan a multidisciplinary field trip at Gorges State Park in western North Carolina. Over two sunny November days, 317 students in grades 3–8 from Clay, Macon, and Transylvania counties participated in a unique educational experience, most of them exploring Gorges State Park for the first time, and some traveling beyond their county lines for the first time. Thanks to the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund, travel and participation costs were covered for all five participating schools.

The result was a first-of-its-kind DNCR field trip in WNC: rotations through four themed activity stations, each led by professionals from different divisions of the agency. Students explored:

• Leaf observation and journaling, connecting science and art through close inspection and reflection with NC State Parks/Schools in Parks
• A collaborative 24 foot long mural, where each group painted their own interpretation of the surrounding mountain landscape with the NC Museum of Art - Winston-Salem
• A historical decision-making game, where teams navigated the Great Wagon Road and learned about early NC settlers with the Mountain Gateway Museum  
• An archaeological dig simulation, where students examined real artifacts to infer their origins and uses with the Office of State Archeology  

These weren’t passive experiences. Students were active and encouraged to touch, question, create, and collaborate. They met professionals in fields they’d never heard of, including archaeologists, park rangers, museum educators, and they began to imagine new possibilities for themselves." (Click the link in the title to read the original article.)

*A Note From NCST: Isn't that what we're all striving for? Helping students find their passions requires team work from teachers, parks, government, nonprofits, museums, etc. Sometimes bringing all of those parties together can be a challenge. The North Carolina Science Trail serves as a connecting point in the effort to spread awe-inspiring STEM education opportunities to all corners of this state. Let us know how we can help connect you.

Highlighted Resource: Discovery Place Field Trip Planner

Discovery Place is launching an interactive app to make life easier for educators interested in planning field trips to Discovery Place's museums! In the new app, educators will be able to enter their grade level, subject, curriculum standards (like "5th grade, forces and motion") and group size. The app will then recommend Discovery Place classes and IMAX documentaries that align with NC state standards, show pricing and availability, and include photos and short videos (coming soon!) so that educators can preview sessions before booking.

Educators will get a customized PDF plan sent to their inbox—ready to share with administrators or parents—plus logistics details in one place: Bus drop-off Parking, Chaperone limits, Lunch details, Meal options, Sample daily timelines, Plus: A built-in checklist will flag items like permission slips, admin approvals, and headcount deadlines.

Educators also can schedule a 10-15 minute planning call with the Discovery Place team through the app. Want early access? Email groupsales@discoveryplace.org to try the new app and share feedback as soon as it's launched.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

STEM West

We are happy to announce that STEM West will sponsor EDCAMP STEM WEST this year on January 31st, 2026 from 9am-1pm at NC School for Science and Math in Morganton. EDCAMP STEM WEST is a free event that uses the input from participants to create the learning sessions. Some people consider it an "unconference" because of the unique nature of how the event meets the needs of all participants. There will be breakfast and door prizes available. All who want to learn and grow are welcome to attend: teachers administrators, pre-service teachers, youth leaders, home school leaders, higher education leaders, etc. Come and join one of the most exciting learning events of the year. If you want to learn more about EDCAMP STEM WEST, visit this site.

Download the flyer here to access the QR code for registration.

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Environmental Educators of North Carolina

(1) EENC Mini Workshops - Click here to download the details on three new mini workshops if you're interested in integrating environmental education into your curricula more easily. Each is $350 for a 4 hour session.

Also from EENC:

(2) Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills (formerly Professional Development Guidelines for Excellence) Click here to download the Pathways brochure for this course. Details below:


In January, EENC is kicking off "Professional Learning Pathways" for 2026 with the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence: Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills hybrid workshop. This workshop includes a professional learning self assessment that could then guide participants toward their next learning adventure. They can use our "map" to determine which courses or workshops will help them continue their journey.

This workshop is for educators (formal, nonformal, and higher education) who want to:

• Identify a goal to work toward and a guide for personal, professional, and programmatic development.
• Understand the experiences and learning that will help educators foster environmental literacy, plan environmental education programs, and implement them.

Find additional details and register HERE.

Registration: $31.50 for EENC members, $35 for general registration.